BS’D
Many of us share a spark of ratzon (desire) to make a change in one aspect or another in our lives. A fundamental stepping stone to create change in any area of our lives is to first work on our thoughts. The ideas and thoughts that most often occupy our mind space are the ones that we tend to believe and trust in the most. In other words, because they are so familiar to us we don’t tend to question them and place our trust in them. Therefore, it is essential to become keenly aware of what thoughts we entertain and give notice to.
Let’s say for example that I am accustomed to negative degrading thoughts about myself and give them space to flow freely in my mind, I am now driven to act upon that negativity. Discouraging thoughts are the greatest impediment to creating change in our lives. Yet, it doesn’t have to be this way. We cannot control the thoughts that ‘pop’ into our minds; nonetheless we can control our response and the ‘space’ we give them to stay there.
Like unwanted guests who are given a cold welcome and will think twice to return, we can do the same with negative destructive thinking patterns. The choice remains ours whether we choose to give our time and energy to these thoughts or not. It is a battle however inviting Hashem to help us defeat this negative pattern of thinking is the only way to succeed.
Speaking to Hashem, “Hashem, I can’t do this without You. I want to cherish and empower myself to make real change. Guide me… Show me what to do” WILL make a difference and bring bracha into your desire to set a renewed tone to the way you use your mind.
