photo credit: Individuo

When I find myself encountering difficulties, I often use the image of Sir Ernest Shackleton as a source of
inspiration, and I encourage my clients to do the same.

Sir Ernest Shackleton led one of the first Antarctic expeditions. Almost everything that could possibly have gone wrong on his expedition went wrong. His ship got stuck in ice during the Antarctic winter and was smashed into pieces. Nevertheless, Shackleton viewed each obstacle as an adventure and as an opportunity for growth that called for the utilization of his and his men’s creative potential and inner resourcefulness. He turned each obstacle into a game: To stagnate was to fail; to grow was to win. Shackleton took the pieces from his broken ship and built a small, rowboat-sized boat. He sailed that little boat 600 miles to the nearest whaling island. When he was within eyeshot of that island, a storm arose, and this weather kept him at bay for three days in stormy waters. Once he finally arrived at the island, he needed to hike through 26 miles of mountainous terrain to reach the whaling encampment.

Every man in Shackleton’s expedition survived. When my clients (or I myself) encounter hardship, I will sometimes ask, “How would Shackleton handle this situation?” Sometimes, I will ask clients to shut their
eyes and envision themselves on Shackleton’s ship, as a members of his expedition. I ask each of them,
“As a member of Shackleton’s team, what’s your next adventurous step?”

This article is the first in a long series of articles designed to help you realize your goals.

Most of us have ideas about the life we’d like to be living, and most of us need encouragement from time to time to help us focus on and achieve our goals. These goals may relate to your relationships with your family, your friends and colleagues, or with yourself. Before beginning your journey toward personal tikun (correction/improvement) and toward getting to know yourself, think of five personal goals you wish to accomplish and list them in your Growth Journal.

The famous Rabbi and Kabbalist Avraham Isaac Kook was once strolling through a garden with a close friend. As they were walking, the friend casually broke a leaf off of a bush that they were passing. Rabbi Kook stopped and told his friend that spiritual consciousness requires that one even be aware of the life force that flows through inanimate objects such as plants (and even stones).

Kabbalah teaches that every blade of grass has a unique angel above that commands and encourages it to grow. Each blade of grass has its own purpose in this world that keeps the universe in balance.

Question: How can you live your life so that you can have less impact on the natural environment around you?

Myth #1: Kabbalah is a religion.
Fact: Kabbalah not a religion. Some people like to call it a science. But it is not a science either. Rather  - it is a mystical wisdom that reveals the comprehensive spiritual reality and building blocks of the universe and everything in it. Although Kabbalah’s source is in Judaism, it’s lessons are relavant to people of all religious traditions.

Myth #2: Kabbalah is connected to red strings and holy water.
Fact: There is no connection. Red strings, holy water and other products are a lucrative commercial invention created in the past two decades.

Myth #3: Kabbalah should only be practiced by select scholars and only men over 40 years of age are allowed to learn it.
Fact: During many previous generations, Kabbalah was only studied by a few select individuals. However, since the time of the Ari (the 16th century), many Kabbalistic teaching have been openly taught to every person without any restrictions.

Myth #4: Kabbalah deals with magic.
Fact: Kabbalah does not deal with magic or any other sorcery or witchcraft; However, Kabbalah does teach its students how to become aware of infinite energy around us and how to channel that energy according to our will.

Myth #5: Kabbalah is a “New Age” philosophy and is a trend – a passing phenomenon.
Fact: Kabbalah dates back to before the universe was created. It was studied by Abraham, Moses, and many biblical prophets and great sages since then.

Myth #6: Kabbalah is related to tarot cards, astrology and numerology.
Fact: Tarot cards, astrology and numerology, as they are generally taught and practiced are not related to Kabbalah. However, astrology and numerology are very relevant tools in Kabbalah (as long as they are used by a person who is properly educated in the laws of Kabbalah).

Myth #7: Kabbalah involves meditation.
Fact: Kabbalah does not necessarily involve meditation. However, meditation is a wonderful tools that has been used by Kabbalists for millennium to help them focus their minds and sense on the lessons of Kabbalah as well as true reality of the world around them.

Myth #8: One needs to have studied the Torah and Talmud before learning Kabbalah.
Fact: Kabbalah is a mystical wisdom that explains and illuminates the teachings of the Torah and Talmud. However, there are many deep teachings of the Kabbalah that can be understood and successfully implemented in our lives without prior knowledge of Torah or Talumd. However, in order to understand the fullest depths of the Kabbalah one must be very well versed in both Torah and Talmud.

A story is told that on one occasion bandits were pursuing the great Baal Shem Tov. Try as they might, they were unable to catch up with him. They began walking fast while the Baal Shem Tov maintained his pace, yet they did not catch up with him. The bandits began running to overtake the holy man, yet to no avail. It is then that they realized that the man they were trying to harm was a holy man and G-d was doing for him what he could not do for himself. In fact, the Baal Shem Tov was known to have said that he did not rely on incantations or other means of achieving salvation, but instead opted to rely solely on the good grace of G-d.

We should learn from the Baal Shem Tov that although we as individuals have many limitations, G-d is limitless and defies limitation and once we rely on G-d, he can do for us what we were previously unable to do for ourselves.

Question: In what areas of your life will you let G-d do for you what you where unable to do for yourself?

Meditative Prayer: G-d, I invite You into my life to do for me what I am unable to do for myself.

A story is told that during an icy winter day, the great mystic Reb Zushe from Anipoli walked effortlessly up an icy slope. When young men much younger and sprightly than he attempted this feat unsuccessfully, they asked Rabbi Zushe what his secret was. He responded that on his own he would also be unable to walk up a steep, icy slope, but that after a point he just keeps putting one foot in front of the other while at the same time letting G-d take care of the results. As the saying goes, “G-d is the president of results, but I’m the vice president of footwork.”

Question: What are some people, places, and things for which you would be better off letting go and letting G-d?

Meditative Prayer: G-d, I pray for the self-control to let go of situations that are too heavy for me to hold on to and to give them over to You.

Kabbalah teaches that after a person dies they are brought before the Heavenly Court. Never once are they asked, “Why weren’t you like this famous person or this Nobel Peace Prize winner. A person is only asked, “Why weren’t you more like you?” “Why didn’t you do everything you could to realize your own potential?” We are never judged according to what others do or did therefore there is no point comparing ourselves to others. We are only held accountable for our own actions and for the effort that we exert in order to fulfill our personal mission in life and self-potential. Life is short and there is no time to waste. Ask yourself, “Am I being the best that I can be? Am I fulfilling my potential?”

Many of us spend money to live lifestyles that are above our means because we feel a pressure to have the same possessions and lifestyle as the people that we see around us. Our Evil Inclination tells us that we should have the same nice things that our neighbors have… It doesn’t matter if you can’t afford those things right now, just charge it and deal with it later. Don’t give in to the ploys of this spiritual enemy.

It’s also important to realize that the friends and neighbors that we are trying to keep up with are also usually subsidizing their lifestyle with debt. This means that you are really only mimicking their irresponsible behavior.

You must know that G-d provides all of us with the financial resources that we need to fulfill our purposes in this world and to find happiness. If there is something that we can’t afford based on our current financial income, then it is not necessary for achieving true happiness and fulfilling our spiritual goals. When we get greedy we end up going into debt and increasing the stress in our lives.

There is an important spiritual law that teaches that, “Financial envy yields financial debt.” Remember, if you can’t afford something, it will never bring you happiness. Find comfort and peace knowing that G-d provides us with everything that we need to realize our purpose in this world in a happy and fulfilling way.