By the Grace of G‑d
1 Shevat, 5718
Brooklyn, N.Y.

Greetings and Blessings!

I have received your letter from 23 Teves, eve of the Yahrzeit [anniversary of the passing] of the Alter Rebbe, the author of the Tanya and Shulchan Aruch, in which you write about your present situation.

You have certainly heard of the saying of the Rebbe Maharash (the grandfather of the Previous Rebbe), "The world says that when you cannot go under, you should go over, but I say, that to begin with you should go over!"

In this case, even though it seems that you have to wait to express visible joy until the situation of your health actually improves, there is room to say, as learned from the above mentioned expression, that you can be joyous before the improvement of your health, even though at the moment this [improved health] isn't a visible reality.

This (joy) itself will bring about the improvement sooner. This (approach) follows the saying that was taught a number of times by the Chabad Rebbes, "Think good, and it will be good!" Obviously when this (positive thinking) is brought into joyful speech or joyful conduct, and especially when this concerns such a respectable person whose pen is the pen of a writer, and is able to influence many people in the above mentioned (joyful) way, then the reward for one who brings joy to another is known (Taanis, 22,1).

(Excerpt)

(Igros Kodesh, Vol XVI, p. 252)