It's not all that difficult to be spiritual when you are feeling spiritual. But when the you- know-what hits the fan, that's the test. Just as in love, it's not about how much you love someone when you love them, it's about how much you love them when you hate them.

Today - and always - take time when things are smooth to ask the Light for the strength to handle things "lightly" when things are rocky. Can you walk the walk even when the path becomes bumpy? Can you talk the talk when you're on the verge of tears?

 Are you excited? If not, then why?

You know what, forget about why. We've got a million and one stories circling our heads for why we can't be happy. That's the work of our inner opponent, the master storyteller.

Let's drop the stories today and maintain our consciousness that things are becoming better. Visualize a brighter future in the midst of any pain you may be in and realize you are getting closer and things are getting better. Look for those moments. That's how we create our reality.

And while we are on the subject, what about your ability to awaken the spark of excitement within others? Do you empower others with passion? Without joy and vitality, we are on our way down.

Today, think and say the things that will give yourself - and others — a shot of life. Straight to the heart.

Kabbalah has something to say about the art of negotiation. Prior to meetings, confrontations, or conversations (difficult or otherwise), ask the Light to speak for you.

Simple. Yet not easy to do. Not easy to silence the mind, to allow the quiet voice inside to speak up. Not easy to let the non-reactive, compassionate, caring part of yourself come to the forefront. Not easy at all. But considering the fact that what we perceive with our five senses is so limited compared to the big picture, how can we afford not to speak from this part of ourselves?

Today, let the Light do the talking. The Light within you.

Every time we go into the comfort zone of, "I did enough," or rely on the actions of yesterday, "I studied last week," we allow ourselves to fall. Running away from the pain and discomfort of the body is synonymous with missing opportunities to change and to keep on learning and growing.

Today, run in one area where you've been crawling.

Kabbalists are a backwards bunch. When the rest of the world runs screaming from a painful occurrence, the kabbalist goes towards it with a knowing smile, there is Light in this darkness ....

Rav Ashlag, founder of The Kabbalah Centre in 1922, taught this: when going through pain, be happy about the process. It means your capacity for everything is being expanded. But, you must be happy about the process in order to let in the Light your pain revealed.

Otherwise, it's just never-ending. And that's when pain turns into suffering.

Today, when faced with uncomfortable thoughts, emotions or sensations, pay attention to any avoidance behaviors and allow yourself to resist. Know that it's happening to help you expand.

Just keep chewing until the bitter becomes sweet.

Do you want to change? Really?

Ok. Here's a top secret Kabbalah secret. Do this and you will change whatever it is that needs improving. No more running to ask people what to do or reading the quick fix books or however else you're spinning your wheels while not changing. Here it is, one word that will change your take on change: disgust.

When you can get to the level where you are disgusted with the behavior, when you see how filthy it is making you and your soul, you'll no longer have to try to change. You just will.

Pick one thing you want to change. Mull it over. Take in the stench. And when you're disgusted, you know you're ready to change.

When we forgive, we can look at the person who hurt us from a whole new angle. Maybe this person is here to show us we are not open as we thought, maybe they are here to push us to go to a new level, maybe they are removing judgment from our life.

Whatever the reason, forgiveness brings empathy, it brings understanding, and it brings us out of the inner-dialogue of blame and regret.

Today, put the scales of justice away and say "shush!" to the vengeful voice in your mind. Just forgive. Because from a kabbalistic point of view, you can never know how the Light feels unless you know forgiveness.

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