IS AI HELPING YOU GROW?
- Derek Hagen
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
❝People have become the tools of their tools.❞ -Henry David Thoreau
Technology is moving fast. But we don’t have to lose ourselves along the way.
Let’s say you have a meaningful conversation with someone, maybe a close friend, maybe someone you just met. You listen, ask thoughtful questions, and begin to understand what matters to them: their hopes, fears, values, and goals.
Now imagine walking away from that moment… and feeling disappointed that you didn’t record it so you could feed it into an AI tool.
That’s the shift many of us are quietly making. The more helpful AI becomes, the more tempting it is to stop trusting ourselves to do the very things it helps with, like thinking, reflecting, or simply being present.
We start out using AI as a tool. But if we’re not careful, it becomes a crutch.
HELPFUL VERSUS HARMFUL USE
Don’t get me wrong, AI is an incredible tool.
It can help summarize long articles, organize our thoughts, take notes, even help us reflect on conversations or decisions. It can spark ideas when we feel stuck. It can make things faster and easier.
And that’s a good thing.
|
 |
Resilience is the ability to bounce back (or grow) from stress and adversity. The ability to maintain physical, mental, and emotional well-being in the face of setbacks. Learn more about how resilient you are. |
 |
|
LOSING TOUCH WITH OURSELVES
But here’s where it gets tricky: when something gets easy, we tend to stop practicing it ourselves. And practice is how we stay sharp. It’s how we stay human.
Imagine uploading a transcript from a conversation and having AI tell you what was meaningful, what emotions were present, or what questions you asked well. That’s useful—if it helps you grow.
But if we always hand off the reflection, we lose something. We lose the practice of noticing. Of paying attention. Of trusting ourselves.
Reflection, listening, silence, presence... these are human skills. You don’t build them by outsourcing them. You build them by showing up and doing the work.
I’m a fan of AI. I think we should learn how to use it. But it matters how we use it.
Ask yourself:
Is this tool helping me grow?
Or is it doing something I’ve stopped trying to do myself?
Am I avoiding busywork—or avoiding the deeper work of being human?
You get one life; live intentionally.
If you know someone else who would benefit from reading this, please share it with them. Spread the word, if you think there's a word to spread.
To share via text, social media, or email, simply copy and paste the following link:
REFERENCES AND INFLUENCES
Klontz, Brad, Rick Kahler & Ted Klontz: Facilitating Financial Health
Miller, William: Listening Well
PositivePsychology.com: Emotional Intelligence Masterclass
Rosenberg, Marshall: Nonviolent Communication
Sofer, Oren Jay: Say What You Mean
