There is a mitzvah in the Torah to guard your life.

If you don't there will be consequences. Hashem created the world in such a way that there can (and most likely will) be natural consequences. You have to realize that this is Hashem's imprint in reality.  Of course there are times when the consequences do not happen, to give us free choice.  There is no such thing as a consequence that is outside of Hashem's jurisdiction, but we have to see that normal consequences are Hashem's will.
from the Shiur on Naaleh:
Simcha and Bitachon Teacher: Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller Class: Bitachon: Meaning of Trust

Compulsive overeating is bad for our health, it is going against the normal way of Hashem's world.  300 pound people are not healthy.  We are risking our health by allowing ourselves to become obese.

The beauty of Change.

Why is it that some people want to change, and they can't. The reality is that we have this notion, that at some point I am going to change but not yet. Unfortunately we keep putting it off and developing more bad habits. If we want to change don't wait for later-it may be too late.

People who can change feel in charge of their lives, it is a wonderful experience and it is exhilarating and brings you closer to Hashem.

Naaleh: Parshat Korach: Well Grounded
Teacher: Mrs. Shira Smiles Class: Parsha for Our Lives 5770

I can personally say that I kept putting off doing something about my compulsive overeating, saying some day I'll change. Now I look back and say, "Why did I wait so long" Baruch Hashem it was not to late. Now that I have changed so much I am so grateful for how much better my life is.

Korach's Jealousy

The sin of Korach came from jealousy. The problem with jealousy is that you are so consumed with thinking about others that you do not focus on developing yourself. If we do not develop ourselves it is as if we do not exist, and such a person lives his life without becoming what they are supposed to be.

from the Shiur on Naaleh: Parshat Korach: Well Grounded Teacher: Mrs. Shira Smiles Class: Parsha for Our Lives 5770

One of the most important things that I have learned from following OA is to stop blaming others, and to look for a solution inside of myself
I heard a geat thought on this at a meeting. One of the most important reasons that people lose abstinence is jelousy of other peoples ability to eat whatever they want.


.

"Please help me I can't do it on my own."

We want to come to a place where we say to Hashem, "Please help me I can't do it on my own." We have to remember that we can't even open up spiritually if we don't have Hashem's help.
from the Shiur on Naaleh:
Depend Solely on G-d
Teacher: Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller Class: Bitachon: Meaning of Trust

Step 2 of the 12 steps says: Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.

We have to know that we can not do it on our own. We need Hashem to help us.

Korach questioned the authority of Moshe Rabenu

When Korach questioned the authority of Moshe Rabenu he thought that he knew more then Moshe. We learn from this that if we have a question about something we are learning it is important to act from humility and admit that we do not understand, rather then thinking that we know better.

from the Shiur on Naaleh:
Parshat Korach: Well Grounded
Teacher: Mrs. Shira Smiles
Class: Parsha for Our Lives 5770

The fine line that separates Chesed from manipulation is almost invisible

You have to be careful when you are doing Chesed, the fine line that separates Chesed from manipulation is almost invisible and it is called Ego. If you want to succeed in these things you have to be doing it for Hashem. You have to be careful or you could wind up worshiping yourself instead of Hashem.

from the Shiur from Naaleh:
Depend Solely on G-d
Teacher: Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller Class: Bitachon: Meaning of Trust

Rebbetzin Heller says that this is one of the most important things we will ever learn.

There are 2 things that a person should always daven for:
1) Hashem should strengthen our heart to be devoted to Hashem singularly and not forgot the reason we are in the world. and that the burdens of life not distract us from the reason that we are in the world.
2) Hashem should strengthen our bodies and limbs to be able to do the mitzvot. That our bodies should be able to be strong enough to do what we need to do, because this world is a world of deed, and you can't do the deeds without energy.
Everyone has the same Mitzvot but we do not all have the same path to the mitzvot.

From the Shiur on Naaleh :
Depend Solely on G-d

Teacher: Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller Class: Bitachon: Meaning of Trust

Small Deeds, Big Rewards

This post from Tikkun is very worth reading:
My wife and I had a newly-wed couple over as guests for the Friday night meal this past Shabbos. We knew the husband, who had grown up in my wife's neighborhood and went to the same shul as my father-in-law; and older bachur, this man just got married at age 32. His wife is a convert from the Philippines, and while we were at shul, she and my wife were shmoozing, and the conversation came around to the subject of why she converted.The story she told my wife is beautiful, and I believe that we have an obligation to spread the story around, for the valuable lessons inherent in it.
She grew up in a very religious Catholic home, where the catechism of the Trinity confused her greatly. One elder told her to "Pray to the Father", another told her "Pray to the Son", and yet another told her to "pray to the Holy Ghost". She was in dire straits, because she really wanted to pray - but she didn't know who she should pray to!Realizing that the faith she had been brought up with didn't have the answers she sought, she began looking into other religions that were prevalent in her country. Islam had no sway over her; Buddhism didn't interest her at all...She felt lost, and the constant pressure from her peers and family - who were convinced she had "the Devil" in her - began to feel overwhelming. As soon as she was able to move, after graduating from school, she headed for the United States.What a culture shock! The relative reservedness of the Philippines left her unprepared for what she encountered after moving to Bayonne, New Jersey. Suddenly, random people would stop her on the street and begin conversing with her; strange men would make advances, attempting to get her phone number, take her out for a coffee, and the like. The freedom, the provocatively loose atmosphere seemed to saturate everything American, and it took serious adjustment.One hot day, she was walking back to her apartment. On the way, she passed a young man dressed very strangely: he was wearing a black jacket and hat, and he had these funny strings hanging out of his pants. As the passed each other, she expected him - like so many other men in the past - to stop her, or get a good look at her in her very revealing clothes. To her astonishment, he averted his eyes, looking down to the ground as he hurriedly passed her.She couldn't believe it! To be sure, she turned around to see if he would maybe turn back after they had passed each other and sneak a peek, but as far as she could tell, he kept going on his way without stopping.In a place where everyone is looking to satisfy their urges, could such a thing be possible? Who was that boy? Upon returning to her apartment, her roommate informed her that the boy she had seen on the street was a Jew. Until that point, she had never seen a Jew, didn't know what a Jew was or looked like, knew nothing about Jews at all. What she did know was that she would have to find out more about these "Jews" and their intriguing ways. She began to ask around, and meet with Jewish folks and amass as much information as possible. What she discovered was a world of dedication, integrity, sincerity, and consistent commitment. She was hooked, and she began the long arduous process to convert to Judaism. Now, thank God, she is married, and beginning to build a Jewish home in the wonderful tradition of her adoptive forebears.We simply do not appreciate the impact the slightest gesture, the smallest action, can make. I have no doubt that this Yeshiva boy does not know what he did, what an impression he made. And yet, when he gets "up there" (after 120, God willing), he is going to be presented with the myriads of z'chusim (merits) that will come about from every commandment and good deed faithfully fulfilled by this woman and her family, and he will receive credit for each one!One act of shmiras einayim (guarding the eyes) led a woman searching for God in the right direction. How many times are we presented with choices on how to behave, and we have no idea who is watching? It's a very important lesson for all of us to internalize, and may we all act properly at all times, whether or not anyone is watching! from the Blog Tikkun:
http://loveisthemotive.blogspot.com/2010/05/small-deeds-big-rewards.html

Don't become distant from Hashem.

How is it that some people live double lives. They keep the mitzvot and they act like frum people, but they do sins in private. This comes from the fact that Hashem made us afraid of people but not afraid of Hashem. Hashem did this to maintain our free will. If we would truly have Yiras Chet (fear of sin) to the same extent that we fear people, we would not have free choice.

It is too easy to be correct externally but not internally. This brings us to sin. We have to work on being consistent. Our externals have to match our internals. Our mitzvot that people see have to match our private mitzvot. If not, we will become more and more distant from Hashem.

from the Shiur on Naaleh:
Perek 16, Part 1: The Redeemed Maiden
Teacher: Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller Class: Sefer Yechezkel

The greatest gift.

The greatest gift that Hashem ever gave us was the ability to make choices.

from the Shiur on Naaleh:  Perek 16, Part 1: The Redeemed Maiden

Teacher: Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller Class: Sefer Yechezkel

My choice to follow OA is one of the greatest gifts that Hashem has given me.  It has brought me good health and strength to change.

Be Happy

Being Happy Doesn't Mean Everything is Perfect
It means you've decided to look BEYOND the imperfections.

This saying from a greeting card summarizes what I have been learning lately so well that I had to post it.

Trust Hashem, and love people

You are meant to trust Hashem, and love people.  You have to know that people are never able to meet all of your expectations.  Only Hashem is all powerful, people are limited.

Trust that people are doing the best that they can.  Trust that if you were in the same place you might do the same thing.

From the Shiur:
Depend Solely on G-d

Teacher: Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller Class: Bitachon: Meaning of Trust

An important message for Wives.

If your husband is working and not making enough money to support you, stop being mad at your husband and recognize that money comes through people but from Hashem.  It is not because of your husband, it is because of Hashem's decision.  If you do not have the money that you need, then you have misjudged your needs.  You have to accept that this is what you are meant to have.

This is the hardest test we have.  This is the first punishment given to man in the garden of Eden.  We think that we see cause and effect but this is an illusion.  We do our histadlus, and Hashem decides what we are meant to get.  If our husbands are not doing as much Histadlus as we think they should we should still not blame them.  We work to grow, to withstand nisyonot, and to gain satifaction, not because it is the only way that Hashem can send us money.

Rambam says that when you want to buy something ask yourself two questions:
1) Why do you want it?  Is it going to get you closer to Hahsem?
2)  What do I have to sacrifice to get this?  What is it going to cost in material and spiritual terms.
If you ask yourself these 2 questions you will find that you need less.

from the Shiur on Naaleh:
Who is the Provider
Teacher: Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller Class: Bitachon: Meaning of Trust

Your responsibility for your own life.

Hashem wants us to value the life that he has given us.  Hashem does not want us to give up responsibility for our lives, health, growth etc.  The Torah warns us not to test Hashem by putting ourselves in a dangerous situation.  A person who is killed from putting themselves into a place of danger is considered worse then a murderer.  Why is this? Because we do not own our own lives, they belong to Hashem.

The closer your access is to anything, the more your responsibility.  If you visit your neighbor and find them sick from leaking gas, you have to save them.  You do not have to walk from apartment to apartment looking for leaking gas.  This illustrates the idea that since you have the most ability to save your own life, you have the most responsibility to save your own life.

from the Shiur on Naaleh:
Who is the Provider

Teacher: Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller Class: Bitachon: Meaning of Trust

Do not allow an attitude of fatalism to masquerade as Bitachon.

Do not allow an attitude of fatalism to masquerade as Bitachon.  It is easy to say, "whatever happens is Hashem's will, so I can do whatever I want, because Hashem is running the show."  We have to know that Hashem runs the world according to normal rules of nature, and if we break them, we will face the consequences.  You can not drink poison and think that nothing will happen if Hashem was not planning on it.  You have to take responsibility for your actions.

A person has to realize that acting in the correct way is a moral choice.  If you are obese, you are hurting your body.  You can not say, "it does not matter how fat I am because Hashem is running the show."  You have to do the right thing and take care of your body.

from the Shiur on Naaleh:

Who is the Provider

Teacher: Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller

Class: Bitachon: Meaning of Trust