Daily Lift by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin

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Your Enthusiasm Seminar For A Day

One way to increase your level of enthusiasm is to view an entire day as an enthusiasm seminar. At this seminar you are going to speak and act with enthusiasm. Your enthusiasm will be real. But even though you might not view yourself as an enthusiastic person, during this day's seminar you can be enthusiastic.

At growth and development seminars those attending are willing to try out exercises that stretch their capabilities. At your enthusiasm seminar, view the entire day as part of your doing exercises that will increase your enthusiasm. When you wake up in the morning, as part of your seminar be enthusiastic about being alive and having the entire day as a gift.

When you speak to other people, speak with enthusiasm just for today as part of your enthusiasm seminar.

When you pray and study, pray and study with enthusiasm just for today as part of your enthusiasm seminar.

When you walk, walk with enthusiasm just for today as part of your enthusiasm seminar.

Since you are only focusing on doing this for just today, you won't have to be concerned about keeping this up. You only need to attend this enthusiasm seminar today. Of course, you might find this so beneficial and enjoyable that you will want to have another enthusiasm seminar tomorrow.

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Take Concrete Action

When you feel inspired or enthusiastic about something, take concrete action even if it's a very small step.

Sometimes we might hear an inspiring talk or read an inspiring article or book and feel fired up. If we push off taking action until we have enough time or knowledge or energy to do a proper job, we might lose our feelings of inspiration or enthusiasm. If, however, we start taking some action, then there is a greater likelihood that one action will lead to another and we will continue doing more.

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My Brain Is Always With Me

Wherever you go, your amazing brain is with you. This is quite obvious, you might be thinking. Actually, it isn't that obvious to most people. They sometimes forget that they are carrying every positive resource and every positive state with them wherever they go.

Every moment of confidence and courage is always with you. Every moment of joy is always with you. Every moment of kindness and compassion is always with you. And every moment of enthusiasm is always with you just waiting for you to access it.

A tool for remembering that your brain is there is to place your hand on your forehead. This is a reminder that the positive resource you need at a given moment is right there. Placing your hand on your forehead can also serve as a tool to remind your brain to upgrade the specific state and strength in all contexts. You might experience confidence and courage in some contexts, that is, in certain situations and with some people. But since you have confidence and courage in your brain, you can now tell your brain that you want to apply this in every single context that arises. That is, in more situations and with more people. The same applies to enthusiasm. As long as you are enthusiastic in some situations and in some places, it means that you have enthusiasm stored in your brain. And therefore your brain can apply this to any context that you feel is appropriate.

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Enthusiasm Is Contagious

We are all influenced by the emotional states of the people we interact with. In the presence of cheerful, sincerely kind, upbeat people, we find it easier to become more cheerful and positive. Conversely, in the presence of someone who is negative, kvetchy, irritable, and angry, we easily feel more negative or uncomfortable ourselves. The person whose state is more intense and enduring will have a greater influence on the states of others, for better or worse.

Because the state of enthusiasm is contagious, if you want to increase your own level of enthusiasm, it makes sense to be around other people who are enthusiastic. Even talking to an enthusiastic person for a few minutes is frequently sufficient to elevate our own state. At times just talking to an enthusiastic person on the telephone will raise our spirits.

Your own enthusiasm will have a positive influence on the lives of others. By being enthusiastic you will be doing many acts of kindness. At times, you won't even be aware that your enthusiastic state was helpful to someone else. This can add a dimension of motivation for developing a greater amount of enthusiasm. Not only will you gain yourself, you will also be helping numerous others.

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Accept And Appreciate Reality

This is one of my favorite all-time quotes:

Rabbi Mordechai of Lekhivitz used to say, "If things do not go the way you wish them to be, you should then wish them to be the way they are in reality."

This means we need to accept reality and find our joy in life within that.

Today, find a good time begin a program whereby you repeat this thought every day. Repeat it many times until it becomes part of your thinking. Mastery of this attitude can transform a person's life.

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Do Good, Regardless of Motivation

The Chafetz Chaim wrote that if you are not able to do acts of kindness for others for altruistic reasons, and your main motivation is to win the approval of others, you should still continue to help as many people as you can. As the Sages said, "A person should study Torah and do good deeds even if he has ulterior motives. Eventually one will be motivated by more elevated intentions."

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Do Good, Despite Mixed Motives

At times a person might feel guilty about his lack of elevated motivations when doing good deeds. But the Sages state that we should engage in Torah study and the fulfillment of good deeds even if we lack pure motivation -- since it will ultimately lead to our doing good deeds with more pure motivation.

Moreover, Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin wrote: It is impossible for a person to reach the level of doing good with entirely pure intentions without starting with mixed motives. This is analogous to a king who ordered his servant to go to the attic. The king will not be angry with his servant for not jumping from the ground to the attic in one leap. He knows it is impossible to go up without taking the ladder step by step.

Similarly, in Torah study and the performing of good deeds, it is necessary to start with various motivations until one reaches pure motivations.

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Recovery Is Always Possible

If one is ill, the Almighty can always heal him. (Chovos Halvovos 4:4)

If a person who is seriously ill gives up hope of being cured, this will weaken him even more. If, however, he remains optimistic that through the Almighty's will there is always the possibility of becoming well, this will benefit him both spiritually and physically.

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All Beginnings Are Difficult

If you wish to become a Torah scholar and find it difficult to study, do not become discouraged and feel ready to quit. All beginnings are difficult, but there is nothing that stands in the way when you have a strong will to accomplish. The essential thing is to be sincerely resolved to be successful.

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Admit To Justified Criticism

As a young man, Rabbi Yosef Dov Soloveitchik of Brisk (19th century author of "Bais HaLevi") once made an offer to a wagon driver. The rabbi would get a ride to a certain city without payment, in return for helping to drive the wagon. Unfortunately, the young rabbi lacked expertise in this skill and made a number of mistakes. The wagon driver kept screaming at him and finally hit him. Near their destination, they stopped at an inn where someone recognized the young man as a brilliant scholar. On discovering the identity of the person he had insulted and hit, the wagon driver was deeply embarrassed. He ran over to Rabbi Soloveitchik and begged his forgiveness.

To the relief of the wagon driver, Rabbi Yosef Dov Soloveitchik forgivingly smiled and said, "What is there for me to forgive? You did not insult me for my lack of Torah knowledge. You were irritated over my lack of skill in driving the wagon. You are correct. I am an ignoramus in this area, and can understand why you become angry at me."

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Improve Your Tone Of Voice

Gain greater awareness of the "tone of voice" of other people. Listen to the way people speak when they are joyous, when they are cheerful, when they are upbeat. Listen to the way people speak when they are calm and relaxed. And listen to the ways people speak when they are impatient or angry.

Let every positive tone of voice serve as a reminder for you to speak with a pleasant tone of voice to others. Let every negative tone of voice serve as a reminder for you not to speak that way to others.

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Make A Positive Identification

Some people identify themselves with their faults, weaknesses, and limitations. This weakens and limits them. Others identify themselves with their virtues, skills, and positive qualities. This strengthens them and brings out their best.

Identify yourself with your strengths and virtues. This will enable you to help others do the same.

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Be Enthusiastic

Give a person enthusiasm and you have given him a key to success. Enthusiasm isn't everything, but it goes far.

When a person goes for a job interview, enthusiasm will give him a better chance of getting hired. Of course, enthusiasm without knowledge and skill alone isn't enough. But an enthusiastic person is more likely to gain the necessary knowledge and skill.

Enthusiasm is energy. And energy is what you need to get up and go. Unfortunately, there are many of whom it can be said, "His get-up-and-go has gotten up and gone."

Don't let that be said about you. Be enthusiastic, and enthusiastically increase the enthusiasm of others.

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Set Your Life To Music

"When you attend a wedding, take the band with you," the Rabbi of Lublin, Rabbi Meir Shapiro, advised his students.

Rabbi Shapiro was a creative Torah leader and educator and mastered joy in all circumstances. His deathbed scene has become one of the most famous in Jewish history. He constantly taught, "Everything we do in life, we should do with joy. Even dying." So as he was breathing his last breaths, he asked his students to dance and sing around his bed. What an amazing teacher! With one statement, he taught them how to live and how to die.

Wherever you are and wherever you go, you can create a mental symphony orchestra. If you prefer, you can create a lively band playing simple tunes. And as you become more of an expert at this, you can increase the amount of musical instruments you will see and hear in your brain. You can have as many drums as you wish, if you enjoy booming loud music. You can have pianos or violins, harps or guitars, horns or accordions, and any unique combination you choose.

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Have the Character to Admit Mistakes

A person who feels he must always be right in an argument may be manifesting a lack of self-esteem. Such a person could be telling himself, "Unless I am always right, I am a failure and a nobody." He fears to admit making a mistake, because he thinks it will lower his value as a person.

However, a person who is a truth seeker and readily admits his mistakes, will gain both the respect of others and will ultimately have more self-respect. Instead of looking at admitting mistakes as a sign of weakness, he looks at it as a sign of intellectual honesty.

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Feel the Benefit of Kindness

What if you don't spontaneously feel joy for doing acts of kindness? Be aware of how you are elevating yourself and becoming a better person.

Imagine the good feelings you would have if someone helped you in the way you are helping others. By entering his world and feeling what he is feeling, you gain a greater appreciation for what you are doing.

You may find this technique difficult, but as you begin to experience it, you increase your ability to do so.

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Persevere in Your Studies

In a letter to someone who found it difficult to study Torah, the 20th century sage the Chazon Ish wrote:

"Some people find it hard to be diligent in their Torah studies. But the difficulty persists only for a short while - if the person sincerely resolves to submerge himself in his studies. Very quickly the feelings of difficulty will go away and he will find that there is no worldly pleasure that can compare with the pleasure of studying Torah diligently."

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Love Comes From Giving

Love comes from "giving to someone." When you do altruistic acts of kindness, you are giving the other person part of yourself. You will therefore feel love for the recipient of your acts of kindness - because you will find yourself included in the other person and you will identify with him. Just as you love yourself, so too will you love the other person.

The ultimate level to strive for is that even if someone wrongs you, you will view it the same as if someone's right hand accidentally cut their own left hand. Of course while you will try to prevent this from happening, you will not take revenge on your own hand!!

The degree of love as you have for yourself is the degree of love we should have for others.

Today, think of a specific person who would gain greatly from your being more giving. (If you can't think of anyone, that person might be you...)

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Growth Amidst Difficulties

If a person internalizes the awareness that everything the Almighty does is for the good, he will not worry.

The story is told of a poor man who devoted his life to Torah study, and although he lived a life of poverty, he was constantly happy. One day at noon he began to cry because he feared he had made a blessing in vain. During the morning service he recited the blessing that "the Almighty has met all my needs." But on this day he had not yet eaten anything and had no money to buy food.

Then he realized poverty itself was his specific need. That was his life challenge: to see if he could live properly and righteously amidst his difficulties.

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Use Your Strengths to Lift You

A person who tends to feel unhappy and discouraged should be cautious about working on humility. Such a person needs to focus on his virtues and strengths. Focusing on his faults and shortcomings is likely to destroy the small amount of joy he does have.

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Compensate for Each Other's Differences

Imagine two people who are very different from each other. This needn't be a source of conflict. Rather, if each one focuses on how to help the other, then the differences between them will actually make their personalities complementary.

Not only will they like each other despite their differences, but rather, because of them. They will even become closer, because their differences provide more opportunities to be of service to each other.

Contrast this to those who focus on what he can take from the other. They will quarrel frequently and eventually end up hating one another.

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Disapproval May Not Be Warranted

Rabbi Naftali of Ropshitz commented, "There will always be people who criticize the behavior of others, regardless of how great they are or what they do."

When someone disapproves of your behavior, it does not necessarily prove you are truly at fault. It is always possible to complain about others' behavior. Another person's disapproval of you may be his personal opinion or critical tendency.

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Help Make Friends

Giving to others will increase your love for them. If you make an effort to help everyone you meet, you will feel close to everyone. Doing acts of kindness for everyone fills your world with friends and loved ones.

"A stranger is someone you have not yet helped."

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You Live in the World of Your Thoughts

You live in the world of your thoughts. A large portion of that world involves the conversations that you are engaged in with yourself.

Throughout the day you engage in self-talk. You comment to yourself about what you are experiencing now, what you've experienced in the past, and what you might experience in the future.

There are patterns of self-talk that can create needless and excessive distress, anxiety, anger, fear, and worry. By recognizing the patterns of thoughts that make you feel bad and limit you, you become aware of the negative patterns that you need to reduce.

On the other hand, there are patterns of self-talk that create appreciation and gratitude, happiness and joy, positive character traits and attributes, kindness and compassion, hope and encouragement. There is self-talk that enables you to make and reach worthwhile goals, that develop your spiritual elevation, that connects you with the Almighty.

The first step to improving your self-talk is to realize the power of what you say to yourself. The more you appreciate that your self-talk decides the quality of your thoughts, feelings, words, and actions, the more motivated you'll be to upgrade the quality of your self-talk.

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Be Resolved to Upgrade Your Self-Talk

Many deficiencies, limitations, and problems that people have in life are essentially rooted in their self-talk. The solution: better and wiser self-talk.

Regardless of the your usual patterns of self-conversation, right this moment it would be wise to be resolved to improve the way you talk to yourself.

Ask yourself, "What self-talk will make the biggest positive difference in my life?"

The resolution to improve your self-talk isn't just one more resolution to add to a long list. Rather, it is something basic that will help you throughout the day, each and every day.