Choosing What Is Right

We faces hundreds of choices every day. Some are as benign as what socks we are going to wear or what coffee cup we are going to use. Some are a bit more difficult. How are we going to respond to that work email or what are we eating for lunch? Some choices are easy. Some choices are hard. Some choices are life changing. But whatever they are, choices are all around us.

All of that being said this weeks affirmation is, "I choose to do what is right, even if it isn't easy." I was drawn to this particular affirmation because it reinforces our ability to make the right decisions for ourselves, especially when it is difficult.

What is right? Here I believe what is right is what is in our best interest. There have been many times I knew a decision was right for me, but I struggled with the follow through of doing it. It made me completely uncomfortable either because it forced me out of my comfort zone, or because I had to set boundaries with others or myself that I wasn't ready to enforce. There have been plenty of times I took the easy path, and I regretted it dearly.

Right now I have a situation I am struggling to make the right decisions in. My instinct is to make the same choices I always do, but deep down I know I need to go in a different direction. So with grace I am taking it one day at a time, doing what I know is right for me, and making the better choice even when it isn't easy.

"I choose to do what is right, even if it isn't easy." Every day we can practice self-love by choosing what is right, knowing that any discomfort we may feel with eventually subside. Knowing we will be stronger in the end.

Turning and Repenting or Take a Look at Yourself

Yom Kippur starts tonight at sundown. The Day of Attonment. The holiest day of the Jewish year. It is a day of reflection, a day of repenting. It sounds so doom and gloom right? I mean, just check out the picture above. It feels a little omminous. I don't see it that way at all. I love it and find it inspirational. I have spent the week meditating on different reading for Yom Kippur. A few a day to give me focus. Readings to connect me with what I feel is the true meaning of this day. I want to share a bit with you today.

All of the excerpts that I am going to share today come from a great little book, Yom Kippur Readings edited by Rabbi Dov Peretz Elkins. The essays are short. There is poetry as well. It's a beautiful compilation that I highly recommend.

Teshuvah, literally return, is the Hebrew word used for repentance. In repenting we are turning from our sins and mistakes and turning back towards G-d. To be forgiven we must earnestly turn and change our behavior. We must mean it. We have to recognize the wrongs in ourselves, and be willing to go a different way. To choose a different path.

I see atonement as "at-one-ment." Becoming One with G-d, the Universe, what ever you feel comfortable calling it. We turn towards something greater than ourselves and seek a connection. We seek to become one with all that is, was, and is to come. As we turn inward we seek to find our place in the great scheme of things. We seek to better ourselves.

Plotinus a 3rd century philosopher said, "Withdraw into yourself and if you do not like what you see, act as a sculptor. Cut away here, smooth there, make this line lighter, this one purer. Never cease carving until there shines out from you the Godlike sphere of character." Life is a never ceasing molding of self, hopefully into a better person. Introspection is paramount. Yom Kippur is the perfect time to do this. Analyzing our behavior in the previous year. Where have we wronged someone else? Where can we ask forgiveness? Where can we forgive ourselves? Where can we forgive others?
Yom Kippur for me is all about recognizing our faults, and finding both the willingness and ability to choose another direction. How can we course correct?

From Rabbi Peter Tarlow. "To examine the totality of one's life, to realize that all of us are fallible means that we must not only demand that we improve but be willing to demand that we forgive others who seek to improve." The realization that we are doing the best we can in any given moment also means we must recognize that others are doing the best they can too. We are no better. We are no more worthy of forgiveness. If we are earnestly trying to better ourselves than we must also give the other person the benefit of the doubt. We must demand a forgiving heart in ourselves.

 I want to end with a writing from Rabbi Rami Shapiro.

Bold, Humble, Daring

Today we stand before the Mirror of All
to see ourselves as we are.
We come with no gifts, no bribes, no illusions or excuses.
We stand without defense and wait to be filled.
What will find us?
Remorse, certainly. so much error and needless pain.
And joy: remembered moments of love and right doing.
We are too complex for single-sided emotions.
And we are too simple to be excused by our complexity.
Let us be bold enough to see,
humble enough to feel,
daring enough to turn and
embrace the way of justice, mercy, and simplicity.

May this be a time of self reflection and self correction. May you ask good questions, and have better answers.  Here's to another year. G'mar Hatimah Tovah! May you be sealed for a good year in the Book of Life.

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Wisdom Wednesday

Just Do It

It's a new week with a new affirmation! We accepted "I'm right where I need to be." We affirmed "I know what to do." So this week we realize "I get to take action."

I first read this affirmation and to be honest didn't feel so great about it. I get to take action? What is that? I was very suspect of the word get. It didn't sound fun or positive at all. If I've learned nothing else in my Torah studies I know that a word has many meanings, and sometimes we need to look at it from a different perspective to really understand the gravity of the word.

I went to Merriam Webster and explored the word get. There were several things that drew my attention. Get: to obtain possession of; to seek out and obtain; to make ready; to prevail on; to succeed in becoming. Really looking at the meaning behind the word get transformed my understanding of this affirmation.


Get: "To obtain possession." To really OWN our actions, and all of their consequences.

Get: "To seek out and obtain." To seek our greatest good at all times.

Get: "To make ready." To prepare ourselves for the future.

Get: "To prevail upon." To succeed against the obstacle before us.

Get: "To succeed in becoming." To do what it takes to become the best person we can be.

I Get to Take Action! I get to make the best decisions for myself, do the best I can, continue to prepare for the unknown, and know that I can and will succeed in becoming the person I am meant to be.

This week we know where we are, know what we should do next, and now we do it. What ever "it" is. That may be something as small as taking 10 minutes each day to check in with yourself and doing some self care, or as big as asking for a raise or promotion. Only you know what that next right action is. JUST DO IT!

Rosh Hashanah and the Sound of Shofar

I want to start this post by letting you know I in no way feel my religious and spiritual beliefs are the only valid ones. I support everyone in following their own path. What I share is simply intended to give you a snap shot of where I am and what I am contemplating at the moment. I love to share, discuss, and think. I believe in mutual love and respect. If you don't want to hear about religion or spirituality feel free to skip this post! No hard feelings. All the love.

Shofar

Rosh Hashahah starts tonight at sundown. It is the Jewish New Year, and a time to reflect on our lives and actions in the last year. There is much introspection and self examination. I love it. Anything that gets me turning inward is on my to do list.

One of the things we do in the Jewish month leading up to Rosh Hashanah is blow the Shofar. The shofar is a horn taken from a Kosher animal that is then hollowed out. I love the sound of the shofar. It is an almost haunting sound. Beautiful. Soul stirring. Mournful.

Girl Blowing the Shofar

Like everything else in Judaism there are several reasons we blow the shofar. First is we are commanded to hear it blown. It's a mitzvah, also known as command. It is a way to travel back in time to Sinai and hear what our ancestors heard. It represents the voice of HaShem (G-d) calling to us. It is also similar to a wake up call. A cosmic alarm clock if you will. Wake up! Wake up! The time is here! It's time to wake up to your life!

I actually have an app on my phone that allows me to blow the shofar. I live is southern Texas, and road out hurricane Harvey. There was a quiet morning in the middle of it all, and I sat in my living room an used the app. It was silent all around me other than the intense vibrato floating through the air. I was moved to tears as I felt a calming peace descend upon me. I felt loved, protected, and completely aware of my vulnerability in that moment. I knew that no matter what happened everything would be alright.

If you want to hear what the shofar sounds like just click here. Enjoy!

You Know or Why Don't I Ever Finish Anything?

Building on last weeks affirmation, "I am right where I need to be," this week we are affirming "I know what to do."

We may not like where we are, but we are there for a reason. We are where we need to be to make the next right choice. Affirm to yourself "I know what to do."

What is the next right choice to make? What do you need to accept to make the next right choice? What do you already know that you have been hiding from?

If I am completely honest with myself I already KNOW what to do in almost every situation. It can be difficult to stop and look at our behaviors and mindsets. It can be difficult to make the changes necessary to move forward. Painful even at times. Be we can do it. Sometimes we need to reach out to others for support. Sometimes we can handle it on our own. But nothing will change without acknowledging what we need to do. The next step is action.

I am such a procrastinator! I have turned it into an art form. I swear I can procrastinate procrastinating. I know what to do. I just don't do it! Writing, which I love, is the most obvious and easy example. If I can put off something I love how much more is that true for the hard things? I put off difficult discussions until it damaged relationships. I have refused to do things in a timely manner and that has hurt my education, work situations, financial security, and happiness. Procrastination is a bitch. One I've fed on many an occasion, but a bitch nonetheless.

I am right where I need to be. Look at it. Embrace it. Learn to love it. THEN you can change it. I see you procrastination! I have your number. I hide behind you because I am afraid. This is where I am. I am now ready to make a different choice.

I know what to do. Now that you can see it, whatever that it is, you can make a change. Make a different choice. Today I chose to look at my fear whatever it is and do the next right thing. I'm going to write. I'm going to tell someone I love them. I'm going to accept myself just as I am. Perfectly imperfect.

What do you know you need to do?

Weekly Affirmations and Being Right Where I Am

I have been feeling the urge to write again for awhile. It feels like a constant wrestling match inside of me. My heart wants to write, me head spouts all these reasons why I shouldn't. The doubts, the anxiety of being seen. I feel like I am entering a new season of life as I get closer to 40. I feel like I am braver and less fearful. My hearts desire to be vulnerable is starting to win out over my kvetching mind. I am embracing it. One day at a time.

I am also going to start sharing a new affirmation each week on Something for the Journeys Facebook page which you can find here. Each Sunday I will add a new affirmation. This weeks was:

I have to remind myself of this all the time. I always feel like I "should" be 15 steps ahead of where I am. I think many of us need to stop shoulding all over ourselves and embrace where we are. There is work to do right where we are. It is perfectly acceptable to want more. However I need to learn to love the step I am on. Maybe you do too.