Daily Lift by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin

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#919 Wake Up With Joy

What are your first thoughts when you wake up in the morning? Regardless of the past, from here on choose thoughts of gratitude. The more joy you experience in your life, the more gratitude you will have and the easier this will be for you.

When you first wake up in the morning, express your profound gratitude for the gift of life. Getting off to a good start sets the tone for the rest of the day. This is the power of saying the Modeh Ani prayer the first moment you are awake: "I express my gratitude to You, the King Who is alive and always exists, for returning my soul to me, with compassion. Great is your trustworthiness."

(From Rabbi Pliskin's "Happiness", p.21-2)

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#920 Do Mitzvahs with Joy

Every mitzvah should be performed with joy. One aspect of "mitzvah joy" is to do the good deed with all your energy and ability.

For example: Rather than offer a needy person a morsel of food, serve him a hearty meal!

(see Midrash - Vayikra Rabbah 34:9; cited in Rabbi Pliskin's "Gateway to Happiness," p.94)

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#921 Do It With Joy

There are many tasks, jobs, and chores that we will end up doing whether we really enjoy doing them or not. Many hours of our lives are spent this way. The late Rabbi Chaim Friedlander, of Ponevehz Yeshivah, used to say, "If you are going to do it anyway, do it with joy."

(From Rabbi Pliskin's "Happiness",p.62)

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#922 Do Your Mission With Joy

The Baal Shem Tov, founder of the Chassidic movement, said, "The Almighty has sent you into this world on an appointed errand. It is His will that you accomplish your errand in a state of joy."

Today, view yourself as on a special mission from G-d. Think of the way you are unique and special. Experience the joy that is beginning to permeate your entire being as you reflect on this

(see Gateway to Happiness, p.27)

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#923 True Joy

A person who has mastered the quality of serenity (menuchah) and has true peace of mind, will feel inner peace and intense joy when going through any life-test. He does not even label the situation 'a test.' Rather, he calls it 'living.'

He utilizes all of his strength and power in any difficult situation. His trust in the Almighty is manifest on a practical level, and this is the goal of his life.

Even though the life-test might persist for a long time (or new ones may arise), he still does not perceive the situation as a burden or misfortune. On the contrary, in such situations his spirit of life becomes aroused because he derives pleasure from being able to rise above his instincts. He does not allow himself to be defeated by anger or despair, and there is no greater pleasure in life than this.

(see Rabbi Yosef Hurwitz of Nevardok - Madraigos Haadam; Rabbi Pliskin's "Consulting the Wise")

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#924 All's Well That Ends Well

In his later years, Rabbi Yechezkel Levenstein wrote that those situations which initially caused him suffering were ultimately the cause of good fortune.

We can never really be certain that any event will actually be bad for us. Why assess an event as definitely negative, when it can turn out in a way that you will clearly see is for your benefit?

(see Ohr Yechezkail - michtavim, p.326; Gateway to Happiness, p.63)

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#925 Unexpected Opportunities for Kindness

Wherever you are, you are there for a reason. There are times when the reason is patently evident. Other times you will need to be patient to understand why.

Having a "kindness consciousness" will enable you to better understand seemingly puzzling occurrences. The less you want to be in a certain place, the more you should be on the lookout for opportunities to make a difference in someone's life.

(From Rabbi Pliskin's book Kindness)

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#926 People Are Opportunities For Kindness

View each encounter with a fellow human being as an opportunity to give and help.

When you meet someone, let your first thought be, "What can I do for this person?"

(From Rabbi Pliskin's book Kindness)

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#927 How Do I Know If This Is Good For Me?

When events occur in your life, at least leave the situation as a question mark in your mind, "How do I know this will really turn out bad for me?"

The answer is that you never know with absolute certainty that it will. Many things that you now perceive as strongly negative are questionable if they will really turn out bad. Why make yourself irritated in a doubtful situation by taking for granted that this is really so negative?

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#928 Melting Under Analysis

There are many illusory fears that will melt under analysis. When you find something difficult for you to do, ask yourself, "What exactly am I afraid of?" Often you will find that your fears have no basis in reality. In other instances, there might be a slight loss, but it is actually quite minor and trivial.

A similar question to ask is, "What is the worst that could happen if I say or do this?" Often, your answer will be, "Nothing much."

Another question is, "How probable is it that I will actually suffer if I say or do this?" When you ask someone for some information or even to buy something, the worst that will happen is that the person will refuse to give you the information, or he will refuse to buy what you are selling. If you wouldn't have asked, you are guaranteed not to get the information or the sale.

So when you ask, the worst-case scenario is exactly the same as if you wouldn't ask. Asking has the potential for improving the situation and you have nothing to lose.

(From Rabbi Pliskin's book, "Courage")

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#929 Serenity Of Shabbos

When one observes Shabbos with a total sense of serenity, every time one thinks of Shabbos, one will feel more peaceful.

Some Shabbos observers focus on all the work they need to do for Shabbos and feel tense about this. Mentally go beyond the work you need to do. Remember that on Shabbos you will celebrate all that you have, all that exists on our planet, and all that exists in the entire cosmos. This is mind-boggling. Let the joy and serenity of Shabbos permeate your being during your entire stay in this world.

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#930 Fame and Happiness

Many people mistakenly think that being famous will automatically make them happy.

But happiness depends on what goes on in your mind and not what happens "out there." Hence if you are thinking negative thoughts, you will be sad even if everyone else in the world is speaking about how great you are. Conversely, if you think positive thoughts, you will feel good even if no one gives you honor.

Happiness is dependent on your thoughts and not on what other people say about you, unless you tell yourself you cannot be happy without the approval and honor of others. But when such is the case, the main problem is not that others do not give you honor, but that you tell yourself it is awful that other people do not give you the honor you arbitrarily demand.

(Rabbi Pliskin's Gateway to Happiness, p.269)

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#931 Steer Clear Of Past Problems

Avoid asking irrelevant questions about the past that will be annoying to others. If someone keeps complaining to you about the past, ask him, "What can presently be done about it? If nothing, isn't it better to focus on other things?" If the other person persists on talking about the past, weigh the situation. At times you might be doing someone an act of kindness by listening to him. In other circumstances you are better off ignoring statements about the past and thus teaching the other person it is not worthwhile to discuss with you something which is over and done with.

(Rabbi Pliskin's Gateway to Happiness, p.148)

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#932 Present Tests

The past is only memories.

The future is but illusory hopes.

Focus on the present. For that is where your life really is. And it consists only of tests.

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#933 Live Your Moments

Rabbi Alter of Nevardok said that if a person constantly focuses on the future, he entirely loses out on the present moments. Then, when the future finally becomes the present, he will continue to focus on the future of that future. Hence he never has a present.

(Chayai Hamussar, vol.1, pp.67-8; Rabbi Pliskin's Gateway to Happiness, p.145)

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#934 Expect New Tests

In every stage of spiritual growth, a person has different impulses and desires. The more elevated a person becomes, the more he has to fight off strong impulses.

A person should not imagine he is on a low level because he feels stronger impulses than before he worked on improvement. Expect new tests whenever you reach a higher spiritual level.

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#935 Accept the Will of the Almighty

Totally accept the will of the Almighty and you will free yourself from the suffering caused by expectations.

(For a series of probing questions on this topic, see Rabbi Pliskin's "Gateway to Self Knowledge," p.230)

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#936 Appreciate Your Freedom

To appreciate what you have, develop your ability to form mental images. In the Pesach Haggadah, the Sages say we are obligated to view ourselves as having "once been slaves who have now gained freedom."

The more you are able to picture what life would be like if you were a slave and how elated you would feel on obtaining your freedom, the more grateful you will feel that you are presently free. As Pesach approaches, try to imagine that feeling.

(see Daas Chochmah Umussar, vol.1, pp.130-45; Gateway to Happiness, p.46)

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#937 Put Down Sad Thoughts

When you feel sad, write down which thoughts are causing your sadness. Then challenge those negative thoughts with more positive ways of viewing matters. Writing this down is frequently more effective than just thinking about it.

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#938 Be Mindful Of The Effects Of Impatience

Being on the receiving end of someone else's impatience gives us a first-hand experience of what others experience if we are impatient with them.

Doesn't it feel distressful to be rushed by an impatient clerk? Isn't it irritating when someone you call up for instructions or to register a complaint is too impatient to hear you out? Isn't it annoying when you're going as fast as you can and someone yells, "Hurry up already!"

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#939 Whether Praise or Insults

Whether others praise or insult you, the goal to strive for is that both should be equal in your eyes.

This is such a lofty ideal that most people will consider it impossible. But the more we are aware that there is no practical difference between praise and insults, and that we have intrinsic worth regardless of what others say, the less praise and insults will affect us.

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#940 Writing Commitments

People who forget important appointments and tasks might use the excuse that "it's not my fault that I forgot." In truth, a person is greatly responsible for not writing things down.

Make a habit of writing down your obligations and commitments in a notebook where you can review them. It will prevent many unnecessary problems.

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#941 Profit From Insults

Rabbi Yerucham Levovitz said, "When someone insults you, even for selfish reasons, do not automatically disregard what he says. Rather, check yourself to see if there is any aspect of truth, regardless of his intention, and try to learn from it."

For example, if someone says you are "lazy," instead of becoming upset, use this as a motivation to overcome some aspect of laziness you do have. Even though you are usually not lazy, you can still improve.

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#942 Fear Of Insults

Fear of insults is worse than the actual pain of insults.

Many people have strong fears about being insulted or humiliated. But the actual pain will be minimal if you don't dwell on it and keep telling yourself how awful the insult is.

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#943 Feelings Aren't Facts

Some people feel discouraged. They then assume that these feelings are facts: since they feel discouraged that is a "proof" there is no hope. But feelings only represent a person's present state of mind, they cannot predict the future.

They can ask themselves: "Do my present feelings actually prove that there is no hope?" Of course not. There is never absolute proof that your situation will not improve. By believing you have no hope, you are causing yourself great harm. Adopt the attitude: "It is always possible that the future will turn out much brighter than I presently feel it will. What constructive action can I take for improvement?"