Anxieties, worries, feelings of inadequacy and failure—all these smother and cripple the soul from doing its job.
You need to find the appropriate time to deal with them. But don’t carry them around the whole day.
During the day, you are Adam and Eve before they tasted the fruit of good and evil.
Before they tasted the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, Adam and Eve were naked. If we are to be like them, we will not be socially able to join in our more regular activities (except in a nudist's colony). And nor would we be aware of the many disturbing things that we put aside, but don't forget (as advised by Rabbi Tzvi).
Our temporary imagined innocence to not bearing the knowledge of the world's problems is a big pretense that is inappropriate to our more complicated nature, and we are wrong in the proposed simple choice to be unaware of it. It may not be very pleasant to have worries, but without them we would not be fully alive. Everybody has his/her burden.
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I've read various articles on how to overcome stress and worry as at one time or the other..in fact many a times, worries get the better of us.
But had thus far never come across a solution as sound and practical as advised by you....exceptional! Love the way you express yourself ..cant stress enough the resultant impact and above all a joy to read and to go along with the flow of your thoughts.
Thank you dear Rabbi!
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Remove the Clothing from the Words
'Day' symbolizes the time when we are in soul mode - we feel and are connected to the quality of the G_d - then we feel peace, harmony mutual love of others.
'Night' - time of self love -we need to struggle to come out of this darkness.
None of the Rebbe Schneerson's words pertain to this physical world - they are all spiritual.
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Life
Good morning, Rabbi. I almost fell out of my chair when I read this. We actually agree!!!
Okay, as some of you know, I have issues with PTSD from being one of Ron Reagans bullet stoppers in Beirut in 1983. My VA shrink has been working with me for quite some time now and here is what I have learned.
1. Talk about your worries and anxieties to your spouse, dog, cat, who ever will listen. Tell the same story, the same way, over and over Talk about them until you are sick of hearing yourself talking about them. This is called. "Habituation." It is really tough at first, but then it gets easier.
2. Two hours before bed becomes your quiet time. Think of your favorite vacation spot, or fishing hole. Go there in your mind. If you lose concentration, start over. Again, this is tough to do at first, but it eventually gets easier. My favorite spot is up at Fish Lake on the Steens Mountains here in Oregon. Absolutely the most peaceful place on earth. You will sleep well.
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Out from under the blanket
Viktor Frankl used to talk about this, quite in the same tone.
May be this was of the points that had interested the attention of the Rebbe (ZLB)
in the very special work and study of V.Frankl in Wien ??? Who Knows ???
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worries I think this is a valuable suggestion; however, when should this time be? Morning before I start my day or before bed so I can hopefully get solutions in my sleep? Did the Rebbe give any advice on this? Reply
By the time the worry appointment comes around, the actual worry feeling has passed, making room for clear headed problem appraisal and solution seeking. That can be done any time of the he day !!! Reply
Out from under the blanket Dear Rabbi, I truly appreciate your daily dose. I do not understand why but this point for example on one hand from my Christian teaching that worrying is a sin, but more so think that would be lack of faith not trusting the Almighty. On the other hand that it can cripples me like you present, seems so common sense, yet I just do not think of before. I definitely think I am saved from the curse of Adam and Eve yet I never think I should then walk like them before the taste of the fruit. I appreciate Think Jewish here. During the day may I walk as your daily dose. Reply
Anxiety and Worry is Thrust upon Us I know that Hashem feels that I can handle the stresses that I am challenged with, but that doesn’t make it any easier to do so. Isn't it just denial, anyways, to compartmentalize our emotions into available time-slots? If Hashem wants me to grapple with something, in order that my soul can properly function and do its job, this should be the 'highest' priority and not something to neatly stack for later retrieval. That is effectively denying that G-D runs the world... Reply
Out from under the Blanket I like this one ! I know there is time I can't sleep ,But I do know that the morning will be here on me and I needed the sleep So I can do the best I can, If there something is bothering me .! Thank you for sending this message it will give me something more to think about ! Good night and G-d Bless Reply
Out From Under the Blanket
I have read the concepts you suggest but there is greater hope in "hearing" them from someone other than a random author whose word you accept just "because"!
Of greatest impact is your use of the words "less frequent, less noisy, and less severe". Unwelcome noisy guests indeed.
You have given me much more to work with, to apply, to trust in.
Thank you,
May you enjoy a truly meaningful New Year.
I heard a speaker yesterday who spoke of a midrash in which the angels ask G-d when the New Year will begin. His answer was, " I can only tell you when the Year begins, if you want to know when the "New" Year begins you must ask the people."
I pray that this year will be a truely "Newer" one for me.
It is a profound wish for all of us.
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To Anonymous in Flushing At first, you ignore the thoughts--they keep coming, but you don't pay them any attention. You turn your mind to other things. Eventually, they become less frequent, less noisy and less severe. After a while, they move out and only come as guests. Then they give up on that as well. Reply
Be Within Stay Above
Thank you so much for these words of insight.
I wish that it were that easy.
There is an "automatic switch" in me that I wish I could turn off.
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Good and evil? It wasn't the fruit of good and evil. It was the fruit of the intimate KNOWLEDGE of good and evil. The entry into duality? Reply
Anxieties, worries, etc. are the products of ego, which is itself the result of identifying with a false appearance of separate existence. We all identify with the body, thanks to the serpent’s lie. But, if you say “I”, referring to the body, upon death, there is no more “I”, so time to eat, drink and be merry as the saying goes.
But, if you understand, you will learn that the whole universe, not just our world, exists in the Mind, not our mind but the Divine Mind. The Creator does everything, period. It is His Will that we learn to depend on Him, and to trust Him while letting go of our imaginations. During our schooling, or rather training, things often go awry so we suffer failure-itis and consequences as things break down. But, as we accept HIS Will, things smooth out perfectly. (See Devarim 30:11-20.)