Daily Lift by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin

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#300 You Are Not At Risk

Fear of failure is a prime cause of anxiety. People think, "If I don't succeed, I am a worthless failure."

Someone who fears failure is not willing to take the risks that are an essential ingredient in every new undertaking. This prevents him from taking action in many situations in which he could accomplish a great deal.

If someone accepts that his intrinsic worth as a person is never at risk --even if he does not succeed at a given task - then he is likely to try much more to accomplish.

[phkrause]

#301 Get Beyond the Mask

It's easy to be intimidated by mean people. See through their mask. Underneath is an insecure and unhappy person. They are alienated from others because they are alienated from themselves.

Have compassion for them. Not pity, not condemning, not fear, but compassion. Feel for their suffering. Identify with their core humanity. You might be able to influence them for the good. You might not. Either way your compassion frees you from their destructiveness. And if you would like to help them change, compassion gives you a chance to succeed.

[phkrause]

#302 Worry is Created by Self-Talk

The more you engage in joyful and grateful self-talk, the more your mind will be free from worry.

Some people tell themselves, "It’s my nature to worry." But the truth is that no one is born a worrier. A person might have started worrying at a young age and have many early memories of worrying. A person might find it very difficult not to worry. But this isn’t someone’s basic nature. Worry is essentially self-talk about something negative that you hope won’t happen. You feel anxious and distressed about the possibility.

One way out of the worry pattern is to think of potential solutions. Whenever you worry about something, imagine three or more alternate outcomes.

A happy and joyful person has mastered the art of thinking in patterns that create happiness and joy. Let this be your mind.

[phkrause]

#303 Love Criticism

Work on developing a love for accepting criticism. When you have a sincere desire to grow and develop, you will appreciate the opportunities that arise for further growth and development.

Criticism expressed with profound love and concern is easier to handle than criticism expressed with anger or condescension. But if what is said to you is beneficial for you, accept it regardless of how it is said.

[phkrause]

#304 Soften Criticism

If someone is critical of you in a harsh tone of voice, try telling them the following:

"I appreciate your strong feelings about the matter, but I would appreciate the comments more if they were expressed more pleasantly."

[phkrause]

#305 Thanks For The Criticism

Be resolved for the next two weeks to thank anyone who criticizes you.

Visualize yourself being able to do this with a sense of inner joy. Since you're mentally prepared to do this, it will be much easier to implement.

[phkrause]

#306 Talking to the Little Child Within

We all have many positive messages stored in our mind since childhood. Counterproductive and limiting messages are stored, too. We may have outgrown many of them. but often, not all of them. Now, in the present, we have the ability to talk to the "little child" within, as it were. You can immerse your childhood self with positive and life-enhancing messages.

Some people find that giving encouraging and empowering messages to their "inner child" helps them do more than just develop new attitudes and mindsets.

What is the main message that is so important for every child to have? It is the awareness that he is a valuable human being. He is lovable; other people will like him and want to be friends with him. He has positive qualities now and he will be able to continue developing these and other positive qualities throughout his life. He is competent and able to do many things, and he will be able to keep learning new things throughout his life.

People who already have these positive attitudes, beliefs, and mind-sets are fortunate. Those who don’t yet have them need to make it a high priority to keep developing them. By talking to your "inner child" directly, you can make it easier for your mind to integrate these basic and fundamental attitudes towards yourself and your life.

Think of some positive things that you wished someone would have told you when you were growing up. Now you can say these and similar things to your "inner child." You know better than anyone else what your "inner child" needs to hear. Say it in ways that your "inner child" will understand.

As you keep growing and developing, you become more aware of your true talents, skills, and abilities. When you were younger, wouldn’t it have been wonderful if some wise individual had told you all the good things about you? Now you have the ability to tell your "inner child" what it will eventually learn and know and accomplish. Imagine the good feelings that your "little child" will feel when it receives the reassurance that you can now give it.

[phkrause]

#307 Power Up With Enthusiasm

Rabbi Simcha Zissel of Kelm (19th century Europe) wrote: "There is no comparison between doing something with enthusiasm and joy and doing it without enthusiasm and joy. If we would do everything with enthusiasm, there is no limit to the elevated levels we would reach. Enthusiasm generates power. A person with enthusiasm is able to overcome laziness and pursue wisdom and higher spiritual levels."

Live today with enthusiasm. "But," you might say, "there are many things I have to do that I'm not interested in doing." But wouldn't you do it with enthusiasm if you were being paid a large amount of money to do it?!

Knowing that you have the ability to generate enthusiasm will transform the entire quality of your life. Hear the inner sounds of enthusiasm. Feel the feelings of enthusiasm permeating your entire being.

Today, pick a task you've been procrastinating - and generate enthusiasm to accomplish it!

[phkrause]

#308 Don't Let Materialism Distract You

A man once said to the Chafetz Chaim, "Rabbi, I have just bought a lottery ticket. Could you please give me a blessing that I will win, since the money I acquire will enable me to study Torah with peace of mind."

The Chafetz Chaim gently blessed him, "May the Almighty help you study Torah with peace of mind."

The man was disappointed that the Chafetz Chaim did not give him a blessing to win the lottery. It occurred to him that perhaps the Chafetz Chaim did not hear him exactly, so he repeated - this time in a louder voice - that he would like a blessing to win the lottery.

Very calmly the Chafetz Chaim reiterated the same blessing, word for word as before.

Today, ask yourself: Are my material possessions in any way distracting me from the real goals of life?

[phkrause]

#309 Find Pleasure in Torah Learning

Every person, regardless of his level of understanding, has the ability to derive pleasure from his Torah studies. Just as great sages like Rabbi Akiva and the Vilna Gaon derived pleasure from their level, so too a young child can appreciate what he studies on his own level.

That is one of the greatest beauties of the depth of Torah.

[phkrause]

#310 The Wealth Of Torah

During a holiday, students at the Lakewood Yeshiva were elated at the words of Rabbi Aharon Kotler, the Rosh Yeshiva, who had just delivered an inspiring holiday lecture.

At the end of his talk, the students began to sing a tune to the words from King David's Psalms, "Were it not for Thy Torah being my delight, I would have succumbed to my poverty..."

Rabbi Kotler interrupted the singing, and said with great joy:

"King David was tremendously wealthy. Yet except for the enduring possession of Torah, King David was drowning in a sea of poverty!"

[phkrause]

#311 Feel Joy In Overcoming Obstacles

A powerful general will prefer difficult military assignments because he wants to show his strength and abilities when he is victorious.

Similarly, if you feel strong love for another person, you will experience joy when you find opportunities to express the full extent of love for that person.

So, too, when you have a strong love for the Almighty, the greater the obstacles in your path when trying to serve Him, the more joy you will experience - because this is an opportunity to show the strength of your commitment.

The next time you face an obstacle, focus on the fact that this enables you to feel greater love for the Almighty. Feel a sense of joy and empowerment that you can express your love by overcoming obstacles.

[phkrause]

#312 Boost Your Self-Esteem Objectively

People with low self-esteem are frequently very good people by objective standards, but have high aspirations and hence feel frustrated in not reaching their lofty goals. Since they are not perfect, they consider themselves failures and this leads to many negative consequences.

It is important for such people to realize they are thinking in either/or terms: "Either I am perfect, or else I am a failure."

In truth, each area of behavior and personality has numerous levels along a continuum. If you are not perfect, you need not rate yourself as a failure. Focus on improvement, instead of absolute perfection.

It is worthwhile for a person with low self-esteem to write a list of the minimum standards of a basically good person. He is then able to see more objectively whether or not he is meeting those standards.

[phkrause]

#313 Self-Conscious About Praise

Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchak, the Chozeh of Lublin, once praised someone in the presence of other people, and the person's face turned red. The rabbi told him, "You have not yet reached the proper level. Work on yourself to react to praise and insults in the same manner. Try to rise above caring whether someone praises or insults you. You are still too self-conscious about being praised."

[phkrause]

#314 See Frustrations in Perspective

A basic reason we get angry is because we exaggerate the importance of things. When we realize that something is trivial and unimportant, we don't become angry.

Whenever you feel angry about something, try to see how petty the matter is in the big picture. The vast majority of occurrences fall into this category. Keep in mind that we are in this world for a very short time, and the things that upset us are of minor importance in the entire scheme of the universe.

[Naomi]

Could it be that a person is self-conscious about being praised (or insulted) due to a large ego? ... too much ABM

[Naomi]

[phkrause]

#315 Remodel Your Anger Mistakes

Realize that even the greatest people make errors of judgment when they are angry. Moshe was on an extremely high spiritual level and had profound insights. Nevertheless, when he became angry he erred in understanding the Almighty's will.

Think of three incidents when you made mistakes because you became angry. Right now, mentally "relive" those situations and imagine yourself handling them instead in the best possible way. Let this serve as a resource for the future.

[Naomi]

pkrause, What a way to start my day.

I just did this "exercise" ... (a good reminder of Mother's teaching). I felt pretty stupid when I relived my last couple of angry melt-downs ... and how much easier it would have been if I had handled them differently.

Thanks!

[Naomi]

PKRAUSE

Remodel your anger Mistakes

Yes we need to pray about this in our life's

dgrimm60

Good dgrimn ... just remodel them

[phkrause]

#316 Take A Relaxing Break

Regardless of your physical condition, your present state is determined by your thoughts. Your emotional reality depends upon the focus of your mind.

Today, think of five places, either places you have already visited or would like to, that you can go to for mental vacations. Mentally go to a place where you will automatically experience the state you wish to be in.

Remember: Since we are dealing with your mind, no place is too far away. And the transportation costs are always free.

[phkrause]

#317 Use Events For Character Building

Every event and situation in your life is designed as a test of your character. For example, both poverty and wealth are tests. A wealthy person is tempted to become arrogant and forget the Almighty. A poor person, meanwhile, may be tempted to steal or commit fraud. Whether life is going smoothly, or whether it has suffering, it is all part of God's plan to strengthen our moral character.

This perspective will change our response to any event that occurs in our lives. Knowing that something is a "test of character" will make it easier to past those tests with flying colors!

Today, think of a recent event in which you may have mishandled the situation, or responded inappropriately. Then work through what can you now do to correct that and transform it into a spiritual victory.

[phkrause]

#318 Find Hidden Openings for Kindness

When you identify yourself as a person who loves kindness, you will notice opportunities you hadn't noticed before. You will always feel that it's up to you to do as much good as you can in your life.

[phkrause]

#319 The Greatest Day of Your Life

What would help you view today as the greatest day of your life? If today you have a greater awareness of your immense intrinsic value than ever before, then today is the greatest day of your life. If today you decide to upgrade your character beyond ways that you have done before, then today is the greatest day of your life. If today you make goals and plans that go beyond previous goals and plans, then today is the greatest day of your life.

If today you have a greater spiritual awareness and feel more connected with the Creator than ever before, then today is the greatest day of your life.

[Naomi]

This is indeed the greatest day of my life