Positive Thoughts and Happiness for Elul
by Cantor Beth Cohen, Elul 5783
Shalom friends in our amazing Nahalat Shalom community! I am excited to see you all and pray, sing, and celebrate together during our high holidays and this New Year.
During the month of Elul, leading up to the high holidays, we spend a lot of time doing teshuvah – returning and looking back over the past year or years. Taking stock of ourselves, cheshbon hanefesh (accounting of the soul), what went right and where did I miss the mark? How can I can improve, do better? What strengths do I have that will help me achieve my goals and what are my weaknesses? Do I need to apologize to someone? Is there someone who hurt me, that I need to confront – is it safe or the right time to do so in either situation? This type of self-realization and self-actualization can be exciting and even fun work - and it can also feel very overwhelming and scary.
I was fortunate that a big part of my Jewish upbringing and education was learning the importance of focusing on the positive and to (literally) count my blessings. I was also encouraged to spread joy through my work and in my interactions with others. I think this helps me when I am faced with new or difficult situations.
A few weeks ago, I learned that the word b’simchah (being in a state of happiness or joy) shares the same Hebrew letters (in a different order) as the word for thought which is machashavah. The shoresh or word root letters (vowels don’t count) are ‘bet-shin-mem-chet-hey’ and ‘mem-chet-shin-bet-hey.’ Their relationship signals to us that happiness is a way of thinking – that we can control our thoughts and focus on happy ones. Happiness does not merely rely on random luck or happenstance as reflected in the English language.
In the article “Happiness is a Thought” by Mendel Kalmenson and Zalman Abraham, the authors claim that “This deceptively simple idea reveals that the greatest obstacle to our happiness is the mind’s tendency to fixate on the limitations of our circumstances and to regulate and take for granted the myriad good things we experience every day. Each time we have a positive experience, we raise our expectations, sometimes exponentially, constantly needing more and more stimulus to achieve the same level of satisfaction. Judaism’s solution to the “happiness problem” is to view happiness as a thought, making it an infinitely renewable resource, always at our disposal, rather than an existential lottery ticket. All it requires is a minor investment of mental energy and an enhanced awareness to stop thinking only about what’s missing in our lives and focus instead on what is present.”
The article also explains the Jewish practice of counting 100 blessings a day – the same way that I learned as a child. Well, at least to try for 100- and with more focus, I will continue to add to the list!
Another word that uses the same letters as simchah- is shemachah the word for erasure. This teaches us that our happiness relies on our ability to live in the moment, erasing, at least temporarily, painful thoughts about the past or anxious thoughts relating to the future. The Baal Shem Tov was known to say: “You are where your thoughts are.” I am reminded of Ram Dass (Richard Alpert) z”l, who authored “Be Here Now,” and many of us also remember “The Power of Positive Thinking” by Norman Vincent Peale.
One of my goals for this past year was to express and feel more gratitude for all my blessings in life, beginning with waking up each morning with the Modah Ani prayer- singing quietly or out loud. I also wished to be able to show more appreciation for my friends, family, clients, students, co-workers, colleagues and community. I planned to do more mitzvote (good deeds) through volunteering for environmental groups that work to protect and heal our planet, which ultimately could help all life on our planet. I achieved many of these goals, but also fell short in some areas. I have many more quests on my list, still to be faced and explored. Thus, my new revised list has begun for this coming year!
Lately, I have found myself singing Rabbi Menachim Creditor’s nigun-prayer “Olam Chesed Yibaneh” -
I will build this world from love; And you must build this world from love; And if we build this world from love: Then G-d will build this world from love—(listen & sing): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHp-jcPlKIY
Please join me in singing this and many more prayers during our high holiday services starting with Selichot: The Dance of Forgiveness this Saturday, September 9th 6:30-8:30pm.
Wishing us all light and positivity with more than 100 blessings every day in the coming New Year of 5784!