Friday, September 16, 2011

You are where your thoughts are


Guest post from a reader:

I woke up feeling unusually happy and full of chiyus today, in stark contrast to the previous weeks of feeling down and utterly physically and mentally drained from all the mishigas happening on the personal, national and international scene.  I had a sense of real closeness to H-shem, and a feeling of overwhelming gratitude. It was the first time in a long time that I said "modeh ani" and really meant it . 

Then, while still in bed, the thought flashed through my mind that we, the Jewish people, were starting a new era, a new beginning in some way. That every Jew had the power to transform the present perceived reality of "doom and gloom" into a reality of  joy and thanksgiving. I had this vision of every Jew being the center of concentric circles of light and positivity radiating outwards and intersecting with all those around them, ripples in a cosmic pond, until the whole world vibrated with this encompassing light. 

The saying from the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe came into my mind: Think good and it will be good. I'd always related to this injunction as a nice intellectual idea, but never really felt it on a gut level.

Today, I believed in my heart that not only could I live this but that all of us could. I decided then and there that when I spoke to the people around me, I would say, "Did you know that today is international "Think good and it'll be good" day?" From the few people that I mentioned this to, I got some amused reactions; nobody took me seriously. But I still figured that change has to start somewhere and it can (and often does) start with one person.  So what's holding any of us back from truly believing in and living this motto? Our fears and doubts, basically. Fears imposed from the outside Amaleks as well as fears and doubts welling up from our internal Amalek. After all, they don't call the Moslem monsters wrecking havoc on the world terrorists for nothing. And they're not the only sowers of terror and hopelessness. The global media, with their constant emphasis on disaster and horror, is doing an excellent job, too. So that at the end of the day, we're drowning in a painfilled, black sludge that masks the vitality within us and obscures H-shem Himself.

Can we overcome this and finally start to believe that we have the ability to change reality? I think so. And not only by thinking positively and changing our personal circumstances (as some New Age gurus emphasize with their magical formulas that "guarantee"wealth, health and personal happiness).  But to be partners with H-shem, in the fullest sense of the word,and through our positive, holy thinking actually bring the Moshiach and the Geulah NOW!!!

3 comments:

Yonatan said...

Take it a step further. Realize that everything that happens in the world is for you, AND it is for the good. You may not be able to see it yet (though, if you really try, you will) but it is there. This will make it that much easier to talk with Hashem and to actually "hear" his answers to you. Be perceptive, be connected to the entire Jewish people, whatever their position and observance level.

Take one of the messages from this week's parsha and internalize with every mitzvah you perform and every bracha that you speak, that today, for the first time, you have selected G-d and G-d has selected you. Actively think about this before the brachia and you will feel the effect of making the connection with G-d.

Dvora said...

I have been feeling this way for two months and it feels amazing. I see God's hand in everything and I am not only optimistic, but I love that we, the people living today, get to experience and witness this amazing shift. My husband, childen and I talk about it everyday from the moment we wake up until we go to sleep (yes my children go to school and my husband and I go to work- but you get what I mean). I told my youngest that everytime she does a mitzvah a new angel is created just for her and her "network" is getting bigger and bigger. The affect on her life has been beautiful. Shabbat Shalom to all.

Anonymous said...

very timely, personally. been neglecting the aspect of community, achdus, descending the isolating tower that i've constructed, instead of just harvesting "first fruits". i need to get my hands down and dirty into the trenches, instead of jockeying for ATTN in cyberspace like gog jetson. after reviewing tehillim overnight, i realized that our collective joy stirs shamayim into exponential action or something. to shatter my iron kli and release burning embers, in solidarity. i appreciate timely pashkavalim, occasionally, so B"H