How do we know we are making the right decision?

We're constantly forced to make choices in life. Some are meaningless (coke or pepsi?) Others are life-altering (Marry this woman? Have this operation? Go into business with this man?)

In truth, the only decision we need to make is whether we are with - or without - the Light.

You see, we are not always aware of the bigger script our lives are following. When we think we are in charge, we are blocking the Light. I know this is confusing because Kabbalah teaches you how to get control of your life. The paradox is when you realize you aren't in control, then you really are. Also when we remind ourselves of the limitation of the five senses, we remove that limitation.

Once you are able to shift into the mindset of, "it's not about me, there is more than my limited senses are perceiving," then you are engaging the Light to guide you.

This type of consciousness doesn't come over night. We create it every day by asking - begging - the Light to show us the right way.

I remember years ago an incident involving my father and teacher, Rav Berg. It was right before Rosh Hashanah, and he couldn't decide whether to be with his students in Israel or in New York. The last flight out was only a few hours away, and I remember my father sitting in his office, waiting for a sign. Our conversation went something like this:

"We're gonna miss the plane!" I said.

His response was, "I really don't know what to do. But I trust the Light will guide me because I certainly can't trust my rational mind." Essentially he was saying, until I get a message, I'm not moving.

And so we sat. At the last minute, the phone rang. My father picked up and on the other end was an irate woman.

"Are you Rav Berg?"

"Yes."

"I called to tell you that you need to go to Israel and tell those people......." She went on some rant that made no sense. But my father wasn't listening to the specifics of her words - he was tuning into the message from the Light. Two hours later we were on a plane bound for Israel.

You might be thinking it's rare that one gets such a crystal-clear message. But in truth, it isn't. A life of Kabbalah, or any form of true spirituality, trains you to reach the right decisions by committing to turning down the ego voice at all turns, and tuning into the signs and messages the Light sends.

This week, train yourself to make room for the Light. Resist thinking the decision is only about you. Remember you don't see the true reality. Reach out to the Light for guidance. And be receptive to the signs and messages that will undoubtedly come your way.

All the best,

Yehuda



72 Name of the Week

This week begins the historic story of Moses being chosen to lead the great escape from Egypt. If you've read this section in the Bible or the Zohar, you know that Moses was the most unassuming, humble man you could possibly imagine. When God chose him to be the leader of the Israelites, he was the type of person to have responded, "Who me?"

How could the man who led 600,000 people out of slavery and who was the conduit for revealing the secrets of the universe have had such low self esteem?

As the Zohar explains, Moses didn't have low self esteem. He was simply humble. The kabbalists have always emphasized that the greatest virtue a human being can have is humility.

The whole idea is Moses wasn't perfect. His credentials for greatness were simply his ability to relate to everyone. This is something we can all aspire to become. As we fight to succeed in life, it might seem that it's the biggest and the best who wins. What Moses is teaching us is that a true success is someone who can put himself on the level with whomever he is speaking. That's what humility is.

This week, think about the people you have the most trouble reaching. Be brutally honest and ask yourself, "Why? Why am I not reaching this person?" Find a way to get over yourself so that you bring yourself to his or her level.

If you have a friend who is going through a divorce and is acting very needy and imbalanced, don't talk to them about sucking it up and moving on. Come down to their level and figure out what it is they are able to hear.

Whatever it is you are trying to communicate, pay close attention to where your message is coming from. If you are coming from anger, frustration, or pity, these emotions will only cloud your ability to relate to the other person.

All the best,

Yehuda

P.S. Change a child's life! Send a personalized holiday card as your gift to all the people that bring light into your life. Just CLICK HERE to purchase your cards online and they will be sent directly to the recipients.

72 Name of the Week

This week begins the historic story of Moses being chosen to lead the great escape from Egypt. If you've read this section in the Bible or the Zohar, you know that Moses was the most unassuming, humble man you could possibly imagine. When God chose him to be the leader of the Israelites, he was the type of person to have responded, "Who me?"

How could the man who led 600,000 people out of slavery and who was the conduit for revealing the secrets of the universe have had such low self esteem?

As the Zohar explains, Moses didn't have low self esteem. He was simply humble. The kabbalists have always emphasized that the greatest virtue a human being can have is humility.

The whole idea is Moses wasn't perfect. His credentials for greatness were simply his ability to relate to everyone. This is something we can all aspire to become. As we fight to succeed in life, it might seem that it's the biggest and the best who wins. What Moses is teaching us is that a true success is someone who can put himself on the level with whomever he is speaking. That's what humility is.

This week, think about the people you have the most trouble reaching. Be brutally honest and ask yourself, "Why? Why am I not reaching this person?" Find a way to get over yourself so that you bring yourself to his or her level.

If you have a friend who is going through a divorce and is acting very needy and imbalanced, don't talk to them about sucking it up and moving on. Come down to their level and figure out what it is they are able to hear.

Whatever it is you are trying to communicate, pay close attention to where your message is coming from. If you are coming from anger, frustration, or pity, these emotions will only cloud your ability to relate to the other person.

All the best,

Yehuda

P.S. Change a child's life! Send a personalized holiday card as your gift to all the people that bring light into your life. Just CLICK HERE to purchase your cards online and they will be sent directly to the recipients.

72 Name of the Week

This week begins the historic story of Moses being chosen to lead the great escape from Egypt. If you've read this section in the Bible or the Zohar, you know that Moses was the most unassuming, humble man you could possibly imagine. When God chose him to be the leader of the Israelites, he was the type of person to have responded, "Who me?"

How could the man who led 600,000 people out of slavery and who was the conduit for revealing the secrets of the universe have had such low self esteem?

As the Zohar explains, Moses didn't have low self esteem. He was simply humble. The kabbalists have always emphasized that the greatest virtue a human being can have is humility.

The whole idea is Moses wasn't perfect. His credentials for greatness were simply his ability to relate to everyone. This is something we can all aspire to become. As we fight to succeed in life, it might seem that it's the biggest and the best who wins. What Moses is teaching us is that a true success is someone who can put himself on the level with whomever he is speaking. That's what humility is.

This week, think about the people you have the most trouble reaching. Be brutally honest and ask yourself, "Why? Why am I not reaching this person?" Find a way to get over yourself so that you bring yourself to his or her level.

If you have a friend who is going through a divorce and is acting very needy and imbalanced, don't talk to them about sucking it up and moving on. Come down to their level and figure out what it is they are able to hear.

Whatever it is you are trying to communicate, pay close attention to where your message is coming from. If you are coming from anger, frustration, or pity, these emotions will only cloud your ability to relate to the other person.

All the best,

Yehuda

P.S. Change a child's life! Send a personalized holiday card as your gift to all the people that bring light into your life. Just CLICK HERE to purchase your cards online and they will be sent directly to the recipients.

72 Name of the Week

Imagine two pipes transporting water from point A to point B. The first pipe is clogged with all sorts of junk, causing the water to dribble out. The second pipe is clear and free, allowing the water to flow infinitely.

This simple metaphor explains what happens when we hold on too tightly to how we think people, situations, and ourselves "should" be. When we are control junkies, micromanaging every little detail, unable to open to another view of things, we block the flow of Light into our lives.

So here is where I tell you to open up and let the Light in. But don't confuse this with "let go, let God", because that's not entirely how it works. God, the Light, the Creator, Jesus, Allah, or however you connect to the source of all good, is not going to hand you everything on a silver platter. You still need to work your butt off in this life. But the more you remind yourself, "I don't see the bigger picture," the more divine assistance you will receive.

I had a student a few years ago who was desperate to get pregnant. She was a real type-A personality; a successful medical practice, a wonderful husband, a great social life -- she had it all. Her greatest dream was to have a child, someone to whom she could pass on all of her wisdom and greatness. She had the child's life all planned out -- the best nursery schools, private education, Harvard, a year at Oxford, and so forth. The only problem was, she couldn't conceive. No matter what doctor, acupuncturist, herbalist or Indian chief she ran to, no one could help her.

In working with her, we explored the possible spiritual causes of her dilemma. After much difficult deep-digging, she came to the understanding that holding on so tightly to her expectations of what the child needed to be was quite possibly blocking her from conception. In addition to overcoming herself internally, she followed the various kabbalistic prescriptions for overcoming fertility. Today, four years later, she is the mother of two beautiful twins! The lesson here is fixating on what she wanted was preventing her from getting what she needed.

This week, I ask you to create a two-columned list. On one side, title it "Every area in which I am stuck." Be specific. If it's money, write, "I can't seem to make more than 50K a year." If it's relationships, write, "my wife and I don't talk anymore." Then in the right column, title it, "How I can let go." You may put in that column, "stop trying to change my wife," "stop climbing the corporate ladder and find a new career." You get the idea.

If you are not willing to write things down, then here are some practical actions you can take to let go:

1. Ask for advice or help
2. Discover who you have been hurting as a result of not letting go
3. Ask yourself what benefit you are receiving from holding on so tightly

In the final analysis, we are all control junkies. This week, let's try a little rehab, shall we?

All the best,

Yehuda

72 Name of the Week