Rush Into Action

By: Yehuda Berg

Monday, September 1

What we're talking about in these dailies is whenever we see an opportunity to do the right thing, the right restriction, the right giving, the right sharing, the right treatment for our bodies, the right discipline, we don't want to let any thought and space come between the opportunity and the action. Just jump and do it. Grab the opportunity.

The spiritual law is that as you train yourself to jump right away into action, without giving any space for doubts or procrastination, gradually it becomes second nature and we love to do it. We look forward to emotional risks the way we look forward to going to a movie. If we're late for a movie, we hurry into the theater, running toward the movie, right?

Keep running towards the biggest confrontations and fears and challenges in your life. Do it over and over and over and over until it becomes part of you. Rush into action!

What's your risk today?

Break It

By: Yehuda Berg

Sunday, August 31

One holiday, a few years back, a bunch of students were up late (about 2 o'clock in the morning) celebrating. Some were getting tired and started to sit down. My father and teacher, Rav Berg, spoke to us for a second,

"Think about people who drive or fly many hours to go to Las Vegas. They arrive in Las Vegas very tired, but when they're in front of the table they don't think for a second about being tired until it's morning. If they can be so energetic until the next morning, and have so much power when it's total stimulation for the self-alone, can't we bring ourselves to that state with such enormous connection with the Light?"

Yesterday I spoke about laziness and the Rav's point is our laziness is conditional. When it comes to doing things for the self-alone, we're super-motivated. But when it comes to things that require stretching outside of ourselves, there's going to be resistance.

Today, act with passion, energy, and enthusiasm. This is how you break the laziness! All the different reasons we have for not taking risks are just intellectual tricks our dark side plays on us. Don't accept those thoughts - push back!

Get UP!

August 31 — September 6
By: Yehuda Berg

It's been a risky week for those of you who've been following the risk-taking assignments in the dailies. Thank you for writing to me about your victories, and even your failures. (If you are not on the list, make sure to join so you can participate.)

'Ask for It', Tuesday's exercise, led some students to be disappointed because they didn't get what they asked for. This brings up two important points I'd like to share with you.

1. Staying Open

These risk exercises are about opening up. To one degree or another, we are all blocked. Kabbalistically, we are surrounded by klipah (metaphysical barriers) that prevent our Light from fully shining. Every time we go for something that terrifies us, we create cracks in the barrier. The Light is always there, we need only to sweat a little to make an opening for it to come in.

This takes courage and the willingness to fall flat on our face. And to keep falling until we are able to stand up. It's no coincidence that I read a great Japanese proverb this week, fall seven times, get up eight.

So what if you got turned down? Keep risking. Every no brings you closer to a yes.

2. Time is Your Friend

We live in a world of cause and effect, with time creating space between action and reaction. That's why the Light rarely comes in the moment we do something, positive or negative.

From a kabbalistic perspective, time is mercy. Imagine if we felt the effects of our negative actions the moment we did them. It wouldn't be pleasant. And the rare times we do feel the effects on the spot, well, that's what we call a time of judgment. But we don't want that instantaneous cause and effect in our lives. We want the time to do right and correct our actions.

But we can't have it both ways. So, if your positive efforts haven't yet come back to you, know that they will, in time. And remember to learn patience in order to allow the Light to do its magic.

Be careful not to fall into the gap. I can't tell you how many people I've known over the years who were so close, yet gave up because they didn't see results in the time frame they expected.

This week, keep doing the exercises. Even forward to friends who'd like to get involved. And remember, the greater the risk, the greater reward - eventually.



All the best,

Yehuda



72 Name of the Week

My eyes and heart remain focused on the end goal at all times. I awaken the persistence and passion to never - and that means never - ever settle for less!

Float Like Gravity

By: Yehuda Berg

Saturday, August 30

"I'm not a risky person. I would love to be, but I am just too lazy!" (August 27th response from reader)

You are not lazy. Your body is, yes, but not YOU. In his book 'Path of the Just,' kabbalist Rav Luzzatto explains the body has an inner-gravity that keeps everything down and as is. Reaching out, being active and spontaneous, doing something new .. these require so much effort because the body wants to keep things to itself.

He warns us to be ever-vigilant in our battle against the downward pull of our bodily thoughts (I'll do it later, I can't, I don't want to be bothered, It's not going to work anyway...)

Is our soul lazy? Of course not, because being lazy is being bounded and totally controlled by time, space and motion. Our soul wants to and can achieve all our dreams and desires, but it needs to be liberated from the heaviness of the body.

The only way to float against gravity is to act. Like they say on those late-night TV commercials: ACT NOW ... ..OFFER EXPIRES.

Today, be impulsive. I know that word has a negative connotation but I'd like to use it anyway. For me it implies listening to your gut, jumping into situations to jump start your self, and leaving no space for thinking, rationalizing, or procrastination.

You know, just do it.