With every major milestone we reach, we tend to commit to new resolutions. We want to change ourselves. We want to become a better person, a more refined human being. Yet, it is a common occurrence that these well-intentioned plans don’t always come to fruition. What can we do to plan better?
In this week’s Torah portion, Va’eira, which discusses the first steps of the exodus from Egypt, we have G-d’s promise to the Jewish people that He will redeem them from Egypt. Actually, there are four different expressions: I will take you out, I will save you, I will redeem you, and I will remove you (from Egypt). These four expressions are the source - and reason - for the enactment to drink “four cups of wine” at the Seder.
If we read deeper into these verses, we will find that they are not just expressions of redemption, but they are lessons in self-refinement. They helped the Jews of that time to prepare for the exodus from Egypt, and they can help us today, to refine ourselves for the better, as well.
Step one: Remove yourself from any negative environment. Or, just stop a bad behavior. If there is something that you want to change, first and foremost you must distance yourself from “it.” Don’t define yourself by it, don’t have a connection with it. You and the “thing” just have to disconnect.
Step two: Start doing good things. Don’t think too much about the reason behind the redemption, whether you are worthy of this new role or not. Just do it. Start behaving as if you belong. If this is the life that you want to lead, then behave that way.
Step three: Pursue goodness. Seek it out. Don’t sit around waiting for an opportunity to come your way, but as soon as you see an opening, grab it. In order to accomplish this, you have to be proactive.
Step four: Bring passion into your life. Do steps three and four with zest. Let it become contiguous! Not only should you look for the opportunity, have others search for you – to the point that they will help you find the resources to accomplish great things. This is when you really become successful!
If you can get into the zone, you will feel like a new person, and you will not be concerned if you have kept your resolutions or not, since you will be a free person, a different, better person.
Shabbat Shalom and Happy New Year!