What resources do you have at your disposal to get your problems solved? The most obvious resource is information. Where can you get it and how can you use it?
There is a lot of information available on the internet. But, just because it’s there, doesn’t mean it’s true! Make sure you take the information you see both with the grain of salt and with an open mind.
Sources
Here are three great ways to gather information and most of them are free!
YouTube
YouTube isn’t just for funny cat videos (but you can find plenty of them there). It is searchable, just like Google. YouTube is a doorway into more videos than you could ever imagine.
YouTube is a place to get information to solve almost any problem you can think of. I use YouTube to answer a lot of my computer questions and solve technology problems. You can listen to your favorite speakers or video of your favorite songs. It will show you how to make playdough, sew a COVID mask, change the headlight in your car, or describe the symptoms of disease.
It also came in handy when I wanted to cook crab legs but didn’t know how.
People on YouTube have channels, just like a TV station. Anyone set up a YouTube channel (even me). If I find a channel where the information is useful, I ‘Subscribe’ to the channel. By doing that, I can find out when they have new videos available.
Podcasts
Podcasts are simply audio files to gather information. There are podcasts for just about any niche you can think of. Podcasts can be interviews, solo commentaries, panel discussions, or even storytelling. Want to hear more about a topic you’re interested in or have a problem to solve? Find a podcast for it!
Unlike YouTube, you must first get an app as the doorway into the podcast universe. If you have an iPhone, you can use Apple Podcasts. I have an Android and use an app called Stitcher. You may also have heard of Spotify or IHeartRadio. Search for topics or people in your chosen app.
Anyone can set up a podcast. It’s more difficult than setting up a YouTube channel but the barriers to entry are getting easier as applications are made to do just that. If learning to solve your problem by listening is your thing, find a podcast!
Books
And last but certainly not least, a great resource to solve your problems are old-fashioned books. The benefit of a book is it’s a physical resource you can easily refer back to. Many people have a book shelf and know just where to find their favorite reference manual.
Get a library card and check a book out out for free at your local library. Many libraries also offer audio books, often referred to as books on tape. It is fun to listen to a book while driving in the car or if you’re having a hard time getting to sleep. Sometimes I listen to the same chapter several times until I can understand the information well.
You can get audio books by subscribing to Audible. This is a service where you get an audio book and then download them to your phone or eReader. I buy eBooks and read them on my Nook. Another great eReader is a Kindle. The benefit of an eBook is the ability to change the light so it’s easier on your eyes, change the font size, highlight passages, and look up words if you have an internet connection.
Learn
After gathering information, use it! It will not happen automatically but putting it into practice will. A great way to put the information into practice easily is to explain what you’ve learned to someone else. When you describe new principles to someone else, they become clearer and more ingrained in your own mind.
Set aside time to consume this new information and process it. Put the principles into practice. Instead of reading the book and just putting it back on the shelf. It would be too bad if you found a treasure but never used it.
How Long?
How long will you need to keep gathering information? As long as you are using the information you’re gathering but still have the problem. This will be lifelong journey unless you never have another problem to solve.
Humans keep learning new things in many areas including science, technology, nutrition, and about the brain. We are learning new things about how cultures operate and change, the solutions to mental health issues, and diet and exercise. Keep your eyes and ears open for the latest information and trends.
When I was suffering from depression, I relied on books to help solve my problem. When I heard about a book that talked about nutrition as a solution, I bought it and it changed my life. It started me on a journey of physical healing which lead to mental health healing, and finally spiritual healing.
There are always things to learn and without this belief, you will close yourself off to new ways to solve your problems.