The secret of life from Rabbi Tatz

 A person is inspired artificially at the beginning of any phase of life, but to acquire the depth of personality which is demanded of us, Hashem removes the inspiration. The danger is apathy and depression; the challenge is to fight back to the point of inspiration, and in so doing to build it permanently into one’s character.

Why a Good Time Never Lasts

Inspiration and Disappointment

by Rabbi Akiva Tatz

http://www.simpletoremember.com/articles/a/why-a-good-time-never-lasts/

When I first started OA I was on a high, I was losing a lot of weight and felt so good to be fully controling my eating for the first time in my life.  Now I am still happy to be abstinent, but it is not the same high.  I have to work on appreciating what I have a attained and not looking for the fireworks of the first few months.

Are we serving Hashem or Ourselves?

From a Shiur by Rabbi Lazer Brody, "The Letter"



When we serve ourselves we take the path of least resistance. When we serve Hashem things get difficult. But we have to remember that -no pain, no gain. I f we want to grow, we have to be ready to struggle.

It is really interesting that the theme of last night's meeting was "the more I surrender, the more I am serene". The person speaking pointed out that when we are doing Hashem's will we do not have to obsess about whether we are doing the right thing, and how are people going to think about me. If we are doing Hashem's will then we know that we are doing the right thing. This ties int a previous post from Rabbi Tatz

http://tiforoa.blogspot.com/2009/12/thinking-jews-guide-to-life-happiness.html:

Happiness is the experience of the soul to be doing what it should be doing. When you are doing what you are supposed to be doing - you will be happy. The inner experience of the soul when it achieves its goal is true happiness. Growth always takes place against resistance.

Real sadness is not knowing what road you should be on. If you are walking along the right road and your neshamah knows it is the right road you will be happy.

Rabbi Akiva Tatz on facing Ordeals

Rabbi Akiva Tatz on facing Ordeals

The worst part of an ordeal is not the pain and suffering, it is the wondering why I have to go through this. The best way to stand up to an ordeal is to focus on the idea that nothing is random. There is a reason for all suffering. Hashem has a plan for all of us and every one of us and each problem that we face is for a reason.

More from "The Thinking Jew's Guide to Life-Happiness" by Rabbi Akiva Tatz

From a Shiur by Rabbi Akiva Tatz, "The Thinking Jew's Guide to Life-Happiness"
from Simple to Remember-

If a person has put a lot of time and energy into working out and has really built himself up physically, he will feel tremendous pride and satifaction with his acomplishments. If you would see him in the gym sweating and struggling, you would feel sorry for him, but he would be feeling happy and acomplished.

Life is about the journey and not the destination. We have to find satisfaction in our struggle and in our acomplishments or we will never get anywhere.

"The Thinking Jew's Guide to Life-Happiness" by Rabbi Akiva Tatz

From a Shiur by Rabbi Akiva Tatz, "The Thinking Jew's Guide to Life-Happiness"

from Simple to Remember- a must listen to shiur!

If you go through any list of the 613 mitzvahs you will not find the mitzvah of being happy.

Why does Rebbe Nachman say that it is a great mitzvah to be happy ALWAYS?

How can you be happy during mourning? How can you be happy with all of the problems in today's world?

For most people in Western Culture their goal in life is happiness.

For Jews happiness is a means to an end.

Happiness is the experience of the soul to be doing what it should be doing. When you are doing what you are supposed to be doing - you will be happy. The inner experience of the soul when it achieves its goal is true happiness. Growth always takes place against resistance.

Real sadness is not knowing what road you should be on. If you are walking along the right road and your neshamah knows it is the right road you will be happy.

Evdu Et Hashme B'Simcha means Serve Hashem with Happiness.