Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself

Did you know that the day that Moses received atonement for the Jewish People after the sin of the Golden Calf was on Yom Kippur? In fact, because of the atonement achieved on that day, the 10th of Tishrei, the very same day, has become a day of atonement for all time.

 

After Moses receives atonement, G-d tells him to carve a second set of tablets and bring them to the People. Indeed on that very day, Moses comes off the mountain with the second set of tablets.

 

The opening of our Torah portion occurs the next day, the morrow of Yom Kippur. In the opening verse Moses instructs the People regarding G-d’s command to build the first synagogue, the Mishkan, the portable Temple in the desert.

 

Why indeed if Moses had this instruction from G-d, did he wait until the next day to bring it to the People?

 

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Are you hard on yourself? Do you constantly pressure yourself to do more, to never be satisfied? Perhaps you messed up and feel guilty so you take on even more responsibility to make things right?

 

Does any of this resonate with you? Or does this sound familiar regarding a loved one or someone close to you?

 

The Rebbe answers the above question regarding Moses and I believe gives a powerful instruction and perspective on how hard we need to be on ourselves.

 

The Rebbe says that Moses didn’t tell the Jewish People the instruction of G-d’s command, because the Jewish People were engaged in atonement and the receiving of the Torah (in the form of the second tablets). “It was neither the time or place” to be giving new commandments.

 

In other words (or in my words), slow down, go easy, stop being so hard on yourself!

 

Instead of looking at how much you have left to accomplish, look at what you are accomplishing right now! Recognize that you have done good, relax. Tomorrow is another day, tomorrow you can take on more, tomorrow you can take the next step.

 

This is not about giving into laziness, quite the contrary. This is instruction about our human and practicality.

 

If you accept yourself for where you are and for what you have accomplished today, you are in a much better position to take things to the next level tomorrow.

 

Have a great Shabbos!