Do You Compliment at Least One Person Every Day?

Dear friends,

We are often much quicker to criticize than to compliment.

The problem is that criticism rarely works and usually the outcome is that both the recipient and the giver end up feeling resentful.

Often, a much more useful response is to catch someone doing something right and compliment them.

Every day, aim to compliment at least one person. If you have a smart phone, try using Google Keep or Evernote, to make a recurring daily reminder.

You'll feel good and so will your recipient; a very different outcome than if you had been critical.

Have a great week,

Yaakov

Who Are You? Getting in Touch with Your Essence

Dear Friends, 

Many people are overly critical with themselves and have a poor self-image. 

To address this, consider:

Who Are You? Getting in Touch with Your Essence

Have a great week,

Yaakov 

3-Dimensional Acceptance: A Pathway to Peace and Power

Dear Friends,

What are you resisting in your life?

Here are some ways to become more accepting.

3-Dimensional Acceptance: A Pathway to Peace and Power

Have a great week,

Yaakov

Adar I: 6 Tools to Enhance Your Mood

Dear Friends,

This post is about the Jewish month of Adar I as it relates to The Chazak Plan: A 12 Month Journey to Spiritual Strength.

This year is a Jewish leap year which means that there are two months of Adar. Rosh Chodesh Adar I begins Monday night, the 4th of February and lasts for two days. 

Our Sages teach that with the arrival of Adar we increase our joy, culminating in the festival of Purim. Purim commemorates the salvation of the Jewish people during the Persian exile.

While we do not have direct control over our moods, the following are six tools which can be helpful in enhancing them: Gratitude, acceptance, self-compassion, expressing ourselves, addressing festering issues and making lifestyle enhancements (these tools are discussed in the reading below). Many times, even using just one tool will help us feel better and increase our enjoyment of life.

After reading the articles, choose one tool which you will utilize this month. (Since this year is a leap year, you can choose one tool per month.) Then, decide on the one change, technique or behavior, related to that tool, you will do on a daily or regular basis, for at least this month. Add it to your checklist and track how often you do it. 

6 Tools to Enhance Your Mood

Questions for the month:

“What do I think is most negatively affecting my emotional health? How will I address it?”

“What will I do this month to enhance my emotional health/mood and become a happier person?”

Take care and may God grant us success in the coming month,

Yaakov