All of us have frustrations in life. The question is how do we deal with them? Do you get angry? Depressed? A nervous wreck? How are we supposed to keep lifes events from ruining our days? If you dont define the moment, the moment will define you. Life is filled with frustration, difficulties, pain; however, suffering is optional. We all have control over our emotions, if we focus on the moment and dont just flow with our emotions. If someone accidentally spills coffee on you, you may initially feel anger. However, if it is your boss or that special someone you wanted to meet, it is amazing how fast you can control your anger! From a Torah perspective, there is meaning in everything that happens in life. The Almighty has gifted every human being with a body and a soul. It is upon us to develop our souls by acting righteously. Life is an opportunity for us to control our basic animalistic instincts and instead to work on perfecting our behavior and perfecting the world. Just knowing and integrating this concept into your consciousness can dramatically change how you perceive and react to the vicissitudes of life. If you come back to the parking lot and find that someone has dented the side of your car, the initial tendency is to get angry: How could a person do that and not leave a note? My car is damaged! Now I have to spend the time and money to get it fixed! If one lives life understanding that everything that happens has meaning and a lesson for you, he would have all of the initial responses, but then ask: Why did this happen? Whats the meaning in this event? The answer may be as mundane as I should have parked in a manner that gave the other guy more room to get out. Or, the answer may also be, Who have I damaged and not owned up to my responsibility? One way the Almighty deals with us is measure for measure -- as we do, so we reap. There are consequences for our actions both in this world and the next. One receives reward for good deeds and punishment for ones transgressions -- unless one seeks to doteshuva, repentance. Even Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, does not always atone for all transgressions. In addition to regretting ones transgression, making restitution, asking forgiveness, making a plan to avoid the transgression in the future and asking the Almighty for forgiveness ... some transgressions require physical affliction as part of the atonement. Better a dent in the side of a car than sickness or injury to us or one of our children!
Posted on: Mon, 05 Jan 2015 15:55:00 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015