Phil StutzThe Tools: 5 Tools to Help You Find Courage, Creativity, and Willpower--and Inspire You to Live Life in Forward Motion

Amazing book that lays out very practical "tools" to handle life and problems that we all face as individuals and society at large! This is definitely a book I will continue to re read and use on a DAILY BASIS! Thank you both for writing and passing on your knowledge and experience! ❤️

"The Tools" is a life-changing masterpiece. Phil Stutz and Barry Michels have crafted a guide that goes beyond traditional self-help books. It's a profound exploration of the human psyche and a practical roadmap to unlocking one's full potential.This book introduces five remarkable psychological tools that can help anyone confront and conquer life's challenges. Stutz and Michels draw from their experience as psychotherapists, and their insights are deeply profound. Each tool is presented with real-life stories, making it relatable and actionable.The authors' approach is refreshing. They don't sugarcoat the difficulties we face but provide a path to harnessing courage, creativity, and willpower in the face of adversity. Their insights are presented in a straightforward, easy-to-understand manner, making this book accessible to all readers.What sets "The Tools" apart is its practicality. Unlike many self-help books that focus solely on theory, this one offers concrete exercises and techniques that can be applied in everyday life. I've personally found these tools to be transformative in overcoming personal and professional challenges.The book is not just about addressing problems; it's about thriving in life and finding the inspiration to live fully. The stories shared within its pages are both inspiring and comforting, showing that we all face struggles but can triumph with the right tools.In summary, "The Tools" is a true gem. It's a guide to finding courage, creativity, and willpower that is both deeply insightful and highly practical. If you're seeking personal growth and empowerment, this book is a must-read. It has earned its five stars without a doubt!

I discovered this book recently on a blog, and gosh, I am thankful for this blog to have brought this to my attention. This is the top 3 of the self development books I’ve ever read. You’ll find very actionable tools, with developed case studies. Some concepts might seem strange or even frightening to even approach, but embracing them and letting the tools do the work has already been really helpful to get me out of the “maze”. I still have a lot of practice to do to fully understand it all, but this has already impacted positively my life. I read it with the company of the audiobook, planning on reading it a few more times to let it all sink in, and keep practicing. Very curious to read their other books as well.

I read the New Yorker article last year from Dana Goodyear about Stutz and Michels and remember thinking, "of course those guys are getting all the clients!". I, too, am a therapist in Los Angeles but not as wildly successful as these two. So naturally I was filled with resentment over their good fortune as compared to my lack thereof.Hmmm.I think there's a tool for that, eh? In my case, probably one that focuses on what I DO have and who I really am in the scheme of things - ah, yes, the Grateful Flow might work here.And as to creating a more successful psychotherapy practice? Oh you know, not avoiding the hard stuff that it takes - maybe a little (or a lot) of Reversal of Desire to help me tolerate the discomfort of what I need to do besides just wait for the clients to book appointments.See - I have plenty of insight into my own mishigoss in life (perhaps I've mis-spelled that - but it's basically a Yiddish word for the junk that gets in the way) and I know it stems from my childhood and then was recreated by ME because there's a weird comfort in sitting in your junky soul - at least it's YOUR junk.But to get past the insight into change - well, that's more difficult for all of us. Here's where the Tools comes in.I think that anyone who's ever attended a 12-step meeting and really worked the steps will recognize a lot of the steps in the tools, as well as people who have been in therapy with a Jungian-oriented therapist or one who is more cognitive behavioral. There's a fair amount of blending of ideas from different sources, but fairly neatly packaged into five main tools that you can use on a daily basis for the rest of your life, if you so choose.Just like doing a short-hand version of the steps to maintain your spiritual and psychological balance and end your "self will run riot", the tools as conceptualized and worked up by Stutz and Michels (I guess they all were put together by Stutz but Michels mostly wrote the book and is an adherent and colleague), can be learned quickly, can be improvised once you get the tool down, and they have the benefit of working as long as you work with them - they'll take you as far as you want to go in life.Their client base would certainly agree with that last statement - as many a-listers in Hollywood have spent time on either or both of their couches (or chairs - I don't see these guys as having the couches, you know?).If you find the 12 steps or some other philosophy that emphasizes concrete action and connecting with a power greater than yourself more helpful - use that. This book and its diligent application, will fill a gap that may exist for those who don't relate to the model in AA or other 12-step programs, may not even have a therapist available to work with them, or have tried a more traditional talk therapy and feel there's something missing.The point is - there is something missing from talk therapy. And I say that as a therapist. These tools form the bridge between insight and real change. But you have to DO them, not just read about them. You have to be WILLING to experience change. If you just want to complain about your mishigoss, I'm sure you can find a therapist who'll take your check and book you another appointment.