"I'm spiritual."

People around me often say this. If you have to say it — there's already something missing. This self-righteous spiritual trip we get on can be our greatest stumbling block. Don't tell people how spiritual you are. Show them. Relate to them. Love them. That's your spiritual trip.

Today, stay connected with others without advertising your spiritual journey. Focus on making theirs easier.

A simple way to get to the core of relationship drama, and to find the nugget of gold hiding in the mess, is to have empathy for the other. "What's his perspective of the situation? What's his pain?"

Empathy is a wonderful tool. Seeing the situation from another side helps us see a new side of ourselves. And it pulls the plug on quicksand thoughts and sour feelings. "Sounds nice Yehuda, but I don't want to feel this person's pain today. I want to strangle them!" I understand, but as universal law teaches us, you'll only strangle yourself in the end.

Today, when a loved one sends your reactive meter shooting from 1 to 10, remember empathy.

As the kabbalists have been teaching for thousands of years, fragmentation in the world is a reflection of the fragmentation between individuals. One of the ways our negative inclination sows seeds of separation in our minds and hearts is by convincing us we are superior to others.

The source of this is judgment.

Today, bring peace into your mind - and into the world - by examining the judgment you're harboring towards someone you think you are "better than." What fear/sadness/anger button are they pushing? Answer that and you'll see this person in a whole new light...and seal up one more crack in the cosmos.

"Will I see you tonight?" How many times have you said that to someone — not because you really wanted them to show up — but only to validate your going?

Same with arguing. When we try to convince someone we're right, it's often not because we care about the person, but rather we need their affirmation to feel good about our own beliefs. It is a no-win situation because we're a slave to others' reactions and our contentiousness pushes people away.

Today — be open to listening to a variety of viewpoints. Accept people as they are. You may learn something from them.
 

Many newcomers to Kabbalah get so excited that they start pushing this wisdom down the throats of friends & family, who eventually choke. What students eventually realize is, it's not about helping people see our truth, but about helping them see THEIR truth.

Today, listen better and learn what empathy is all about. Only through caring do we have any chance of causing a real shift in people's lives.

I bet I make more mistakes than you. Earlier in my life it used to drive me nuts ... how could I hope to do so much for the world and yet constantly mess up?

But I soon learned to love my losses because, as my father continued to remind me, we learn the MOST from making mistakes. Or as Thomas Edison answered when asked how he persevered in inventing the light bulb after 1,000 failures:

"I have not failed 1,000 times. I have successfully discovered 1,000 ways that do not work, and I do not need to try them again."

Today, be patient with yourself. You are in this world to learn, so start by learning to enjoy the process.

Challenges are opportunities. I'd just like to remind you of this timeless principle for the 2,344,343th time.

Believe me, I know seeing negative events as opportunities (rather than punishment) is one of the hardest things a person can do. Just remember, it's second nature to your soul and the more you practice this perspective, the more it will become second nature to your rational consciousness.

Today, watch your experience change as your attitude changes towards things that would normally bother you.

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