Adar I: Enhancing Our Joy

Dear Friends,

This year is a Jewish leap year which means that there are two months of Adar. This post is about the Jewish month of Adar I as it relates to The Chazak Plan: A 12 Month Journey to Spiritual Strength.

Rosh Chodesh Adar I begins Monday night, January 31 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, there are things we can do to help us enhance our moods.

What is one thing you will do this month to help enhance your mood?

If you are not sure, ask someone who knows you well for suggestions.

Whatever you choose to do, add it to your checklist and track how often you do it.

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 and become a happier person?”

Ideas for enhancing your emotional health can be found here:

The FAR Plan: Three Steps to Emotional Health

May God grant us success in the coming month,

Yaakov

Discover Your Inner Peace

Dear Friends,

Inner peace is something many are searching for.

This may help along the journey.

Discover Your Inner Peace

Have a great week,

Yaakov

How to Stop Hating and Start Loving Yourself

 Dear Friends, 

Sadly, many very incredible people struggle with not liking themselves. 

How to Stop Hating and Start Loving Yourself

Have a great week, 

Yaakov 

Overcoming our Soft Addictions

Dear Friends,

Many of us have areas of our lives we need to gain more control over, whether our spending habits, risky investing, gambling, internet use, overeating etc.

Aim for at least this month to reign in the particular behavior. Once you have done that you'll be in a better frame of mind to decide what safeguards or limitations to put in place going forward. If you hit a snag, talk to a mentor or professional for assistance.

Overcoming our Soft Addictions

Have a great week,

Yaakov

Shvat: Elevating the Physical

Dear Friends,

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

Rosh Chodesh Shvat begins Sunday night, January 2nd and lasts for one day.

The 15th of this month is Tu B’Shvat, the New Year for trees. An aspect of this holiday is celebrating and elevating the physical. Part of sanctifying the physical is taking care of the body with which God entrusted you. During this month, choose to upgrade either your sleep, exercise or diet habits.

Pick one change you will make on a daily or regular basis, for at least this month, and using your checklist, track how often you do it. If you find the change very easy, add another one. Some examples: Go to sleep 15-20 minutes earlier each week until you feel refreshed in the morning; exercise 2-3 times a week or go for a daily brisk walk; cut out sugary drinks and/or foods from your diet, limiting them to special occasions. Make water your preferred beverage. If you do not like the way your water tastes, consider a filter.

A related point of focus for this month is to consider if there is an area of your life where your relationship with the physical has become unbalanced and excessive, e.g., overeating, overspending, overworking, or overuse of the internet or your smartphone (surfing, texting, checking email, using Facebook etc.). Most of us have at least one area which, at a minimum, wastes our time and takes us away from more fulfilling activities. This month, pick one behavior to rein in and one behavior you would like to do more of instead. 

Questions for the month:

“What will I upgrade this month, my sleep, exercise or diet habits?”

“Is there an area of my life which has become unbalanced and excessive, which at the very least wastes my time? How will I rein it in and regain control?”

"Do I spend too much time online or use it inappropriately? What's an internet filter I can try?"

May God grant us success in the coming month,

Yaakov