Tag Archives: self-improvement

BS’D

Today the 4th of Iyar is the yahrtzeit of Rabbi Yosef Dov Soloveichik of Brisk (1810-1892), famed talmudic scholar and author of the Beis HaLevi commentary. In 1854, Rabbi Soloveichik joined the leadership of the famed Voluzhin Yeshiva, the center of Jewish scholarship at that time. He was known for his great piety; it is said that his fear of sin was comparable to an ordinary person’s fear when his life is in danger. He became rabbi of Brisk, Lithuania, thus launching the famous Brisker rabbinic dynasty; his son was the famed Rabbi Chaim Soloveichik. (Aish.com)  May the merit of the tzaddik serve as an advocate for Klal Yisrael, Amen.

We cannot force ourselves to be optimistic, particularly if we were not raised in such a way. The way to live a life full of hopefulness is by setting goals that will excite and inject new zest into our lives. In other words, pump ourselves up by visualizing the objectives and jumping up and down with delight over how wonderful we will feel when we achieve them. Once a decision built on fiery passion is made, rest assured that you are without a doubt that much closer to the end goal than you were a second before you made that decision. In fact, the Mesilat Yesharim states that it is actually easier to do the deed than it is to decide to do it.

We have very little control over our successes and failures; ultimately it is only Hashem Who brings forth the outcome. But we are required to make the first move. Irrelevant whether we think it is ‘logical’ and makes sense that we can succeed and really change ourselves, we need to ‘partner’ with Hashem and beseech His assistance.

It cannot be repeated too many times how important it is to have a strong belief system in oneself as well as a solid Emuna relationship with Hashem. The reason it is of such great value is because the fuel feeding our engine is the positive energy we invest in meeting our goals. How strongly do we believe we can do it? If our foundation is not rock-hard, the inner conflicts and negativity will creep in and disrupt our progress.

It doesn’t matter how long you have gotten ‘used to’ living your life not believing you can realign your habits, responses and way of thinking. You don’t have to be who you were yesterday. You can be a ‘new you’.

It begins first with your unwavering desire to do so.