Tools

I recently needed to assemble some pieces of furniture that I had bought. Among other things, four shelves - all of the same type.

Everyone knows this puzzle of panels, screws, nails, wooden dowels and indefinable plastic parts.

I had some time between two appointments and thought - "In half an hour, I’ll quickly put together the first shelf."

And then it started. First I mixed up the right and left side. Mixed up top and bottom. Didn't realize that the plastic parts were different sizes. In no time at all I had the wrong part in the wrong place. Spent ages putting together two rails that just wouldn't fit together.

Two hours later, the shelf was in place. It had been painful.

But when I put the rest of the shelves together the next day, I was fascinated by the "consolidation work" my brain had done overnight. Suddenly it was all there: my spatial imagination was already creating the end product in my mind's eye, the sequence of the work steps was as clear as day, my hands held the drill with just the right amount of muscle power, the timing was right. With the last piece of furniture, I got into a real "flow" state. After twenty minutes, it all was finished and I was happy.

We carry powerful tools within us that we are not aware of, most of the time. Imagination, planning skills, sequencing skills, coordination. We just have to challenge them, entice them to come out of their hiding places, offer them interesting problems and enough opportunities for repetition.

They rise to every challenge with dedication, and even sprinkle feelings of happiness on top.