At times the ultimate exercise in bechira (free will) is chosing not to react to something.
Modern Uberdox
“I write not because I have the strength to write, but because I do not have the strength to remain silent.” -Rav Avraham Yitzchok Kook zt’l
At times the ultimate exercise in bechira (free will) is chosing not to react to something.
This statement is so true. One of the hardest things to do is “just be.”
I like the first part of the Serenity Prayer by Reinhold Niebuhr:
“G-d grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change; the courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference.”
maybe this helps us cope with those times that we feel like we’re just not being heard..
Re: The Serenity Prayer
I was a big fan of it when I was in high school when I was “Straight Edge”, but it’s fairly easy for me to “accepting the things I cannot change” and much more of an actual challenge to remain silent (although Hashem does smile when we make that choice).
“If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice”
Rush – Free Will
My therapist told me that our emotions are actually a choice. No one can make us happy or sad or angry. We choose to react that way to external “events”.
No it isn’t easy “not to react” but the Torah teaches us that there is something greater than we are.
A teacher told me that in order to stop a feeling, interrupt it with a new thought –
so if you think “wow that makes me angry”
Stop – and think – I live the Torah. I am connected to G-d.
see how you feel now.