Perhaps the most fundamental psychological task of a human being is to differentiate from his or her family and become a unique individual. For all eternity, there will never be another you. Imitation is death, uniqueness is life. To differentiate we must do one thing: listen to our own voice. …
The Depth of Disney’s Inside Out
The Disney animated movie, Inside Out teaches one of the most powerful principles I know for authentic transformation: We experience joy by embracing sadness (and other troubling feelings). At first glance it seems counter-intuitive. How can a positive emotional state arise by embracing a negative emotional state? Doesn’t Judaism teach …
Disney’s Inside Out & Emotional Integration
In the film Inside Out, when Riley finally takes ownership of her sadness and is no longer in conflict with it, she feels one with her feelings and with herself. As a result she experiences joy and an upsurge of vitality and empowerment. The more we feel emotionally integrated, the …
Judaism’s Bill of Obligations in Marriage
Judaism is a system for living that is built on obligations as opposed to rights. This is especially true with respect to the Jewish approach to marriage. Obligations foster responsibility and giving. Rights foster a sense of entitlement which can lead to irresponsibility. In Judaism, one is not entitled to …
Pay Attention to Your Feelings: Part 1
Feelings are information and listening to them is essential for personal and spiritual growth. Every feeling has a unique meaning attached to it. Feelings educate us. They are the royal road to self-discovery and self-development. To ignore, dismiss, or avoid what we feel is like choosing not to open an …
Giving and Taking
There are two fundamental approaches to life, taking and giving. The path of giving leads a life of expansiveness and joy. The path of taking leads to a life of self-absorption and misery. In Judaism, giving is being G-d-like which is why it is such an empowering way to live. …
How to Have a Blast on Rosh Hashanah
Rosh Hashanah is the Judaism’s Day of Judgment. Sound scary? Actually, it could be the most enjoyable day of your life. Here are five ideas to help you have a blast this Rosh Hashanah. 1. God judges us because He loves us. I was visiting a family recently and the …
Shofar: The Call of Love
One of the greatest indications that someone loves and cares about us is that they give us the feeling that we are always on their mind. They check in with us on a regular basis to see how we’re doing and how our life is going. The call of the …
Yom Kippur: Build Yourself Up, Don’t Beat Yourself Down
Yom Kippur should be a day of building ourselves up, not beating ourselves down with guilt and shame. It should be a day of empowerment, not a day of feeling like a loser for all the mistakes we’ve made. Here are five ideas to keep in mind on Yom Kippur …
Falling in Love With God – Step 4: Service – Payback Time
Your child is drowning and a passerby man pulls her out of ocean, saving her life. After your daughter regains consciousness you have an opportunity to meet the man who saved her life. What would you say to him? ” Thanks, gotta run!” Or: ” If there is anything I …