Daily Lift by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin

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#591   Clear Your Mind

Before prayer clear things between you and your Creator by asking Him for forgiveness for the wrongs you have done. Then, your mind and soul will be ready for all the benefits of prayer to body and soul. In prayer you have an encounter with the Almighty – clear your mind and allow yourself to savor the experience.

(Growth Through Tehillim: Exploring Psalms for Life Transforming Thoughts, p. 114)

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#592   A Pure Heart

"Create a pure heart for me, o G-d, and a steadfast spirit renew within me." (Psalms 51:12)

  This is a very moving verse that many great people would repeat over and over again. It is both a prayer and an affirmation. When you repeat it over and over again, the message of this verse becomes integrated and internalized. You are expressing your fervent desire to have a pure heart. You are asking for a renewal of your spirit.

(Growth Through Tehillim: Exploring Psalms for Life Transforming Thoughts, p. 118)

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#593   Influencing Others

The first step in successfully influencing someone to stop doing wrong and to begin to do good is to sincerely care about this person's well-being. When you have a profound concern for another person then regardless of exactly what you say, that person will experience your sincere caring. However you think and feel, that is the way you will talk. When you are motivated by sincere concern, what you say will be more conducive to effective results.

(Growth Through Tehillim: Exploring Psalms for Life Transforming Thoughts, p. 121)

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#594   Creating Positive Feelings

If you are ever feeling sad or dejected, there is a faster and better way to create a more positive feeling that to simply wait until the feelings change through happenstance. There are a few basic choices with a multitude of variations. You can take positive actions. Perform a mitzvah and experience joy for the good deed you are doing. Also, you can remember the good in your life and the positive things that have happened to you in the past. If need be, you can find a positive lens through which to see your present distress.

(Growth Through Tehillim: Exploring Psalms for Life Transforming Thoughts, p. 124)

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#595   Casting Your Burdens

"Cast your burden upon Hashem, and He will sustain you." (Psalms 55:23)

  Everyone in the world has burdens. Some are heavier than others – some are lighter. You cannot always tell how heavy someone else's burden is; you only have the subjective experience of your own. But know, with clarity, that just as you have burdens, so does everyone else.

  Here we have the ultimate advice on how to handle your burdens: do not do it alone. You never have to do it all yourself. As a matter of fact, it's impossible to do it all yourself. You can call upon the Almighty, your Father, your King, Creator and Sustainer of the universe to help you. Our verse tells us that you can give over your entire load of baggage to Hashem, and He will sustain you.

(Growth Through Tehillim: Exploring Psalms for Life Transforming Thoughts, p. 129)

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#596   Wiser Choices

If you make a serious mistake, and you see that the consequences of that mistake are truly terrible, you still have a choice. As long as you are alive, you can decide at this very moment to make wiser and more elevated choices.

(Growth Through Tehillim: Exploring Psalms for Life Transforming Thoughts, p. 136)

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#597   Pouring Out Your Heart

  When you are in emotional turmoil and distress, verbalizing your thoughts and feelings lets off steam. Talking to someone who cares about you and understands you melts away stress, tension, and emotional pain. Pouring your heart out to your loving Father and powerful King, Creator and Sustainer of the universe is a wonderful way to release the negative energy that you are feeling. After pouring out your heart, your heart becomes lighter.

(Growth Through Tehillim: Exploring Psalms for Life Transforming Thoughts, p. 142)

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#598   Rejoicing of the Righteous

'The righteous one will rejoice in Hashem.' (Psalms 64:11)

If someone recently experienced a great thing in his life: he just got the job of his dreams, he won a great award, he had his first child or grandchild, the person whom he or she was hoping to marry said yes, that house that he considered ideal just became available at a price he could afford, then one's thoughts will be totally focused on the good thing.

Regardless of where a person is, the outside circumstances are not where his mind is. His mind is full of joyful celebration, whether he is by himself or with others.

Such is the mind of the righteous. They are always thinking of Hashem. They are thinking thoughts of studying Torah, or praying to Hashem, and reciting blessings for all the good in their lives, and thoughts of kindness which is emulating the ways of Hashem by being kind to His children. Thinking of Hashem gives them joy, and they are always thinking of Hashem. This is an amazing goal toward which to strive.

(Growth Through Tehillim: Exploring Psalms for Life Transforming Thoughts, p. 150)

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#599   Long-Lasting Pleasure

If people who only seek worldly pleasures would be more aware of what they would gain in terms of living a joyful life by gaining a mitzvah-orientation to life, they would upgrade their entire way of thinking and acting. They want pleasure and joy, and they would realize that the way to long-lasting pleasure and joy is rejoicing in Torah and mitzvos.

(Growth Through Tehillim: Exploring Psalms for Life Transforming Thoughts, p. 152)

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#600   Your Tone is a Tune

  Every time you speak to another person, your tone of voice is either going to be similar to pleasant music or to distressful notes. When a person is frustrated or angry or overwhelmed, the tone of voice emits very different music than when a person is calm and serene, happy and joyful, kind and compassionate.

  If someone would have to sing at his best professionally, regardless of how he felt a few minutes earlier, he knows that he has to put himself into the state of singing well. The more important the reason for singing well, the more motivated he would feel to do the best job he possibly could. That should be our attitude when speaking to another child of the Almighty. We are speaking in the presence of the Creator to one of His children. Speak with a tone of voice that is conducive to harmony with others.

(Growth Through Tehillim: Exploring Psalms for Life Transforming Thoughts, pp. 164-5)

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#601   Joy: The Natural State

The natural state of a human being is joy. Joy is a healthy state – healthy for us spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Lack of joy comes from thinking in ways that block your joy. Different people have different obstacles to their joy. It is easy to blame other people, circumstances, or situations for one's lack of joy, but the only reason that other people, circumstances, and situations might cause a lack of joy is because of the way that one views those factors. The one who views everything in his life as an integral part of his service to the Almighty, will experience joy in dealing with whatever arises. "This, too, is part of my mission in this world."

(Growth Through Tehillim: Exploring Psalms for Life Transforming Thoughts, p. 183)

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#602   Focus On What's Right

Some people mistakenly think they have a natural need for approval and there is nothing they can do to overcome it. The truth is that the adult need for approval is based on demand. If a person decides he needs only his own approval and not that of others, he is able to focus on the question, "What is the proper thing for me to do now?" He does not ask himself, "How will other people look at me?"

This change in focus can be difficult, but once you accept it is possible, you will be able to change your attitude.

(Rabbi Pliskin's "Gateway to Happiness," p.288)

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#603   Fears: Realistic and Irrational

Learn to differentiate between realistic fears and irrational fears. Similarly, differentiate between true trust in the Almighty and folly.

We have an obligation to guard ourselves from potential harm. Failure to behave in a wise manner and opening oneself to danger is not trust in God, but recklessness. Such a person is behaving contrary to the will of the Creator Who wants us to guard ourselves from harm.

(Mesilas Yeshorim, ch.9; Rabbi Pliskin's Gateway to Happiness, p.266)

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#604   Suffering is not the Torah Way

Rabbi Simcha Zissel of Kelm (19th century Europe) wrote: "Some people mistakenly think that to follow the path of the Torah one must reject everything worldly. They are under the misconception that one must live a life of suffering and deprivation, and be submissive to others. This is not the Torah's path which is referred to as "a tree of life" (Proverbs 3:18). The verse (Proverbs 3:17) tells us: "Her ways are ways of pleasantness." The Torah's path is a path of joy, as it says (Proverbs 15:15): "The person with a good heart (Torah ideals) has a continual feast."

If someone is living what appears to be a Torah way of life and is not experiencing a path of joy, there is something wrong with that person's attitude.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if everyone in the world would live a life of joy? Remember: By increasing your personal level of joy today, the total level of joy in the world will be increased!

(see Chochmah Umussar, vol.2, p.190; cited in Gateway to Happiness, p.24)

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#605   Use Only Your Pleasant Voice

Use a pleasant tone of voice when speaking with others.

We all sound much different when we speak with our best tones of voice that we do at our worse. You recognize this more when someone speaks to you. Every time you don't like the tone of voice that someone uses when speaking to you, let it serve as a reminder to speak in a pleasant tone of voice to others.

(see Ralbag - Shaar hadibur)

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#606   Mentally Prepare for a Difficult Situation

Think of any difficult situations that are likely to arise today. Mentally prepare yourself right now to handle them with clear thinking.

(see Rav Pliskin's "Anger: The Inner Teacher," p.344)

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#607   At Least Don't Be Discouraged

Realize that if you ever feel discouraged, your attitude of discouragement is a greater problem than any external hardship.

You can change your attitude.

(For a series of probing questions on this topic, see Rabbi Pliskin's "Gateway to Self Knowledge," p.206)

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#608   An Encouraging Word

A kind word can last forever. An encouraging word can be the foundation upon which many constructive years will be established. Enhancing the self-image of a child with a brief but powerful comment can create a magnificent human being. Words that inspire function like the fuel that enables the rocket to fly high and far.

(From Rabbi Pliskin's book Kindness)

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#609   The Power of a Word

When your words are intended to uplift, encourage, influence, motivate, and inspire -- be aware that what you say can endure for many years. The ensuing benefits can help multitudes of individuals and families for many generations. Your words are powerful. Use them wisely.

(From Rabbi Pliskin's book Kindness)

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#610   Virtue Is Its Own Reward

Some people complain they are not appreciated for what they do for others. This is a concealed form of approval-seeking. While it is normal to want to feel appreciated, to demand appreciation is to cause yourself suffering.

Anyone can do kindness for honor. It is a mark of an elevated person to do kindness when he knows he will not receive any praise in return. Instead of telling yourself, "How awful that my hard work is not appreciated," tell yourself, "I can take pleasure in knowing that I help others even though they do not express proper appreciation."

(Rabbi Pliskin's "Gateway to Happiness," p.284)

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#611   Serenity Is Emotional Freedom

Imagine how wonderful it would be if you could learn to be consistently serene. Serenity is emotional freedom and a general sense of well-being. It is a calm state of mind and body. When you are serene, your brain functions at its optimal level and you think at your best. Serenity is conducive for health and for recovery. Even a tiny bit of serenity is precious.

(From Rabbi Pliskin's book, Serenity, p.9)

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#612   Let Us Do Our Share

The realization that our own strength may be inadequate should never cause us to sink back into inertia. Never refrain from a good endeavor because the difficulties involved seem insurmountable. Keep in mind that we have a mighty Helper in the Almighty in all our good endeavors. Let us do our share; the Almighty will do the rest.

(Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch; The Psalms 37:5; Gateway to Happiness, p.382)

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#613   Focus On The Future

Many complaints people have against one another are about the past and have no future relevance. Many of the questions that begin with, "Why didn't you...?" fall into this category.

Learn to keep your focus on what is relevant for the future. Whatever was, was -- and no amount of blaming will change what has already happened.

(Maimrai Shlomo, vol.1, p.104; Rabbi Pliskin's Gateway to Happiness, p.147)

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#614   Responsibleness - the Greatest Gift

Your attitude toward limitations and disabilities determines to what degree they cause you suffering.

Rabbi Elchonon Hertzman writes that he once met someone who was especially intelligent and knowledgeable, and also partially paralyzed. Although he moved around in a wheelchair, he was extremely calm and patient. He ran a large business and accomplished great things.

One day Rabbi Hertzman heard his story: The handicapped man came from a wealthy home and his parents could afford all the help they wished. Nevertheless, they planned that they would not allow their son's physical defect to be a deterrent factor in his life. They forced him to do everything by himself. They made him cook and clean and do everything he needed without the assistance of anyone else.

At first, the neighbors thought that the parents were exceedingly cruel. They later realized that by instilling in their son the attitude that he could do whatever he had the confidence he could do, the parents had given him the greatest gift possible.

(Bayis Neaman, pp.201; Rabbi Pliskin's Gateway to Happiness, p.239)

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#615   Anger Is Often Premature

There are many situations in life that at first seem as if they are bad for us, but eventually we look back and see how we benefited from what happened. A basic Torah principle is that everything that happens is ultimately for our good (Talmud - Brachot 60b).

Since you would not get angry at someone who helped you, do not get angry at others who "harmed you" -- as it is premature to make a judgment that this person has actually harmed you in the long run.

(Erech Apayim, p.93; Rabbi Pliskin's Gateway to Happiness, p.202)