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Book Title Be Within Stay Above
Based on letters and talks of the Rebbe, Rabbi M. M. Schneerson
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Getting Ahead with Failure

There is only one thing that can put you further ahead than success, and that is surviving failure.

When you are successful, you are whole and complete. That is wonderful, but you cannot break out beyond your own universe.

When you fail, you are broken. You look at the pieces of yourself lying on the ground and say, “This is worthless.”

Now you can escape. The shell is broken, the shell of a created being. Now you can grow to join the Infinite.

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Based on letters and talks of the Rebbe, Rabbi M. M. Schneerson   More articles...  |   RSS Listing of Newest Articles by this Author

From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory; words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. To order Rabbi Freeman’s book, Bringing Heaven Down to Earth, click here.

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Reader Comments
Latest Comments:
Posted: May 18, 2011
IS THERE SUCH THING AS FAILURE?
every thing that i thought was failure turned out to be blessings in disguise
Posted By robin, soddy daisy, tn

Posted: May 18, 2011
Failure
Yeah, nothing succeeds like failure.
Posted By Anonymous, Montreal

Posted: May 17, 2011
I love this, too.
What if what you are successful at is not good?

What defines success; just making a lot of money, even if it's at something that is bad for others, or which you yourself don't particularly care for, or both?

What is more G-dly: To fail at something you love and which you do with others best interest in mind; or to succeed at something quite the opposite?

You have hit on something quite profound: When you are successful, when things are 'going good', you don't want to change, even if you know what you are doing is bad.

It takes failure then to come face to face with that which is truly worthless in your life; and surviving failure to have put the yetzer hatov in your life back on top.

Well done, Rabbi!
Posted By Thomas Karp, New Haven, Ct.

Posted: May 17, 2011
shattered
Like I've learned from you that IT's all in the struggle. We look at our broken-ness and see how weak we really are, and how much we need to look to Father when we re-creat ourselves into that 'peculiar' being...with Love.
Posted By Ms. Gigi Garroutte, ama, tx

Posted: May 17, 2011
Endeavor to Persevere
The Book of Job teaches misfortune has its own design and purpose which we may not understand, but we must persevere with faith in the ALMIGHTY.

In addition, deliberate obstacles are part of HIS plan which is HIS method of improving our endeavors, because given human nature, we rarely listen in advance.

Hagel might have referred to this as an eternal dialectic to engender progress, --thesis, antithesis, and synthesis, which becomes the new thesis.
Posted By RCJ, Suburban DC, MD USA

Posted: Sep 7, 2008
Getting ahead with Failure
When G-d throws lemons, make lemonade!

The only failure is not to get back up on one's feet again. Hindsight will show the blessing.

A fire in 1985 that destroyed everything had many lessons ... most material things can be replaced; life cannot. Even well-loved cats can eventually be replaced. IF your children and you are safe, what more is there?

Like many people, I did not appreciate talents and abilities that God gave me; it took a disability to teach that lesson.

The loss of both dughters had its lessons too. Life is so fragile and all the money in the world will not restore life or health.

A friend told me a beautiful metaphor, The mighty oak will crack at the base, fall to the ground and die, whereas the willow has the capacity to bend all the way to the ground, then spring back up.
Posted By Karin Kruger, Oklahoma City, OK

Posted: Sep 5, 2008
Thank you
I ponder often on the proper use of certain words we use over and over again until somehow they lose their genuine meaning.
I have written to you several times to say "Thank You" and I wonder if there is any other meaningful way to express my gratitude for the way you continue to impact my spiritual growth but I keep coming up with these two small in size but big in meaning, words: Thank you.
I was talking with a friend about your emails and I explained that I felt as though somewhere in space and time, perhaps you were watching my burdens and deliberately were sending the precise messages to show me the way, help me understand and act accordingly.

Thank you,

Thank you,
Posted By Marjorie Michelly, Hollywood, FL

Posted: Sep 5, 2008
Failure
I am in the midst of great failure. I have prayed and I have looked at all I did to bring on this failure. Nothing is happening. In a short time I will lose everything. What do I do that will make a difference. I have prayed and I do trust in G-d. But I do not understand.
Posted By Anonymous, Southampton, Pa.

Posted: Sep 30, 2006
Failure
Easy to say.
At least when you have behave at your best but however you failed thousands and thousands of times.
Pain beyond whatever word...
Posted By Anonymous, Rome, Italy

Posted: June 9, 2006
Getting Ahead With Failure
How profound are the words: True success is measured by man's endurance of failures. I know I am a better person today because of my many failures. Do I like admitting this? Of course not. The countless times I have felt broken are too many to recall. I am hard headed. I must do everything my way. I am a perfectionist. Often I could see no solution, no hope. How small of me. Who am I to speak for HaShem? Each time he provides answers. If I had only one prayer I could pray, it would be: Please G-d help me to be humble, walk to the beat of life that pleases you most, and when I fail teach me to be gentle to myself.
Posted By Edith Brown
via chabadsilverspring.com



 


Healing
Advice on Thoughts
Doors of Healing
Contagious Doctors
The Power of Not Thinking
Staying Above
Creating a Need for Wisdom
More on Repair
Getting Ahead with Failure
Breaking Limits
Broken & Whole
Impossible Fusion
Good Citizens
Gifted and Challenged
Demands
Exploiting a Setback
Full Index...
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