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Daily Lift #550

Acceptance has Curative Powers

Accepting the will of the Almighty when one is ill has curative powers.

Rabbi Simcha Zissel of Kelm wrote to an ill person that all doctors advise their patients to have a calm attitude. The question is how a patient can master this attitude. The Sages have shown us the way -- to accept our suffering with joy.

The benefits gained from awareness of the Almighty are exactly what we need for our physical well being. This is what the verse (Chabakuk 2:4) teaches: "The righteous person will live with his belief." Their belief will cause them to live. It will strengthen them and bring them joy. As it says: "The person with a good heart has a continual feast" (Proverbs 15:15).

The Vilna Gaon comments that when a person goes to a party, he might feel happy, but as soon as the party is over the happiness is gone. But a person with a good heart, that is, the right attitudes, is always happy. Awareness of the Almighty gives a person a good heart to understand that whatever happens is God's will. Suffering is meant to be merciful to a person, to arouse him to mend his ways in order that he find eternal pleasure.

(Chochmah U'mussar, vol.2, p. 291; Rabbi Pliskin's Gateway to Happiness, pp.252-3)

See more Daily Lifts on the topic of Acceptance

NEW BOOK!

Rabbi Zelig Pliskin's new book has just been published by Artscroll: SELF-CONFIDENCE: Formulas, Stories, and Insights.

Self-confidence allows you to create goals -- and reach them. It lets you learn from your failures -- and move on to triumphs. It helps you transform your potential into real achievement. With the help of Rabbi Zelig Pliskin, you will gain that self-confidence.

Rabbi Zelig Pliskin is the author of 25 books with his specialty in mastering happiness and other positive inner resources.

His last 15 books include: "Taking Action", "Happiness", "Kindness", "Courage", "Serenity", "Building Your Self-image" "Conversations with Yourself" and "Marriage." These books are available at: Artscroll.com.

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About the Author

Rabbi Zelig Pliskin

More by this Author >

Rabbi Zelig Pliskin is a noted psychologist and prolific author of 24 books, including Guard Your Tongue, Gateway to Happiness, Gateway to Self Knowledge, Love Your Neighbor, Growth Through Torah, The Power of Words, Consulting the Wise, and the recent Life is Now. Rabbi Pliskin lives in Jerusalem, and is the director of Aish HaTorah's Counseling Center and a senior lecturer at Aish's Essentials program and the Executive Learning Center. He was ordained at the Telshe Yeshiva in Ohio and holds a degree in Counseling Psychology.

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