Why You Need Tools

Knowing what you feel is only half the equation. The other half is knowing what to do about it. Most people have one emotional strategy: suppress it and hope it goes away. When that fails, they try distraction. Neither works for long.

An emotional toolkit is a set of proven techniques matched to specific emotional states. You would not use a hammer for every household repair, and you should not use one coping strategy for anger, sadness, anxiety, and frustration. Each emotion responds to different interventions.

Building this toolkit takes practice. Once assembled, it becomes one of your most valuable life skills.