I just did what I wouldn’t have dreamed of trying, even six months ago. I soldered one piece of brass to another that already had pieces soldered to it… pieces that if they became unsoldered, and shifted even a fraction of a millimeter, would have potential to completely ruin the piece of jewelry.

I decided to trust my ability to pull of what I knew was theoretically possible – and I succeeded.

I wouldn’t have been able to do it had I not been using my mini torch. A small butane fueled flame that reaches high temperatures. The flame is small enough to really have could control and the ability to focus it. It is roughly a quarter of the width of a plumbers torch, and that makes a huge difference when working on small jewelry connections.

So it was my trust in my own abilities, a certain willingness to take risk, and proper tools, that allowed me to succeed. The same formula can be applied to other aspects of life.

First off – if you don’t take some risk, you will never get a true level of satisfaction. Now I’m not talking bungie jumping of bridge, or telling off your boss, I’m talking about a certain willingness to put yourself out there, to push a little beyond your comfort zone. You also have to be willing to accept that you could fail. having never done it before that is always a possibility.

Fear of failure is simply stupid. Failure is what we learn from. Would I have been distraught if I had messed up this soldering job? Hell yeah! But I would have been able to analyze where it went wrong. I could have called on those who had done it before and ask for tips. I would know better for the next time I wanted to do it.

I didn’t have to in this case – because I had the tools and trusted my skill.

I trusted in my ability – if you do nothing but doubt yourself, or tell yourself you can’t … you never will. This isn’t ‘new age bull crap’ this is logic. If you tell yourself you cannot do something then you will simply never truly try. Even if forced to try you never give it your full effort – because you’ve already convinced yourself you can’t. There are, of course, limits to this…

 No – You Can NOT Fly. On that one, you Are Right!

Proper tools – well now that is very important. Be it a small flame mini torch, a proper understanding of grammar, or a calculator – you needs to have the right tools to accomplish whatever job you are taking on. Sometimes it is as simple as saving up a few dollars and going and buying the tool – or book to study. Sometimes it is taking a loan and finishing up the last of your degree. Whatever the tools you need – You need them. Find a way. The best way YOU can to get them, and do what you want in life.

And remember – there is more than one way to do anything. If you can’t see the answer from where your standing, perhaps you need to step to the side and look again.