Flipping the Switch

Lately I've felt stuck in a rut not really seeing any forward motion from hard work I've been putting in towards some of my personal goals. Needless to say it's been frustrating.  What happened to all my hard work, I wondered? All my "blood, sweat and tears?" Does it just evaporate into nothingness? 

There is an idea in Judaism that every action you take or prayer you utter has an effect, if not now then later. As above, so below -- there are repercussions to everything we do in this world it just sometimes takes time to see their effects, like a stone tossed in the water it takes time for the ripples to disseminate out. 

A couple of weeks ago I got a What's App message from one of my dear friends in England.  I had picked up my phone to see 10 What's App messages from her, then 11, then 12, then 13, then 14. They kept increasing and not only that but it was at least two o'clock in the morning her time.  Okay, "What's going on?"  I wondered.  I picked up my phone and read through her messages somewhat in disbelief. 

About 3 years ago someone had written an article about inspiring Jewish quotes and I had contributed one of my favorite quotes along with a short sentence describing why I connected to it and found it inspiring. That day my friend had What's App'ed me she saw my name and the quote posted on the Facebook status of her former neighbor.  He had been involved in a terrible life threatening accident several years ago and had posted it on the anniversary of the accident saying how grateful he was to have survived.   

What are the chances that my friend would see my quote with the sentence I wrote posted on her former neighbor's Facebook wall? The truth was I submit that quote and afterwards thought nothing of it.  After hearing this story I got major goosebumps.  You may be standing there flipping the switch and not seeing the light but somewhere in the world the light is shining for someone.

So what was the quote I submit to this article and that my friend's neighbor posted on his Facebook page? I'm sure you're wondering... :) 

"The salvation of G-d came come in the blink of an eye." 
--Pesikta Zutreta, Esther 4:17

No matter how bleak something may look, salvation could be just around the corner. God can change everything in the blink of an eye. This quote teaches us to always have hope; redemption can come at any moment.

Opening the Door

We are officially in the last two weeks before the Jewish new year, Rosh Hashana. The name of the game now is personal growth and how we maximize ourselves to get the most out of the big day.

For me that means going over my personal growth goals from last year and figuring out if I hit my projections or if I came up short. In addition it means setting a few new goals moving forward.  Yes, this means reflecting on our successes but as much as we might try to avoid it, it also means taking an honest look at and evaluating where we could put in some more effort as well.  

No goal will work however if it's not backed by the two secret ingredients of self confidence and self esteem.  If my goal is not gossiping about other people and from the get go I walk around saying, "I'll never be able to watch what I say about other people, I'm not a rabbi!" Then our self-limiting belief about our personal success in this area is killing it from the get go and you're dead in the water.  

King Soloman said, "The door turns on its hinge and the lazy man on his bed." Rabbi Pincus translates the hinge in this analogy as a person's self concept and goes on to say that "The way you define yourself is the level you assign yourself." 

We can only open a door as far as the hinge will allow the door to swing.  When you have a limiting self concept you're preventing the door to a higher level of possibilities in your life from opening.  When you are able to really work on your goals and believe that you not only can but will achieve them the door swings open and the sky is the limit.  I wish you all much success in achieving your goals this new year and may the door to much blessing swing open for you.