In the Talmud (Pirkei Avos 4:1), Ben Zoma said:
Who is wise? He who learns from every person.
Who is strong? He who conquers his desires.
Who is rich? He who is satisfied with what he has.
Who is honored? He who honors others.
The Torah is teaching us to not to seek or demand happiness through any external factors, but rather to depend only on ourselves.
How do we see this concept expressed? The wise man learns from everyone (independent of any intellectual deficiencies in himself); the honorable person honors others (independent of whether others honor him); the wealthy person is satisfied with what he has (independent of how much or little he owns).
(see Daas Chochmah Umussar, vol.3, p.250)
See more Daily Lifts on the topic of
Happiness
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About the Author
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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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