Obsessed With Self

It is not a secret that there is so much anxiety and stress in the world right now.  In fact it feeds on itself.  The more one thinks about their fear and anxiety the more fear and anxiety percolate.

How do we escape this?

In this week’s Parsha we read of the mitzvah to “know Hashem”.  The verse states “and you should know today and place it on your heart that Hashem is Elokim (G-d is the Lord)”.

In a beautiful discourse, the Alter Rebbe writes, that where we invest our minds is what we become occupied with.  If we invest our minds in self, (eg. how do you make me feel, how did you make me feel, did you say something encouraging, did you say something hurtful, how am I feeling today, what is my mood today, how is what is going on in the world going to affect me today and tomorrow, etc.) we inevitably will be caught up in more self talk and anxiety and stress.  It feeds on itself.

If however, we find something else to invest ourselves in, then our anxiety levels go down.  We have purpose and meaning and direction.

There is nothing more selfless than an authentic preoccupation in a relationship with Hashem. That is because, if Hashem is our focus, then everything is evaluated by what does Hashem want? How do my actions make a difference in this world to Hashem?

This the Alter Rebbe tells us is the Mitzvah of “knowing Hashem”.  Knowledge is how intellect comes to live inside of us.  It is the awareness and feeling of Hashem inside and in the world around us.

So the next time you are feeling anxious or stressed, take a few deep breaths, and study some Torah, think about Hashem, get to know Him a little better and your stress and anxiety will begin to dissipate.

Have a great Shabbos!

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