Panic, confusion and pessimism, these are the nightmares of a heart freely handed the reins to your mind.
Reverse the process. Hand your mind the reins to your heart.
Feed yourself with wholesome thoughts. With all your willpower, stay focused on those thoughts. Ignore the burning panic in your heart; refuse to allow it to distract you.
Soon enough, the black horse of pessimism gallops off into the night.
I really wish it was that easy. Maybe the question is, "Why do I allow my joy to come from those who are able to hurt me".
I wish my joy could come from the mind and not the heart. It's hard to think good thoughts when your hope and joy is stolen repeatedly and when you see a glimmer of light, you cautiously ask if it's simply another train.
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Panic is not my problem. What you say, Jeff, is exactly right. I think a million good thoughts, but when that glimmer is repeatedly stolen or stopped, eventually it dawns on me that it's best to enjoy the joy pf the moment and avoid thinking about or planning for any future tomorrows. Reply
Thank you Reply
I don't experience it now but panic is terrifying in that it comes like a thief,
when least expected, out of the blue and with physical symptoms and loss of balance.
This happened after a bereavement a few decades ago, mentally I was fine
but one day a sensation of the entire floor moving sideways (like when a train starts suddenly) began , then an explainable feeling of loss of control over one's body and mind, then a feeling of terror. All one is capable of doing is to crouch down and hold onto something until it passes, then talk to someone who can help.
It's the invisible , incremental and unpredictable force that is terrifying.
Luckily for me it was a temporary phase, I sympathize with people who live with panic long term.
The image of the black horse certainly is helpful , to know that you can gain back control, and you're not going to be swallowed up.
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Re: Panic Attacks
This has nothing to do with a panic attack or panic disorder. Once a person is experiencing a panic attack, the adrenaline levels are so high, mental focus is next to impossible. Best to seek professional attention.
What we are talking about here is the standard panic and pessimism that so many of us experience due to the bombardment of stimuli, external pressures and internal ups and downs that characterize modern life. The advice is very simple: Always have at hand good thoughts to think, and ignore the flow of dark, chaotic ones.
The heart is good—a person has to be warm with emotion. But the heart has to be a mindful heart, and that is only when it is reined in by the mind.
How do you tell the difference? Any thought that does not bring you to serve Hashem with sincerity and joy is a thought to avoid. Any thought that takes you further ahead in life, is a good, worthwhile thought.
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Panic
I read this in the middle of a sudden, unexpected and horrible crying jag, when all the little problems of my life smashed into a million little pieces.
For those who struggle with panic and anxiety, I know it's not simple, and no one's experience is exactly like another's. But for me, reading these words and seeing the image of the black stallion galloping off was perfect medicine, perfectly timed.
I am breathing again. And I have no idea why. I don't need an explanation or want elaboration. Then the impact might be lessened as my busy mind overworked it. i
Again, I'm not criticizing anyone's response; I'm simply reporting my own.
Thank you, Rabbi Freeman, for another beam of light in the darkness.
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Panic
B"H
Thank you for a delightful morning study, Rabbi Freeman! I saw the link to the Feivel Suite in Kabbalatoons as a guide and solution to the feelings of panic, confusion and pessimism. This is what I call "simple "learning - far easier than Tanya! (I'm working on year 2 of studying Tanya - so difficult that when a passage within it seems easy to grasp, I'm terrified of having missed other intended meaning.)
I always learn from Kabbalatoons and have fun doing so. For what it's worth, I would put it in high priority for viewing!
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Boy is this confusing to me!
Which way are you knowing that your thoughts are from your mind or your heart?
The panic was supposed to becoming from your mind? How is it now that the heart is panicky? I thought that the heart had to be listened to as the good guy!....Help!
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Panic-Daily Dose of Wisdom
when you live in today's world weather here in Israel,or America.It's hard not to panic especially when you have someone in your,life who you care.Deeply about and he may lose everything that he has in,the stock market.
If you are a human being and love someone,who is going through.An extremely difficult time in his life you care deeply about this.
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I would like to hear from someone who was in a panic attack but did not speak positively of what was happening. The panic attack should be a classic one where you scream out "I am frightened, I do not want to die" and there is a severe shaking of the body. If we do not have one then Chabad should report such a situation. However, I am sure it will not be provided. Reply
Panic,confusion,pessimism and the likes are soul noise erupting from a life that has not known its maker.When we come to know our God and trust him to any extent,we will have established a faculty within that reinforces our peace,comportment,our hopes.We will always hear His voice replacing the soul noise ,saying "Be still and know I am God" [see Psalm 46 v 10]. Reply
people suffer since the fall, this world is a world of suffering. People are so self focused that there is no room for others, mostly G-d. Once one looks at self and not at G-d, they are on the downward spiral. It is the best medicine, meditate on his word every day, and somehow, like a miracle, all those feelings start to melt away. It takes a lot of work. But isn't that what the Torah is all about. Reply
simple Sometimes the simpler something looks, the deeper it goes, however you went on a trip and know that work is not as simple as speaking. I did too and now I could appreciate this meditation all the more as I am sure you can. My point: I guess he is not talking about the work it takes, but expressing the realization to understand how to start the work and what tools to use. Reply
Panic I think you're being a bit simplistic here, Rabbi. It's not so easy! I myself spent 18 years in psychoanalytic therapy trying to "harness" those panic attacks (along with other issues, of course) - and I eventually did. It was a very deep journey and I recommend it to anyone who can swing it. It is probably actually the best way to "get control" and to "free" yourself - that is, to first understand your impulses and where they're coming from and then to slowly, slowly grow and mature with the help of a trusted, knowledgeable, kindly therapist. It works but it's hard! Not to mention expensive. Nothing's so simple as this suggests - NOTHING. I'm sure you mean well, but I don't think it's helpful to suggest that there are simple solutions to such deep and painful problems that people truly suffer from. Reply
for rivka
Best how-to guide is in the Feivel Suite of Kabbalatoons.
Also see a great book called "Tanya". Best learned with a teacher or friend.
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Thank you! Thank you for clarifying. I really enjoy reading your "Thought of the Day". I have had situations where I am struggling with a way to deal with a situation or finding a solution to an issue and then I read your "Thought of the Day" and therein lies the solution or answer I have been searching for! Reply
Thanks but...NU?
Could you not leave us in limbo? How about elaborating a bit for those that really want to get out of those wake nghtmares of panic, despair, depresion and anger at onself ?
How can I get out of that prison?
Could you, Rabbi Freeman , give steps to help us?
Didn't the Rebbe elaborate on the HOWS OF CHANGING?
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The heart and mind? My question is regarding the heart and mind. A mature mind comes with study and discipline over many years of experience. Now is it ever possible to have a mature heart or is the heart the source of untamable nature which provides our lives with the spark of opportunity to bring forth a fire from deep within and the mind provides the conduit in which to transfer that spark to the world where the fire may be nurtured into a flame. The reason I question the hearts ability to be tamed is, in my youth I had started many fires that burned innocent people and now that I am older it is not that my heart sparks less but that my mind is more aware of the dangers of the fire. Can the heart ever be tamed or is our responsibility to develope a mature mind that can manage the raw nature of our hearts? Or is approaching the notion of the heart and mind as separate entities as much of a fallacy as the notion of a head with no body? Reply
Revision
Shortly after publishing, I edited this down and have now finally replaced the old version with the new. I felt its power was lost in so many words. I hope this provides greater impact.
To Anonymous in Kelowna: The heart has two aspects: the inner heart and the outer. The inner heart--which is what you are speaking of--can only be reached when the outer heart is quelled and reined in.
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Panic Aren't panic, confusion and pessimism the product of the mind gone wild - thoughts circulating without control? Surely the heart is about faith, trust and love - so when the heart reigns in the mind, we get calm, understanding and optimism – that is, the human mind and not the spiritual inner eye. Reply
We should refer to this as a Spiritual Panic trough the wisdom of the Kabbalists.
Our mind is under the domination of Pharaoh, our ego.
Whenever we try to switch into the G_d's quality of feeling love and connection towards other, Pharaoh reprimands us as he says: "Who is this G_d that I should listen to him???"
The kabbalists form a group to aspire together to ask G_d to reveal a glimpse of His divine quality between them so that it will help them advance, step by step, towards attaining the meaning of love between us.
The world is experiencing many crises - the 'plagues' to help us recognize the evil in egoism so that we too will beg for Him to reform our nature to resemble His. Hopefully we will learn soon before we are dealt severe blows - all the red flags are clearly before humanity.