What Makes You Tick?

The answer may appear obvious, but there may be deeper meaning beneath the surface.

Let's consider "Jim." He is pounding the pavement looking for a job. The search is consuming him, so that's what drives him now.

Or is it?

After all, is work his deepest desire?

Actually, it's not a job he's after, but… money.

Jim needs a job in order to generate money. His primary need is funding, not a job per se.

But why? Does he want money for money's sake?

No. Jim actually wants comfort, security, etc. And for that, Jim needs money.

And for that, Jim needs a job.

Jim might have honestly answered our original question with "the job search." But it's obviously much deeper.

His deepest need may actually be self-preservation, self-respect, familial-validation, etc.

But he'll only find that when he pierces through his layers.

In many ways, we are Jim, as we struggle for inner freedom.

Jim's process is actually step two of our Passover "freedom train."

Step one is to identify our personal "Egypts"—the external distractions, pleasures, fears, etc., that trap and control us. Freedom comes through transcending our Egypts, to freely live our lives according to our own deeper vision.

But leaving Egypt isn't really possible until you know where you want to go. I can't freely live as myself until I've identified myself.

What is my deeper vision?

The Jews' ultimate disengagement from Egypt came through crossing the Sea.

G‑d's splitting the sea symbolizes exposing our inner "dry land," by pushing aside the layers of personality that obscure our deepest selves, as the waters cover the sea.

By identifying our deepest selves, through our own efforts and through the power of Passover, we can find – and perhaps reconfigure – our own deepest principles.

Crossing your personal sea puts you on the path to true freedom: A meaningful life.

This weekend we celebrate the Jews' crossing of the sea.

Make it count.