Daily Lift by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin

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#566   Deal With Others as They are Now

In your relations with other people, live in the present. Reviewing past misdeeds and failures of the people you associate with just adds fuel to the fire of resentment. Try to deal with people the way they are now. True, they might have offended you in the past, but what do you gain by thinking about it now?

If you find it difficult to stop thinking of others' past offenses, write a list of what you gain by thinking of that past, and another list of how you lose by doing so. When you see the harm you are causing yourself, you will be more motivated to let go of the past.

(Rabbi Pliskin's Gateway to Happiness, p.146)

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#567   Concentrate on your Next Step

A man came to the town of Krasny, Russia, and publicized he would balance himself on a rope tied on both sides of a river. Rabbi Chaim Krasner, a disciple of the Baal Shem Tov, brought some of his students to watch the man perform. Rabbi Chaim's students, noticing how their teacher concentrated deeply on the man, asked why it caught his interest.

"I was contemplating how this person puts his life in danger to walk across the rope. If he would think about how much money he will receive for his act, he would surely slip and fall. The only way he can keep his balance is to free his mind from every other thought, and concentrate completely on each step. If his mind would wander for even a moment, he would fall into the river. That is the level of concentration we too must master."

(Tiferes Heyhudi, p.9; Rabbi Pliskin's Gateway to Happiness, p.151)

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#568   Purposefulness Lightens Suffering

The Talmud states that all suffering is purposeful. When we suffer, we should view it as a message to check our behavior for areas we can improve.

Viewing suffering as meaningless increases one's pain. When you find meaning and purpose in suffering, it becomes much easier to bear. The more meaning you see, the lighter the burden. The worst suffering is when one feels there is no purpose in it.

The basic Torah perspective is that whatever happens to a person is purposeful and ultimately for his good.

(Talmud - Brachot 5a; Rabbi Pliskin's Gateway to Happiness, p.258)

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#569   Our Bodies are not Our Selves

In Western society, the body has been deified. Many judge themselves by their physical beauty and strength (or lack of it). The Torah attitude is that our bodies are tools for spiritual elevation.

The value of a tool is not in its appearance but in its function. A person who looks at his body as a tool for spiritual growth does not think less of himself if he has a physical handicap. Since his body is a tool, he is only expected to utilize the tool that he was given.

(Alai Shur, vol.1, p .60; Gateway to Happiness, p.123)

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#570   Develop your Motivational Skills

When you try to help others and they don't listen to you, you have a choice. You can say "it's impossible to help them" and blame them for not being more open. Or you can view the situation as your own lack of proficiency at influencing and motivating others.

A blame-free attitude is the best path to choose. This can motivate you to develop your skills and talents on how to persuade, influence, and motivate. It could be that what you said is exactly what this person needs. As you enhance your presentation skills, in the future you will influence others to follow your beneficial suggestions.

(From Rabbi Pliskin's book Kindness)

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#571   Joy In Mitzvahs Greater Than This World

A person who feels joy when performing mitzvahs will forget all his suffering and misfortunes. In comparison to becoming closer to the Almighty, of what import is pettiness and trivialities?

A person who experiences joy in doing good deeds will feel greater joy than a person who finds a large sum of money. Why should a person expend his efforts trying to find happiness in areas where the basis is transient and ultimately meaningless, when he has a far better alternative?

(Mussray Rebbeinu Yehonoson, p.139; cited in Rabbi Pliskin's "Gateway to Happiness," p.95)

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#572   Good Traits are Easier Than You Thin

Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto (18th century Italy) wrote:

"I cannot deny that it will take hard work to free yourself from negative traits. Nevertheless, I can honestly tell you that not as much effort is needed as might at first appear. What you need appears more difficult than it will actually be in practice. When you are sincerely motivated to work consistently to free yourself from your faults, the positive habits you begin to establish will render the entire process much easier than you originally thought. Experience confirms this to be true."

Today, think about what positive habits you'd wish to master. Either write them down, or make a mental picture of how your life would be enhanced by mastering these traits. The stronger your feelings abut how much you will gain, the more motivated you will be.

(see Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto - Path of the Just, ch.11)

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#573   Experience Joy For All That You Have

Re-experience joy for what you have at every moment. That way, each moment you are once again reacquiring anew all that you have.

When something is new, we strongly appreciate it. After a while, the joy often wears off.

Right this second you can experience tremendous joy for all that you have. You may not be able to maintain this feeling for more than a few minutes. But as long as you can - fantastic!!

(see Rabbi Chaim of Volzhin; Ruach Chaim 4:1)

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#574   Change Yourself, Change The World

When you observe the suffering that people experience in the world, much of it comes from negative character traits. At the root of much needless suffering is envy, desire, honor and approval-seeking, anger and frustration.

By improving your character traits, you can actually overcome all the suffering that could potentially arise.

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

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#575   Being Truly Fortunate

The person who is truly fortunate in this world is the one who has authentic trust in the Almighty. He is able to sustain a feeling of well-being when things go well as well as when things are challenging. He experiences a sense of well-being whether he has a lot or a little. He experiences this well-being whether people meet his expectations or whether they don't. His well-being is constant, because his trust in the Almighty gives him the awareness that his life has a plan that is specially designed for his welfare. The nature of that plan becomes clearer all the time. The reality of what occurs in his life is what Hashem in His infinite wisdom knows is ultimately best for his unique spiritual needs.

(Rabbi Pliskin's Growth Through Tehillim: Exploring Psalms for Life Transforming Thoughts, p. 16)

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#576   Sustaining Hope

There are many life situations and circumstances in which it is easy to be pessimistic. It might be easy to give up hope particularly when others make discouraging comments.

Let us always believe in the benevolence of our loving Father and powerful King. Let this belief be so strong that nothing anyone says can cause us to lose hope.

(Rabbi Pliskin's Growth Through Tehillim: Exploring Psalms for Life Transforming  Thoughts, p. 18)

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#577   Connecting with the Infinite

"And those who love Your Name will exult in You (Psalms 5:12)." Every time we mention the Almighty's name with love, we are connecting with eternity. We are not merely in the physical spot where we stand or sit. We are between two eternities: The eternity before this moment, and the eternity after this moment. We are connecting with the Infinite. Whenever we say Hashem's name, we should bear in mind that: "He is the Master of all that exists. He always was, He always is, and He always will be" (Shulchan Aruch 5:1)

(Growth Through Tehillim: Exploring Psalms for Life Transforming Thoughts, p. 26)

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#578   Your Value as a Human

Without the value and power that our Creator has given us we are nothing. We are dust and ashes. With the value and power that is the gift to each one of us by our loving Father and King, Creator and Sustainer of the universe, we are remarkable beings. The entire world was created for us.

This view of humanity can instill in us both humility and positive self-esteem. Our value is given to us by Hashem, no human being can take it away. We do not need any mortal's approval or appreciation to claim our value. It is a given.

(Growth Through Tehillim: Exploring Psalms for Life Transforming Thoughts, p. 26)

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#579   Mastering Gratitude

What would it be like to be a master of the attribute of gratitude? A truly grateful person is a joyful person. He is grateful for the past positive things the Almighty has done for him, and he appreciates all the present things for which he can be grateful. This gratitude fills his heart and mind. His gratitude-consciousness is such an integral part of him, that it has nothing to do with what will occur in the future. The present gratitude is total and complete. King David is our role model. We too wish to be able to say with him, "I will thank Hashem with all my heart."

(Growth Through Tehillim: Exploring Psalms for Life Transforming Thoughts, p. 36)

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#580   Success In Life

We constantly need to increase our understanding that all that happens to us in life was orchestrated by the One Who directs all events, situations, and circumstances. We are the actors who perform against the background that has been set up for us.

However, unlike an actor in a major play where the entire script of what will be said and done has been written by someone else, in our lives we have total freewill to choose what we will say and what we will do. It is our choices of words and actions that will make our lives a tremendous success or not.

The criteria for success and failure has nothing to do with how eloquently we speak or how dramatically we carry out our actions. Rather, success is speaking and acting according to the will of the Almighty.

(Growth Through Tehillim: Exploring Psalms for Life Transforming Thoughts, p. 56)

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#581   Sustaining Inner Strength

Do you want to enhance your life? Keep repeating throughout the day, "I love you, Hashem, my strength." As you repeat this a number of times each day, you will feel yourself being strengthened spiritually and emotionally. You will be able to remember that Hashem is your Rock, your Fortress, and your Rescuer (Psalms 18:2,3). Hashem is the source of your strength. Recognizing this, gives you an inner strength that will sustain you on a high level each and every day.

(Growth Through Tehillim: Exploring Psalms for Life Transforming Thoughts, p. 59)

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#582   The Positive Energy of Hope

If you have negative traits, constantly work on acting in a manner that is diametrically opposed to them. This will make those negative traits foreign to you.

Take it slow, and keep in mind that this is a lifelong process!

(see Rabbi Eliyahu Lopian - Lev Eliyahu, vol.1, p.43; Rabbi Pliskin's "Consulting the Wise")

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#583   For the Sake of Peace

"The blessing of the Almighty is peace." The question to ask ourselves is, "What can I personally do for the sake of peace?" The first step to creating peace is the way we talk to others. The contents of what we say and the tone of voice in which we say it, will be key factors in whether a disagreement or displeasure is expressed with mutual respect or not.

  Make peace a high priority. Be fully committed to speaking in ways that are conducive to peace.

(Growth Through Tehillim: Exploring Psalms for Life Transforming Thoughts, p. 77)

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#584   The Kindness Connection

Speaking and acting with kindness connects you to true and authentic greatness. You are connecting with the Creator, the source of all goodness.

(Growth Through Tehillim: Exploring Psalms for Life Transforming Thoughts, p. 82)

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#585   Thinking Good About Others

I heard many times from Rabbi Chaim Shmuelevitz, the late Head of Mir Yeshiva in Jerusalem. "The commandment to refrain from speaking negatively against others does not start with what we say when we speak. Rather, it starts with what we think about when we think about another person."

The Torah obligation starts with our thoughts. When you master the ability to see what is good about other people, their virtues and positive attributes, their strengths and accomplishments, then you will speak positively about them. Knowing that they have many positive qualities and have done much good, you will find it easier to refrain from violating the Torah prohibition against negative speech.

(Growth Through Tehillim: Exploring Psalms for Life Transforming Thoughts, p. 86)

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#586   Disagree Respectfully

People can have diverse opinions. They can have different personalities. They can have different goals and objectives. Even so, they can choose to interact in peaceful ways, and discuss their differences with mutual respect. At times they will work out solutions to their mutual satisfaction, and at times they will not. Nevertheless, they can be calm, and think clearly about the wisest course to take.

(Growth Through Tehillim: Exploring Psalms for Life Transforming Thoughts, p. 92)

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#587   A Guarantee of Happiness

"And my tongue will express Your charity. Your praise all day long." (Psalms 35:28)

 The charity that King David was referring to was the kindness and charity that the Almighty bestowed on him. Out of gratitude and appreciation for this, King David would praise Hashem all day long.

 Fulfillment of this one verse would guarantee a person a life of happiness and gratitude – an elevated and spiritual life.

(Growth Through Tehillim: Exploring Psalms for Life Transforming Thoughts, p. 94)

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#588   Visiting The Ill

When you visit someone who is ill, you could be doing that person a great service – maybe even save that person's life. You can give hope and encouragement or help with practical matters, that they could not do on their own. You might be able to find out that this person needs the type of medical attention that he would not be able to receive on his own, or he might not have realized that he needed to do more than he is doing.

  Go out of your way to find people who are ill, who would greatly appreciate your visit. If you cannot visit someone in person, call him up and wish him well, or write and let him know that you are thinking about him and care about his welfare.

(Growth Through Tehillim: Exploring Psalms for Life Transforming Thoughts, p. 99)

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#589   The Power of Thoughts

There is tremendous power in our thoughts. Those who use the biofeedback machine called EMP (Electro-myograph) find that the muscle tension of one's muscles changes, even before one says something. Just thinking about saying something immediately changes the tension of the muscles. Your muscles constantly emit electrical energy that is measured in micro-volts (a millionth of a volt), and when you think of saying something that causes you tension, your muscles become tense and they give off more electricity. When you think of saying something that is calming and relaxing, your muscles immediately become more relaxed and give off less electricity. Anyone who uses such a machine can see the power of thoughts in action.

  Note: Using a mirror isn't as sophisticated. But when you think thoughts and then look in a mirror, you will get visual feedback. Observe the difference in your facial expressions when you access negative and non-resourceful states compared with when you access joyful or serene states.

(Growth Through Tehillim: Exploring Psalms for Life Transforming Thoughts, p. 106)

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#590   True Wealth

What is truly valuable? Spiritual wealth. When you nourish your soul in this world, your soul is truly wealthy, for all eternity.

  The good deeds that one does are eternal. A person with financial wealth can transform this into spiritual wealth by doing many acts of kindness with his money. He can help worthy institutions and causes. He can help individuals in financial need. He can support Torah and those who study it.

(Growth Through Tehillim: Exploring Psalms for Life Transforming Thoughts, pp. 108-9)