I wanted to re-emphasize something mentioned in a previous post.
In Words of Faith (Vol. I, pages 410-412), Rav Levi Yitzchak Bender refers to Likutei Moharan, explaining that in order to tame and focus your mind, you need to liberate it.
And Likutei Moharan emphasizes that the only way to liberate your mind is through joy.
Yet especially if you're feeling despondent and loathsome, how can you cultivate such a positive emotion?
By finding good points within yourself.
And again, this idea is directly from Rebbe Nachman's Likutei Moharan.
Paradoxically, Rav Bender uses the example of tackling the negative trait of pride:
In Words of Faith (Vol. I, pages 410-412), Rav Levi Yitzchak Bender refers to Likutei Moharan, explaining that in order to tame and focus your mind, you need to liberate it.
And Likutei Moharan emphasizes that the only way to liberate your mind is through joy.
Yet especially if you're feeling despondent and loathsome, how can you cultivate such a positive emotion?
By finding good points within yourself.
And again, this idea is directly from Rebbe Nachman's Likutei Moharan.
Paradoxically, Rav Bender uses the example of tackling the negative trait of pride:
"For example, I now want to speak to Hashem Yisbarach about...nullifying a certain negative trait, such as pride and the like. In order to do this properly, it is necessary to bind mind to idea. This is done through joy...
But how does one achieve happiness?
By means of the amazing advice in the lesson Azamra L’Elokai B’Odi (Likutei Moharan 282):
To seek and find in myself good points."
So in order not to feel superior and haughty, you davka need to find the superior (i.e. positive) attributes Hashem engraved within you and not the inferior (i.e., negative) attributes He also gave you.
(He gave you negative stuff for the purpose of rectifying and elevating these same negative aspects.)
So, you'd think that in order to feel less superior and less arrogant, you'd need to find the good points of others or to see where you are flawed.
And you do need to do those two things.
But first, find the good points in yourself.
It's counter-intuitive, but it's the truth.
Get happy, feel good about God and yourself...and then focus on your flaws.
In order to plumb your personal depths, you need to first uplift yourself with joy.
For more details, please see How to Use Joy for Self-Improvement.
(He gave you negative stuff for the purpose of rectifying and elevating these same negative aspects.)
So, you'd think that in order to feel less superior and less arrogant, you'd need to find the good points of others or to see where you are flawed.
And you do need to do those two things.
But first, find the good points in yourself.
It's counter-intuitive, but it's the truth.
Get happy, feel good about God and yourself...and then focus on your flaws.
In order to plumb your personal depths, you need to first uplift yourself with joy.
For more details, please see How to Use Joy for Self-Improvement.
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