Despair on Purpose

Perhaps, a bit too harsh in wording. Could be said a little bit differently. Reply

Despair is despair any way you look or label it! This may sound harsh and hard hearted, but despair brings you down to the bottom of the well and you don’t float back up unless you get some guts to start finding a way back up. G d helps those who help themselves, yes there’re miracles that can’t be explained, but when push comes to shove either you move out of your easy chair and stop feeling sorry for yourself or stay there with your feet up and count all the excuses why you deserve to be seated with despair on your lap. Yes, there are mental and physical ailments that add to despair, but our options are still the same. Either we light some type of fire under our feet and start praying for G d’s help and guidance to show us the way to turn our situation around or we remain the same for an eternity. Then no matter what our plight or physical burden may be with some good positive thoughts our burdens will become much more easy to carry. Reply

Hello Despair is a difficult adversary that we must fight with patience and calm and not thinking too much about things that have not been achieved
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Hidden Purpose We spend our lives chasing after empty purposes. The desire to fulfill ourselves with 'treasures' in this world. ….. until we discover despair of being satisfied after all our efforts to chase these elusive desires!

Then we are forced to confront the question: What am I living for??

This indicates that G_d has awakened that divine spark that was hidden within you.
This is a new desire that shifts you into a new direction: to leave that place you call your 'self' and move into His world.
This sounds ridiculously impossible!

until it will becomes evident that G_d has organized the world to open this new road for us.
He will enable computers and robots to perform many jobs.
Those desires that once fueled us will diminish.
He will arrange other crises to push us in a new direction.
Those who have the method to guide humanity to this higher purpose will be accountable to perform their task.
The works of the Ari, RASBI, and the inner meaning are revealed in our time for this new purpose. Reply

Yes, excellent advice. However, when someone becomes overcome with negative feelings, it's hard to think this - let alone believe it. There are times when it is very hard to have emunah. Reply

You can't avoid despair but you don't have indulge in despair. Embrace it but don't live in despair. You move on. Reply

Perhaps everyone at one time or another feels despair for it is part of the human condition. When we experience that it feels awful....really awful. The point is that it does pass if we let it pass with time. I don’t see that analogous to purpose, however. Our purpose is permanent, despair is not. Reply

Agreed but... Indeed, but we always must remember that some feel "despair" due to their body's health having been infiltrated with today's environmental toxins that they have ingested willingly through an unhealthy diet or without knowing in their water and food they purchase thinking it is safe to eat. Today, so many have a manufactured despair and today's despair/depression cannot always be cured with purpose only. My mom, who is a blessed memory, was a victim of chemical imbalance brought on by tainted, heavy metal well water from years of farming and pesticide use all around her home. She lost purpose through this illness and sadly never regained it. Even though she longed to get past it, her body would not let her free regardless of the therapy and the drugs. Yes, I agree with this post but some have been poisoned into despair there is still no cure for. Reply

Where can I find hope in despair in those dark nights of the Soul To read the Bible Is very liborating , Knowing that the greatest Leader Moses experienced despair.He said to G-d...if I have found favour in your eys kill me now Num. 11:11-15 .Its a good guideline not to get to that point. King David faced great darkness Psalm 22:2 My G-d my G-d why have you forsaken me. G-d send Moses help and gave him comfort himself. A prisoner can not release himself from prison. In times of great despair we need help, we can never be left alone. In reading Many great Jewish Leaders faced despair. Reply

money Some Jews with money got out of Europe before the Holocaust.

Those Jews without money could not avoid the Holocaust.

Jewish families were ripped asunder.

Sometimes there is a time for hope. Sometimes there is no hope, only despair.

Picking an example from the Holocaust may be unfair. Many Rabbis perished in Russian Polish, Hungarian pogroms.

Despair does not only come from these death knells. We must recognize despair ans help those in despair. Not duck it like it is a fault. That only adds more despair. It doesn't matter who utters uninformed prescriptions, if they are wrong, call them out. Use your own seichel. Reply

But how do you find one's purpose? How do you go about that, finding your purpose? Reply

The Goal Depending on the root of one's soul, each will be destined to experience trials and tribulations in this world. Therefore one has to look at the whole picture - what is the ultimate goal - achievements in this fleeting time of our focus in this material world or our ultimate goal to develop our soul for eternity?

Despair means that we are at the end of the line - nowhere to aim for. For those who search the true meaning of Life, the Books have been opened now to guide us to the real goal. It is not meant to be an easy road but there is a light at the end of the tunnel. In the words of the Kabbalist Baal HaSulam "I have laboured and found" Reply

despair as an excuse love this forum!!!! not only is the topic intriguing, the comments add a whole new dimension!!!

personally, i can relate to the Rebbe's comment; but then again, total despair is an individual thing.? it's a known fact that having a "purpose" in life (possibly related to helping others), only helps our own healing. but....as someone said, if despair is continual and overwhelming, maybe professional help is in order to even get to the place of being able to focus on a purpose or others?

it's a horrible place to be - despair. praying helps unbelievably. even 'journaling' - writing deepest thoughts over time helps to ease despair and eventually focus on a greater purpose in life.

i believe G-d sends angels, too. and i pray we all see them! Reply

Good morning, Rabbi Freeman:

What I love most about reading your posts every morning is that you do not tend to wax philosophical about life and religion. You give us the blessing of good, sound simple advice based on your thoughts in relation to G-d. I put it in my pocket and think about it all day. I love that I usually walk away with, "You know, I never thought about it like that and just makes good sense." Thank-you, Rabbi Freeman, you are a great teacher.

Have a joyful day! Reply

The Rebbe's letters? Did the Rebbe really respond to people in his letters this way, Rabbi Freeman?

Did he actually use the phrase 'cheap excuse' to those who wrote him in despair?

Somehow that doesn't quite sound like any of you Chabadniks, let alone the Rebbe.

It sounds more like a response from someone who has lost their patience with others to the point of being fed up.

As for a sense of purpose being the best way to avoid despair:

A sense of purpose very well maybe the best way to overcome despair; to find something constructive withiin yourself despite life's circumstances.

To say though that a sense of purpose is the best way to avoid despair strikes me as sort of like trying to say that acts of tzedekah are the best way to avoid the needy.

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yes but there is are adages that should be pointed out. 1. Don't judge others until you have walked a mile in their shoes.
2. It's easier to talk the talk than walk the talk. Reply

Despair on Purpose What you write here is strongly evident in my behavior at least...I have a lot of Despair in my life and it shows on my face and in my posture. So to make up for it I have watercolor paintings half done and embroidery projects half done and all kinds of readings that I just want to do but as long as I am piling up the projects so that I don't face the grief I feel I won't get anything done! Reply

despair on purpose You're right, having a purpose in life does not bring despair, and I feel like giving charity in life is my purpose. Reply

Despair The statement made on this problem is extremely valuable to all humans. Especially in this cold and uncaring world these days.
Seniors are ignored and not respected, parents do not apologize to their children when they are at fault, babies are dropped off to day care at a very young age. That leaves you and me, I am a senior, busy volunteering daily, getting married again soon to a busy senior, enjoying life's pleasures, Go for it folks, do not stay behind and miss the chances of contributing something to this world. Reply