Happiness Hacks

 For a two minute audio recording click here 

Tests demand from us more strength or abilities than we think we have. Through a test we have the ability to go beyond what our rational mind limits us to.

In Hebrew the word for test is ‘nesayon’ and the word for miracle is ‘nes’. Tests and miracles are closely related. A miracle is when G-d breaks out of His standard pattern of natural law and demonstrates unlimited powers. A test is when G-d invites you to do the same.

In the human experience we cannot escape the fact that we will be challenged both from without and within.  These conditions pose a big challenge to our moral and spiritual development.  But our biggest challenge and struggle is also our biggest asset.  For when we indeed overcome challenges through toil, this triumph introduces us to a new and higher level of existence.

 The following story illustrates this point. 

A man once visited the Lubavitcher Rebbe and confided, “I have a problem.  I’ve started to become more Torah observant, but I have a girlfriend who isn’t Jewish and I plan to marry her.”  The man braced himself for some kind of rebuke.  The Rebbe’s response took the man by total surprise.  “I envy you,” the Rebbe said.

“The tests you face are ladders that elevate you to great heights.  There are many ladders in life.  The ladders present themselves as life’s challenges and difficult choices.  The test you face is the ladders that elevate you to great heights; the greater the challenge the greater the ladder.  G-d has given you this difficult test because He believes you can overcome it and has endowed you with the ability to do so.  Very few are presented with a ladder as challenging as yours.  Don’t you see, then, why I envy you?”

 For an under 2 minute audio click here 

Man is gifted with many talents and strengths.  But all too often they are not actualised.  When we face new challenges, however, we are able to rise above mediocrity and realise our enormous potential.

Challenges can extract the very best from us. As Nachmanides writes “The purpose of a test… is to take something from potential to reality.”

The Hebrew word for test and challenge is nisayon.  But nisayon can also mean ‘experience’ or ‘training’.

Challenges are a divine communication that let us know that we are capable of more, prompting our very best efforts and the use of the full extent of our abilities.  Challenges also teach us that this strength we never knew we had can be tapped into even in times that are not so distressing.  In this sense, pain is a call to action; it’s not enough to “get by”, but one must strive to reach greater heights.

Our forefather Avrohom faced 10 particular tests. With each test, Avrohom tapped deeper into the reservoirs of his soul.  This is indicated by the Torah’s very first command to Avrohom, ‘Lech Lecha,’ which is usually translated as “go for yourself.”  But in Chassidic thought it is translated literally as “Go to yourself” i.e. your true innermost self.  Avrohom’s tests were a journey deep into his soul to discover what he was truly capable of.

 For an under 2 minute audio click here 

Sometimes unhappiness results from our feeling inadequate and not appreciating our self-worth.  We define ourselves by past failings and mistakes. Perversely our mind finds comfort in these feelings by rationalising them and portraying them to be noble feelings of guilt.  However these feelings can be very destructive. They can demoralise a person and detract from his or her energy to be focused on the present and the future.

Chassidism teaches that one of the ploys of our evil inclination is to overwhelm an individual with self-righteous guilt over past deeds.  When one is happy within one’s self, he or she has more self-control and doesn’t surrender to every impulse.  But a sad person who is overcome by guilt loses that power of resistance.  This is the evil inclination’s plan: to lure a person into feeling bad about past behaviour in order to entice him/her into even worse behaviour in the future. This leads to an even deeper feeling of degradation, which leads to a search for worse indulgences and so the cycle repeats itself.

Nonetheless it is crucial to take stock of our actions. Without this process how can one improve?  But to ensure that these reflections inspire growth rather than guilt entails ignoring the thoughts when they appear in our mind and instead appointing the time for self-examination ourself.  When we take charge of the process, our thinking is proactive, seeking positive change, not reactive which leads to guilt. We will know if our stocktaking was productive based on the results of the sessions with ourselves.