LET US TRAVEL BACK IN TIME....

A LONG LONG TIME...

IN EGYPT (MITZRAIM) WE WERE ALL SLAVES. AS WELL AS, AND TO MIRROR

OUR PYSICAL SLAVERY, WE WERE SLAVES TO LUSTS AND DESIRES, AND

SUBJUGATED TO AN EVIL KING, PHAROE, WHO ONLY WANTED TO HARM US.

THE SAGES TEACH US THAT THIS IS THE ANALOGY TO OUR SPIRITUAL

PHAROE, AND OUR INNER 'MITZRAIM' WHICH MEANS 'STRAITS.' THE

REDEMPTION FROM EGYPT IS A MODEL FOR EACH OF OUR OWN PERSONAL

REDEMPTION, COMING FROM SLAVERY TO OUR HARMFUL LUSTS TO THE

FREEDOM OF LIVING SPIRITUAL LIVES, FREE FROM LUSTS AND DESIRES

WHICH CONFLICT WITH FULL PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL HEALTH AND

VITALITY.

SO HERE IS THE WAY TO GET OUT…

PPrrooff.. GGeezzuunndd''ss 7 STEP PROGRAM TO SELF CHANGE AND

: TMREDEMPTION

1. KNOWLEDGE- KNOWING WHAT IS GOOD FOR ME AND WHAT IS NOT. KNOWING WHAT WAY OF EATING, WAY OF LIFE AND ACTIVITIES ARE GOOD FOR ME AND WHICH ARE HARMFUL, AND ASKING FOR HELP 'TO KNOW'.

2. COMPREHENSION OF THE CHOICE- UNDERSTANDING THE CHOICETHAT WE HAVE, OF CHOSING REDEMPTION AND FREEDOM OVER SLAVERY AND SUBJUGATION, LIGHT OVER DARKNESS, TRUTH OVER

LIES, AND ASKING FOR HELP 'TO COMPREHEND THE CHOICE'.

3. MAKING THE DECISION AND AFFIRMATION TO CHOSE GOOD, LIFE, LIGHT AND TRUTH OVER THE OTHER ALTERNATIVE... AND ASKING FOR HELP TO MAKE THE DECISION.

4. ACTION. MAKING DECISIVE ACTION TOWARDS SELF CHANGE...AND ASKING FOR HELP TO SUCCEED.

5.POSITIVE ATTITUDE: PATIENCE AND FAVOURABLE SELF-JUGEMENT. ...AND ASKING FOR HELP TO DO SO.

6. NOT TURNING BACK, HAVING HOPE, PERSISTANCE,

TRUSTING IN THE PROCESS AND HAVING FAITH IN GOD'S

GUIDANCE. (AND CONTINUOUS ASKING FOR HELP.)

7.OVERCOMING SETBACKS AND IF FALLING, ASKING FOR HELP AND GETTING BACK UP...AGAIN AND AGAIN...AND AVOIDING DESPAIR!

THIS PROCESS IS EXTREMELY REWARDING AND BENEFICIAL- VERY WORTH

WHILE AND HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. IT IS IN ITSELF A JOURNEY OF

DISCOVERY, OF THE TRUTH, OF THE WORLD, OF WHAT IS BEST FOR US AND

OUR CHILDREN, OF OUR TRAITS OF CHARACTER, OF FINDING, DEVELOPING

AND USING COURAGE AND STRENGTH, LEARNING HUMILTY AND FINDING

OUR LIMITS, LEARNING TO CLEAVE TO GOD AND EXPERIENCE TRUE

SALVATION.

BBEESSTT OOFF SSUUCCCCEESSSS......

PPRROOFFEESSSSOORR GGEEZZUUNNDD..

NNOOWW WWEE WWIILLLL EEPPLLAAIINN TTHHIISS PPRROOCCEESSSS::

1. KNOWLEDGE- KNOWING WHAT IS GOOD FOR ME AND WHAT IS NOT. KNOWING WHAT WAY OF EATING, WAY OF LIFE AND ACTIVITIES ARE GOOD FOR ME AND

WHICH ARE HARMFUL. THE SLAVERY IN EGYPT WAS SUCH THAT PEOPLE, EVEN WITH ALL THE TROUBLES, DID NOT REALISE THAT IN FACT THAT WAY OF LIFE WAS BAD FOR THEM. THEY WENT ALONG SUFFERING THINKING THAT THIS WAS 'NORMAL' LIFE. THE FIRST STEP IN REACHING FREEDOM IS KNOWING THAT IT EXISTS AND KNOWING THAT ONE IS ENSLAVED. IT IS A PROCESS OF TRUTH, SELF TRUTH AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF FACTS. TO ACTUALLY ADMIT THAT ''MY WAY OF LIFE IS NOT THE BEST IT CAN BE'' IS NOT SUCH AN EASY THING TO DO. IT IS NECESSARY FOR SELF CHANGE. 80 PERCENT OF JEWS IN EGYPT DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE MITZRAIM. THEY WERE EITHER TOO SCARED OF THE UNKNOWN PROCESS, OR TOO LAZY AND ACCUSTOMED TO HABITS TO MAKE THE CHANGE, OR LACKED BELIEF IN THE GOODNESS THAT WAS TO EVENTUATE FROM THE REDEMPTION, THE CHANGE FOR GOOD, OR LACKED THE COURAGE TO MAKE THE CHANGE. THESE ARE TRAITS TO BE AVOIDED IN THE REDEMPTION AND SELF CHANGE PROCESS.

FFIIRRSSTT WWEE WWIILLLL EEPPLLAAIINN TTHHEE PPRROOCCEESSSS OOFF

PPRRAAYYEERR::

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND EFFORTS, INTEREST AND COURAGE TO MAKE IT TO THIS PROCESS. I HOPE IT WILL BE VERY REWARDING FOR YOU IN MANY WAYS. PRIOR TO BEGINNING THE EXPLANATION AND WORK I WOULD LIKE TO EXPLAIN THIS IDEA OF THIS CONCEPT OF ''ASKING FOR HELP'' THAT I HAVE MENTIONED. AFFIRMATIONS SUCH AS "I WILL, I AM DECIDING TO, I CHOSE TO, I WANT TO..." ARE POSITIVE STATEMENTS THAT SELF-EMPOWER, AND GIVE 'FIRMNESS' TO THE WILL, YET EVENTHOUGH THEY DO EFFECT A DEEP CHANGE IN THE PSYCHE AND STRENGTHEN THE HEART, THEY PRESUME THAT THE POWER THE ACHIVE SOMETHING IS IN OUR HANDS. ALTHOUGH WE HAVE GREAT SAY AND OUR EFFORTS COUNT, THE FINAL

DECISIONS AND OUR FATE IS IN DIVINE HANDS, AND INDEED GOD DOES ASSIST THOSE WHO ASSIST THEMSELVES, YET WE MUST BE CAREFUL IN FEELING ARROGANCE ABOUT 'OUR' SUCCESSES AND ACHEIVEMENTS, FOR WE ARE WARNED FIRMLY IN THE TORAH THAT WHEN 'WE' HAVE CONQUERED OUR ENEMIES (WHICH IN THE DEEPER MEANING REFERS TO THE SPIRITUAL ENEMIES OF LUSTS AND NEGATIVE HABITS AND CHARACTER TRAITS), WE ARE WARNED NOT TOGIVE OURSELVES THE CREDIT:

ואמרת בלבבך כחי ועצם ידי עשה לי "

החיל הזה: וזכרת את ה' אלקיך -את

כיהוא הנותן לך כח לעשות חיל...

ט: יז,יח( -)דברים פ' עקב"

"AND YOU SAID IN YOUR HEART MY STRENGTH

AND THE GREATNESS OF MY HAND HAS DONE FOR ME THIS BATTLES: AND YOU SHALL REMEMBER HASHEM YOUR GOD FOR HE IS THE ONE WHO GIVES YOU STRENGTH TO DO BATTLE…" (DEVARIM PARSHAT 'EKEV' – 9:17,18)

THESE WARNINGS AND COMMANDMENTS APPLY IN ANY PROCESS IN LIFE, INCLUDING SELF CHANGE AND THE INNER BATTLES OVER SPIRITUAL ENEMIES. WE ARE TOLD TO BE HUMBLE AND KNOW THAT OUR GOD IS GIVING US THE STRENGTH TO CHANGE, TO DO BATTLE AND WIN.

THIS LEADS US ONTO THE SUBJECT OF PRAYER...

ASKING FOR DIVINE ASSITANCE IS AN ESSENTIAL ELEMENT IN ANY SELF CHANGE PROCESS OR IN ACHIEVING

ANY GOAL IN LIFE. THIS IS AN ACT OF

HUMILITY AND FAITH AND CARRIES WITH IT MANY REWARDS. THE SAGES TEACH US TO PRAY TO GOD FOR EVERYTHING, AND TO KNOW THAT ALL OUR STRENGTH COMES FROM HIM, THE ALMIGHTY, THE FORCE BEHIND THE UNIVERSAL ENERGY OF CREATION, THE PERFORMER OF MIRACLES, THE TRUE AND ONLY SAVIOUR.

WHAT IS EVERYTHING? CHILDREN PRAY TO GOD FOR TOYS AND LOLLOYPOPS. ADULTS PRAY TO GOD FOR BIG KID'S TOYS SUCH AS CARS AND COMPUTERS. I PRAYED

TO GOD FOR THIS ACTUAL hp LAPTOP COMPUTER I AM

USING RIGHT NOW TO TYPE THIS BOOK AND FOR THE

NOKIA PHONE WITH THE CARL ZEISS LENS I USED TO PHOTOGRAPH MANY OF THE EXCELLENT QUALITY PHOTOGRAPHS IN THIS BOOK. WE ARE TAUGHT BY THE RIGHTEOUS TO THANK GOD FOR ALL THAT WE HAVE... "THANK YOU GO FOR ALL YOU HAVE GIVEN ME, HEALTH, LOVE, SHELTER, ALL GOODNESS AND POSSESSIONS...", WE ARE TAUGHT TO PRAY FOR ALL WORLDY MATTERS...

"PLEASE GO HELP US HAVE PEACE, RAIN, HEALTH, CHILDREN, INCOME AND (ANY MATTER THAT NEEDS ABUNDANCE AND ORDER)". AS WELL AS THIS, AND LESS KNOWN TO THE COMMON MAN, WE ARE TAUGHT TO PRAY FOR INNER CHANGE. ANY ASPECT OF OURSELVES WE WANT TO CHANGE, IMPROVE, ANY INNER SLAVATION WE RECOGNISE WE NEED..."GOD PLEASE HELP ME HAVE A

PURE HEART, PLEASE HELP ME BE KIND, HAPPY, TRUSTING, LOVING, TRUTHFUL AND JUST, THANKFUL...AND ALL THE THINGS THAT ARE GOOD FOR

ME TO BE." THE BRAVE AND RIGHTEOUS KING DAVID,

THE MASTER OF PRAYER TEACHES US SEVERAL VERY IMPORTANT LESSONS IN LIFE:

HE DECLARES THIS FACT AND A PROMISE:

קראיו לכל אשר יקראהו קראיו לכל אשר יקראהו קראיו לכל אשר יקראהו ---קרוב ה' לכלקרוב ה' לכלקרוב ה' לכל "

)תהילים קמה()תהילים קמה()תהילים קמה( " באמת.באמת.באמת.

"""CCCLLLOOOSSSEEE IIISSS HHHAAASSSHHHEEEMMM TTTOOO AAALLLLLL TTTHHHOOOSSSEEE

WWWHHHOOO CCCAAALLLLLL OOOUUUTTT TTTOOO HHHIIIMMM,,, TTTOOO AAALLLLLL WWWHHHOOO

CCCAAALLLLLL HHHIIIMMM IIINNN TTTRRRUUUTTTHHH...""" (((PPPSSSAAALLLMMMSSS 111444555)))

ALL THOSE WHO CALL OUT TO GOD IN TRUTH WILL BE ANSWERED. WE WILL TALK LATER ABOUT PRAYING FOR SPIRITUAL CHANGE AND FOR HEALING FROM ILLNESS. FOR NOW LET US REALISE THAT THE SUCCESS OF ANY ACHIEVEMENT WE WANT TO ACHIEVE INCLUDING IN PHYSICAL AND SPIRITUAL TASKS, IS DEPENDANT ON GOD'S WILL AND THAT HIS ASSISTANCE IS ON OFFER FOR ALL THOSE WHO WANT TO TAKE IT. THE HUMBLE WILL UNDERTSAND THIS AND NOT THINK THAT WE CAN ACHIEVE PERSONAL SALVATION ALONE.

KING DAVID ALSO TELLS US:

קוה אל ה' חזק ויאמץ לבך וקוה אל "

)תהילים כז( "ה'

"PRAY IN HOPE TO HASHEM, STRENGTHEN YOUR HEART WITH COURAGE AND PRAY IN HOPE TO

HASHEM." (TEHILLIM 27)

THIS INSTRUCTION AND PROMISE IS CERTAINLY GOOD NEWS, GIVING HOPE FOR SUCCESS IN LIFE'S DIFFICULT CHALANGES. KING DAVID THE GREAT IS GIVING US ADVICE, TO PESEVERE IN OUR EFFORTS TO CHANGE OURSELVES AND TO PRAY TO GOD FOR SALVATION, AND KEEP PRAYING WITH A STRONG COURAGEOUS HEART UNTIL WE ARE GRANTED OUR GOALS FOR GOOD.

O.K. SO IN TRYING TO CHANGE LIFESTYLES, ADOPT GOOD CHARACTER TRAITS AND ABANDON NEGATIVE ONES SUCH AS THOUGHTS, FEELINGS AND DESIRES, WE NEED GOOD. IT HELPS TO AFFIRM:

"I UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS BEST TO PRAY TO GOD FOR HELP IN ANY PROCESS OF CHANGE.

.CRASH COURSE -HOW TO PRAY

PRAYERS ARE BEST SAID WITH THE LIPS, IN WHATEVER LANGUAGE YOU SPEAK. PRAYERS ARE BEST DIRECTED AT GOD. WISHES AND AFFIRMATIONS ARE GOOD BUT AS WE HAVE DISCUSSED, ASKING THE ALMIGHTY IS THE BEST WAY TO GO. DON'T BE SHY. WHERE IS GOD AND HOW TO DIRECT PRAYERS TO GOD?

GOD IS EVERYWHERE. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO GO TO THE KOTEL TO PRAY, YOU CAN PRAY ANYWHERE. YET THE BEST PRAYERS ARE THOSE SAID WITH FULL INTENTION OF THE HEARTAND WHEN YOU REALLY MEAN WHAT YOU SAY. IT IS BEST TO CLOSE EYES, CONCENTRATE INWARDS INTO THE ETERNAL LIGHT, AND DIRECT THE PRAYERS TO YOUR LOVING MERCIFUL FATHER IN HEAVEN WHOSE KINDNESS IS ETERNAL, WHO IS THE ALMIGHTY SAVIOUR AND THE CREATOR OF THE UNIVERSE AND ALL THAT IS IN IT. WE HAVE MANY WAYS OF RELATING TO GOD. TRY TO PERCEIVE GOD AS ALL OF THEM AT ONCE- THAT IS THE BEST IDEA.

AGAIN- WARNING: DO NOT BE SHY...AND KNOW THAT LIKE ANYTHING, PRACTICE MAKES... IMPROVEMENTS. PERFECTION IS A NEVERENDING PROCESS AND THEREFORE NONACHIEVABLE, FOR IT IS NEVERENDING.

OK. READY? SO LET US START WITH THE FIRST PRAYER, TO ASK FOR THE WILL COURAGE AND POWER TO PRAY. THE ABILITY TO PRAY IS A SPECIAL GIFT AND SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN FOR GRANTED, SO HERE WE GO:

"PLEASE GOD, HELP ME FIND THE COURAGE, WILL AND ABILITY TO PRAY TO YOU ABOUT ALL MY WISHES FOR GOOD, ALL MY ENDEVOURS AND ALL MY EFFORTS AND HELP ME BE HUMBLE & KNOW THAT YOU GIVE ME POWER TO DO ALL I DO."

GOOD. THAT WASN'T SO HARD, WAS IT?

NOW THAT WE KNOW ABOUT PRAYER, LET US START

THE PROCESS:

IS GOOD FOR KNOWING WHAT KNOWLEDGE:BACK TO ME AND WHAT IS NOT. KNOWING WHAT WAY OF EATING, WAY OF LIFE AND ACTIVITIES ARE GOOD FOR ME AND WHICH ARE HARMFUL. THE SLAVERY IN EGYPT WAS SUCH THAT PEOPLE, EVEN WITH ALL THE TROUBLES,

WAS DID NOT REALISE THAT IN FACT THAT WAY OF LIFE FOR THEM. THEY WENT ALONG SUFFERING BAD

THINKING THAT THIS WAS 'NORMAL' LIFE. THE FIRST STEP IN REACHING FREEDOM IS KNOWING THAT IT EXISTS AND KNOWING THAT ONE IS ENSLAVED. IT IS A PROCESS OF TRUTH, SELF TRUTH AND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF FACTS. TO ACTUALLY ADMIT THAT ''MY WAY OF LIFE IS NOT THE BEST IT CAN BE'' IS NOT SUCH AN EASY THING TO DO. IT IS NECESSARY FOR SELF CHANGE. 80 PERCENT OF JEWS IN EGYPT DID NOT WANT TO LEAVE MITZRAIM. THEY WERE EITHER TOO SCARED OF THE UNKNOWN PROCESS, OR TOO LAZY AND ACCUSTOMED TO HABITS TO MAKE THE CHANGE, OR LACKED BELIEF IN THE GOODNESS THAT WAS TOEVENTUATE FROM THE REDEMPTION, THE CHANGE FOR GOOD, OR LACKED THE COURAGE TO MAKE THE CHANGE. THESE ARE TRAITS TO BE AVOIDED IN THE REDEMPTION AND SELF CHANGE PROCESS.

AFFIRMATION:ELATED R

"I WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS GOOD FOR ME. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT WAY OF LIFE IS GOOD FOR ME. I WANT TO

KNOW WHAT ACTIVITIES IN LIFE ARE GOOD FOR ME. I WANT TO KNOW WHAT FOODS ARE GOOD FOR ME, AND WHEN TO EAT WHAT AND HOW MUCH. I WANT TO BE HEALTHY.

PRAYER:

"PLEASE GOD HELP ME KNOW WHAT IS GOOD FOR ME. PLEASE HELP ME TO KNOW WHAT WAY OF LIFE IS GOOD FOR ME. PLEASE HELP ME TO KNOW WHAT ACTIVITIES IN LIFE ARE GOOD FOR ME. PLEASE HELP ME TO KNOW WHAT FOODS ARE GOOD FOR ME, AND WHEN TO EAT WHAT AND HOW MUCH. PLEASE HELP ME TO BE HEALTHY. PLEASE OPEN MY EYES TO THE TRUTH AND HELP ME SEE THE LIGHT OF TRUE FREEDOM, AND THE REAL LIFE. PLEASE HELP ME BE HUMBLE AND LEARN FROM ALL TEACHERS AND PEOPLE, AND UNDERSTAND YOUR MESSAGES AND SIGNS THAT YOU SEND ME."

WE HAVE A CHOICE -COMPREHENSION OF THE CHOICE2.AS EXPLAINED. IN ORDER TO SUCCEED IN THE SELF CHANGE AND CHOSE WHAT IS BEST FOR US WE MUST UNDERSTAND WHAT IS BEST FOR US, AND AFTER WE UNDERTAND THIS WE HAVE TO KNOW WE HAVE A CHOICE TO CHOOSE THIS PATH. WE HAVE THE CHOICE TO CHOOSE GOOD, LIGHT AND JOY, HEALTH AND FREEDOM. THE CHOICE THAT WE HAVE, OF CHOSING REDEMPTION AND FREEDOM OVER SLAVERY AND SUBJUGATION, LIGHT OVER DARKNESS, TRUTH OVER LIES, AND ASKING FOR HELP 'TO COMPREHEND THE CHOICE'. SOMETIMES PEOPLE MAKE THE ERROR TO THINK THAT 'FATE IS SUCH THAT THEY DO NOT SUCCEED' OR 'WILL BE SICK OR DIE' OR THAT HEALTH AND LIGHT AND RIGHTEOUSNESS AND SUCCESS ARE FOR OTHERS BUT NOT FOR THEM...THEY ARE 'NOT WORTHY' OR THEY ARE 'DOOMED FOR...' ALL SORTS OF ISSUES SUCH AS THIS... THERE ARE DEEP ISSUES IN PSYCHOSPIRITUALITY AS TO THE REASONS FOR THESE

THOUGHTS/FEELINGS OF PROJECTION TO THE FUTURE. FOR NOW WE WILL PRESUME THAT IT IS POSSIBLE TO OVERTURN ANY NEGATIVE PROJECTIONS. THEY ARE FROM 'THE DARK SIDE,' THE NEGATIVE FORCES, CALLED WITHIN MAN THE 'SELF SABOTAGE' AND TRY TO DESTROY MAN, BY TRYING TO CONVINCE HIM OF NEGATIVE OUTCOMES. THEY TOO SERVE AN IMPORTANT PURPOSE IN SELF GROWTH. SO WE HAVE UNDERSTOOD THAT WE HAVE THE CHOICE TO BE ALL THE GOOD THINGS AND AT LEAST AIM AND STRIVE FOR THEM, BEING POSITIVE AND HOPEFUL YET LEAVING OUR SUCCESS IN GOD'S HANDS.

RELATED AFFIRMATION:

"I WANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT I DO HAVE A CHOICE TO CHOOSE LIFE, HEALTH HAPPINESS AND LIGHT. I WANT TO UNDERTAND THAT THERE IS MUCH CHANCE FOR IMPROVEMENT IN MY LIFE, IN MY PHYSICAL EMOTIONAL AND INNER SPIRITUAL HEALTH."

PRAYER:

"PLEASE GOD HELP ME KNOW THAT I HAVE A CHOICE TO BE HEALTHY, HAVE LIGHT JOY AND CHANGE FOR THE GOOD. PLEASE HELP ME UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE A CHOICE AND A CHANCE TO REACH MY FULL POTENTIAL WITH YOUR HELP."

3. MAKING THE DECISION TO CHOOSE GOOD, LIFE, LIGHT AND TRUTH OVER THE OTHER ALTERNATIVE IS A BIG STEP. IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO TEAR OURSELVES FROM THE LUSTS AND DESIRES OF SLAVERY IN EGYPT IN TRADE FOR LIFE AND LIGHT...JOY AND FREEDOM. AS SAID 80% OF JEWS DID NOT LEAVE EGYPT AS THEY COULD NOT HANDLE THE SWITCH FROM SLAVERY TO FREEDOM. IN THIS WAY IT IS SOMETIMES VERY DIFFICULT TO LEAVE THE SLAVERY IN THE LUST WORLD FOR THE WORLD OF HEALTH AND FREEDOM. IT TAKES COURAGE AND FAITH, WILL AND DETERMINATION. OF COURSE

ASKING FOR DIVINE HELP TO MAKE THE DECISION IS THE KEY OF COURSE.

"I WANT TO CHOOSE LIFE LIGHT AFFIRMATION: HEALTH HAPPINESS AND FREEDOM! I WANT TO HAVE THE COURAGE TO CHOSE TO CHOSE LIFE. I CHOOSE HEALTH OVER ILLNESS, LIGHT OVER DARKNESS, FREEDOM OVER SLAVERY, IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO

LIVE A LONG HEALTHY LIFE AND DO MUCH GOOD."

"PLEASE GOD HELP ME HAVE THE COURAGE TO PRAYER:CHOSE LIFE AND HEALTH, LIGHT AND FREEDOM AND

ABANDON MY ATTACHMENTS TO LUSTS AND DESIRES THAT ARE HARMFUL FOR ME. PLEASE HELP ME MAKE THIS CHOICE FOR THE SAKE OF MY LIFE, TO HAVE HEALTH AND

LONG LIFE IN ORDER TO DO GOOD."

4. ACTION. OF COURSE MAKING DECISIVE ACTION AND TAKING ACTUAL STEPS TOWRDS SELF CHANGE AND LIFESTYLE CHANGES IS A KEY STEP. UNTIL NOW WE HAVE BEEN IN THE THEORY, AND ALTHOUGH IT HAS NET BEEN 'ALL TALK NO ACTION' BECAUSE EVEN THE THINKING, CONTEMPLATING, DECISION MAKING, MANIFESTING & PRAYING WE HAVE DONE IS GREAT POSITIVE ACTION TOWARDS SELF CHANGE, NOW WE ARE ACTUALLY GETTING INTO THE DOING PART OF IT, WHICH REQUIRES CONTINUOUS POSITIVE THOUGHT AND WILL . O.K. SO LET US MANIFEST CHANGE BY ACTION, YET FIRST WE WILL OF COURSE AFFIRM AND PRAY:

AFFIRMATION:

"I WANT TO MAKE DECISIVE ACTION TOWARDS SELF CHANGE AND LIFESTYLE CHANGES FOR THE BENEFIT OF MY PHYSICAL EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL HEALTH.

DO IT. I CAN SUCCEED IN THIS CANI DESERVE IT AND I GOOD STEP IN MY LIFE, WITH GOD'S HELP."

AND WHAT ABOUT ASKING FOR HELP TO SUCCEED...

:THE PRAYER

"PLEASE GOD HEL P ME MAKE DECISIVE ACTION TOWARDS SELF CHNAGE AND LIFESTYLE CHANGES TO BENEFIT MY PHYSICAL EMOTIONAL AND SIRITUAL HEALTH. HELP ME HAVE THE COURAGE AND STRENGTH TO DO WHAT IS BEST FOR ME AND AVOID WHAT IS NOT GOOD FOR ME, BASED ON WHAT I KNOW."

NOW IN THIS PART OF THE PROGRAM WE HAVE THE 'ACTION' ASPECT OF IT, WHICH IS THE ACTUAL 'DOING' – THE IMPLEMENTING OF WHAT WE HAVE UNTIL NOW GEARED UP TO. WHEN WE GO ALONG LIFE WITH THIS NEW OUTLOOK OF 'LIVING HEALTHY' WE HAVE MANY ISSUES TO WORK ON, AS DISCUSSED, THE CHOOSING OF 'GOOD' AND HEALTHY RELATED ACTIVITIES, FOODS, EXCERCISES... CHOSING WHAT IS BEST FOR US. WITH EACH CHOICE THEREFORE, THE KNOWLEDGE IS USED AND AN ASSESSMENT IS MADE: "I WANT TO DO WHAT IS GOOD FOR ME: IS THIS GOING TO BE GOOD FOR ME? IS THERE SOMETHING BETTER I CAN DO / EAT / BE INVOLVED IN INSTEAD OF WHAT IS OFFERED?" BEFORE UNDERGOING ANY ACTIVITY.

THIS CONSTANT ASSESSMENT IS A GREAT PRACTICE WHICH WILL HELP ON THE ROAD TO SUCCESS. DEPENDING ON YOUR LEVEL OF CONNECTION TO GOD AND AWARENESS OF HIS SIGNS IN YOUR THOUGHTS AND FEELINGS, YOU MAY WANT TO ASK GOD EACH TIME YOU ARE ABOUT TO UNDERTAKE SOMETHING (THE ABOVE QUESTIONS.) IN THIS WAY YOU KNOW THAT YOU ARE ALWAYS GUIDED AND IS YOU CONTEMPLATE YOU MAY ACTUALLY REALISE THAT YOU ARE BEING ANSWERED, WHEN YOU GOD DEVELOPS YOUR SENSE OF 'INTUITION-' AN INNER

SENSE OF WHAT IS GOOD FOR YOU. YOU MAY ACTUALLY HEAR AN INNER VOICE, SCREAMING TO YOU 'NOOOO!' WHEN YOU ARE STARRING AT THAT TEMPTING CAKE AFTER YOU HAVE WORKED SO HARD FOR WEEKS TO KEEP ON A HEALTHY LIFE REGIMN. THIS IS ONE OF THE BENEFITS OF THE PROCESS- A DEVELOPED SENSE OF AWARENESS OF WHAT IS GOOD.

4. POSITIVE ATTITUDE: PATIENCE AND FAVOURABLE SELF-JUGEMENT.

...AND ASKING FOR HELP TO DO SO.

SO WE 'FAIL' ONCE, TWICE, THREE TIMES...A BILLION AND ONE TIMES! SO WHAT? IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO ALWAYS BE POSITIVE. HOW CAN WE POSITIVE IF WE FAIL SO MANY TIMES? EASY- WE HAVE TO BE HUMBLE. WE ARE 'ONLY' HUMAN. WE ASK GOD FOR HELP AND WE ASK AGAIN AND AGAIN. THERE IS MUCH MORE CHANCE TO SUCCEED THIS WAY AS WE TALKED ABOUT AT THE BEGINNING. HOWEVER IF WE FALL, IT MAY BE A LESSON OF HUMILITY FROM GOD, TO ENFORCE IN US THE FACT THAT INDEED WE ARE ONLY HUMAN AND WE CANNOT RELY ON OUR OWN EFFORTS, RATHER ON GOD'S HELP TO AFFECT ANY SALVATION IN OUR LIVES. IF 'WE' FAILED WE WERE MEANT TO FAIL. THINKING OR FEELING THAT WE FAILED IS AN ILLUSION. GOD IS IN THIS 'LACK OF SUCCESS.' WHERE WE ARE AT IS WHERE WE ARE MEANT TO BE AT. WE CAN STRIVE FOR IMPROVEMENT, YET WE ARE ADVISED TO JUDGE OURSELVES FABOURABLY. AGAIN THE RIGHTEOUS RABBE NACHMAN WAS THE MASTER OF THIS IMPORTANT TEACHING. FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE OF TRYING TO REACH SPIRITUAL PERFECTION, AND WITH DEALING WITH HIS MANY RIGHTEOUS DISCIPLES WHO WERE ALL ON THIS SELF-PERFECTION PATH, RABBE NACHMAN OFTEN

PREACHED THE 'JUDGE YOURSELF FAVOURABLY' TEACHING, RECOMMENDING ALWAYS TO FOCUS ON THE POSITIVE. OK. SO WE (THINK WE) FAILED, THAT'S ALSO FOR GOOD. THAT WAS MEANT TO BE. WE WERE NOT READY FOR THE MOVE UP IN WHATEVER WE TRIED TO ACHIVE. AS WE WILL DISCUSS LATER, DESPAIR IS THE WORSE ENEMY, AND A FEELING OF FAILURE IS A LACK OF UNDERSTANDING THAT GOD IS WITH US AT THE PLACE WHERE WE ARE AT- RIGHT

WHERE WE ARE MEANT TO BE. THIS ISNOW, AND THIS UNDERSTANDING IS ONE OF HUMILITY. OH- WE WANTED TO ALREADY BE 'THERE' – A PLACE WITHOUT ANY CRAVINGS AND LUSTS- NO! WE WANTED THAT BUT YET GOD WANTS US TO BE HERE. WHEN ONE UNDERSTANDS THIS, ONE IS JOYOUS EVEN AT TIMES OF NOT SUCCEEDING WHAT ONE WANTS TO ACHIEVE, FOR WE KNOW THAT ALL IS FOR GOOD AND WE ARE HAPPY EVEN AT PRESUMED 'FAILURES.' AND IF SO FOR SPIRITUAL PERSUITS, OF COURSE HOW MUCH MORE FOR MATERIAL & PHYSICAL PERSUITS OF SUCCESS.

SO THE RULES ARE:

I. BE PATIENT WITH OURSELVES. II. SEE THE POSITIVE IN OURSELVES. WE TRIED AND

DID NOT SUCCEED...AT LEAST WE TRIED. WE SUCCEEDED A LITTLE...WE ATE GOOD IN THE MORNING EVEN IF WE INDULGED AT NIGHT IN THINGS WE WERE NOT MEANT TO ON OUR NEW FOUND PATH... AT LEAST WE ARE ON THIS PATH!

III. THINK AND TALK ONLY GOOD ABOUT OURSELVES. OFTEN PEOPLE UNFORTUNATELY CALL THEMSELVES NEGATIVE NAMES LIKE SAYING THEY ''MESSED UP'', ''PIGGED OUT'', ARE ''SO AND SUCH... 'STUPID' AND 'SILLY' AND IN HEBREW THERE ARE SEVERAL MUCH MORE SEVERE NAMES BEING USED NOT SUITABLE FOR OUR EARS. SUCH BEHAVIOUR IS DESTRUCTIVE TO OUR GROWTH – THIS IS A BIG NO NO! I FORBID YOU TO THINK SUCH THINGS AND TO

SAY THEM TO OURSELVES OR TO OTHERS. IF WE SAID SOMETHING LIKE THIS – RETRACT IT IMMEDIATELY AND SAY "ACTUALLY I AM GOOD! I AM TRYING. I'LL HAVE TO TRY AHRDER AND SUCCEED WITH GOD'S HELP!" OR IF WE CATCH OURSELVES ABOUT TO SAY SUCH A THING, WE MUST QUICKLY STOP OUR TONGUE FROM SAYING THIS, AND CHANGE THE THOUGHT PROCESS TO THE POSITIVE ONE (" I'M GOOD! I AM TRYING! I WILL TRY AGAIN AND SUCCEED WITH GOD'S HELP."

RABBE NACHMAN SAYS.

AFFIRMATION:

"I WANT TO BE POSITIVE REGARDING MYSELF AND JUDGE MYSELF FAVOURABLY. I WISH TO SEE THE GOOD IN MY EFFORTS AND ONLY THINK AND TALK GOOD ABOUT MYSELF. I WOULD LIKE TO BEPATIENT WITH OURSELVES."

PRAYER:

"PLEASE GOD HELP ME BE PATIENT AND TOLERANT AND POSITIVE WITH MYSELF. HELP ME JUDGE MYSELF FAVOURABLY AND ONLY THINK AND TALK GOOD ABOUT MYSELF."

6. NOT TURNING BACK, HAVING HOPE, PERSISTANCE, TRUSTING IN THE PROCESS AND HAVING FAITH IN GOD'S GUIDANCE. (AND CONTINUOUS ASKING FOR HELP.)

THE HOLY TEMPLE IS NOT BUILT IN A DAY. WITHIN OUR HEARTS THE TEMPLE OF DEDICATED DIVINE SERVICE IS NOT BUILT IN A DAY EITHER.

PIC OF TEMPLE IN THE HEART.

TRUST IN GOD'S GUIDANCE IS IMPORTANT TO ALWAYS KEEP WITHIN US.

DOUBT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST SPIRITUAL ENEMIES WITHIN US. FINALLY, OUR GREAT ENEMY PHAROE WAS DROWNED IN THE SEA WITH ALL HIS 'MIGHTY' LEGIONS

AND AFTER GOD DROWNED THEM IN THE SEA, AFTER BELIEVING IN GOD SO STRONGLY, WE AGAIN WERE STRUCK WITH A FEELING OF DOUBT , DOUBT OF SUCCESS IN THE JOURNEY TO THE HOLY LAND, DOUBT THAT GOD IS WITHIN US AND GUIDING US EVERY STEP OF THE WAY AND SUSTAINING US IN THE DESERT. WE ASKED 'IS GOD AMONGST US OR NOT?'

THIS INNER DOUBT MANIFESTED THE ARRIVAL OF THE WICKED NATION OF AMALEK. AMALEK HAS THE SAME NUMERICAL VALUE AS

ספק עמלק =

'SAFEK' = DOUBT! THE NUMERICAL VALUE OF 240. DOUBT IS A SELF-DESTRUCTIVE FEELING WHICH HAS AN ASPECT OF LACK OF TRUST AND FAITH IN GOD AND IS PARTIALLY THEREFORE A DENIAL OF GOD AND DISBELIEF IN THE COVENANT THAT GOD MADE WITH ABRAHAM AND ALL HIS OFFSPRING. THE SAGES EXPLAIN THAT IN RESPONSE TO THE INNER FEELING OF DOUBT WHETHER GOD IS AMONGST US OR NOT, WE WERE STRUCK BY A NATION WHO WERE TOTALLY DENYING THE EXISTENCE OF GOD AND TORAH (WHICH FOR THEM INCLUDED BASIC RULES OF HUMANTITY SUCH AS NOT TO MURDER AND WHO REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE CHOSEN-NESS OF THE JEWISH PEOPLE AND THEIR COVENANT WITH GOD.

THE DEEPER MEANING OF THESE TEACHINGS, IS THAT WHEN WE HAVE DOUBT IN GOD AND HIS GUIDANCE OVER US, AND HIS ASSISTANCE OF OUR EFFORTS (THIS INNER EVIL ENEMY THAT IS 'AMALEK',) WE ARE STRUCK WITH EXTERNAL ENEMIES AND OBSTACLES TO NEGATE OUR PATH TO SUCCESS. WITH FULL TRUST IN GOD, HIS GUIDANCE AND ASSISTANCE, WE HAVE A SHIELD AND ARE GUIDED TO SUCCESS, TO REACH OUR GOALS OF SPIRITUAL AND PHYSCIAL HEALTH AND FREEDOM. THERE IS A MITZVA FROM TO TORAH TO REMEMBER WHAT AMALEK DID TO US, AND WHY HE

CAME ABOUT- BECAUSE LACK OF TRUST AND FAITH IN GOD...

REMEMBERING THIS WE AVOID FUTURE EPISODES OF DISTRUST THAT ARE DETRIMENTAL TO OUR LIVES. IT IS ESSENTIAL FOR US TO 'TRUST IN THE PROCESS' AND IN GOD'S GUIDANCE, AVOIDING AND NEGATING OUR GREAT SPIRITUAL ENEMY – DOUBT. THE DOUBT THAT GOD IS WITHIN US AND GUIDING US IS DESTRUCTIVE TO OUR DEVELOPMENT... ONE WHO IS ATTEMPTING SELF CHANGE, AS IN ANY PROCESS IS LIFE, MUST HAVE TRUST AND BELIEF IN HASHEM: 'EMUNA AND BITACHON.' HERE WE GO:

AFFIRMATION:

" I WANT TO HAVE FAITH AND TRUST IN GOD. I KNOW THAT GOD IS ALWAYS WITH ME IN ALL MY PATHS, GUIDING ME IN ALL MY EFFORTS TO IMPROVE MYSELF, PHYSICALLY EMOTIONALLY AND SPIRITUALLY.

RAYER:P

" PLEASE GOD, HELP ME HAVE FAITH (EMUNA) AND TRUST (BITACHON) IN YOU, AND HELP ME STRENGTH EN TO KNOW THAT YOU ARE ALWAYS WITH ME IN ALL MY WAYS."

AND IF FALLING, ASKING FOR 7. OVERCOMING SETBACKS

HELP AND GETTING BACK UP...AGAIN AND AGAIN...AND AVOIDING DESPAIR.

SIMILAR TO THE PREVIOUS SECTION: SAME SAME BUT DIFFERENT, AND IN THIS ARE,

THE MORE REPETITION AND PRACTICE THE BETTER, BELIEVE ME!

HOPE

HOPE IS A VERY HEALTHY FEELING AND THOUGHTS OF HOPE REPESENT A HEALTHY WAY OF THINKING. TO REACH HOPE WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH DEALING WITH... TATATATADADAMMMM..........

DESPAIR

RABBE NACHMAN TEACHES US...

AGAIN THIS REVOLUTIONARY TEACHING FROM RABBE NACHMAN WAS ONE HE WAS VERY FAMOUS FOR.

THE MEANING OF IT IS THAT DESPAIR DOES NOT EXIST! IT IS AN ILLUSION, A TRICK OF THE DARK SIDE TO PUT MAN DOWN AND MAKE US FEEL GUILTY, DEPRESSED, UNWORTHY. TO "KNOW YOUR ENEMY" IN THIS PROCESS IS VERY IMPORTANT... AND DESPAIR IS THRUST UPON MAN IN ORDER TO DESTORY HIM, AND IN THIS MANNER WE MUST CLEAVE TO POSITIVITY, TO STRENGTH OF HEART, TO GET UP AGAIN AND AGAIN AND ASK FOR HELP AGAIN AND AGAIN... AND NOT FEEL GUILTY, YET CONTINUOUSLY STRIVE FOR GREATER LEVELS OF 'SUCCESS' AND KEEP PRAYING ABOUT EVERYTHING…

REMEMBER KING DAVID'S WISE ADVICE:

קוה אל ה' חזק ויאמץ לבך וקוה אל ה' "

)תהילים כז( "

"PRAY IN HOPE TO HASHEM, STRENGTHEN YOUR HEART WITH COURAGE AND PRAY IN HOPE TO

HASHEM." (TEHILLIM 27)

AGAIN AND AGAIN WITHOUT DESPAIR...

GOD PROMISES US IN THE TORAH…

כי תאמר בלבבך רבים הגוים האלה "

ממני איכה אוכל להורישם : לא תירא

עשה ה' אלקיך -מהם זכר תזכר את אשר

לפרעה ולכל מצרים: ...לא תערץ

)דברים "ה' אלקיך בקרבך –מפניהם כי

כא(-ח:יז

"AND YOU WILL SAY IN YOUR HEART GREAT ARE THESE NAIONS FROM ME HOW WILL I BE ABLE TO WIN OVER THEM: YOU SHALL NOT FEAR THEM REMEMBER YOU SHALL REMEMBER THAT WHICH DID HASHEM YOUR GOD TO PHAROE AND TO ALL OF MITZRAIM:…DO NOT FEER FROM THEM FOR HASHEM YOUR GOD IS AMONGST YOU."

(DEVARIM 8: 17-21.)

THIS, IN DEEPER MEANING, REFERS TO, AS WE HAVE DISCUSSED PREVIOSULY THAT THE ENEMIES DISCUSSED IN THE TORAH ARE THE SPIRITUAL ENEMIES OF MAN. HERE AND IN MANY OTHER PLACES IN THE TORAH GOD PROMISES US TO WIN THE WARS FOR US, AND CONQUER THAT LAND OF ISRAEL AND ALLOW US TO DWELL THERE

IN PEACE. THE LAND OF ISRAEL, AS KABBALLA EXPLAINS, IS THE STATE OF COMPLETE ONE-NESS WITH GOD IN CHARACTER TRAITS, WITH A HEART PURE WITHOUT LUSTS, IN ONE (STRAIGHT) WITH GOD, IN COMPLETE LOVE WITH GOD AND THE TRUTH, THE PATH OF GOODNESS. THE WORD ISRAEL, IS THE NAME THAT OUR FOREFATHER YAAKOV WAS CALLED BY THE ANGEL AFTER HE WON THE GREAT SPIRITUAL FIGHT AGAINST HIM. THE WORD ISRAEL CAN BE BROKEN UP TO 'YASHAR-EL' WHICH MEANS 'STARIGHT WITH GOD.' HERE IN THESE PROMISES GOD TELLS US NOT TO FEAR THESE GREAT SPIRITUAL ENEMIES OF LUSTS AND DESIRES, DOUBT FEAR AND WORRY, DESPAIR AND DEPRESSION, FOR AS HE THE ALMIGHTY DESTROYED THE POWERFUL EVIL EMPIRE OF MITZRAIM HE WILL DESTROY ALL THESE INNER ENEMIES FOR US. THE WORD 'BEKIRBECHA' IS TRANSLATED AS 'AMONGST YOU' AND ALSO AS 'WITHIN YOUR MIDST –WITHIN YOUR INNERS.'

GOD TELLS US THAT HE IS WITHIN US- WITHIN OUR VERY BEING, AND HE DWELLS THERE AND WILL TAKE CARE OF ALL OUR INNER FOES. THIS IS VERY HIGH SPIRITUAL CONCEPTS, AND THE MAIN THING IS TO HAVE FAITH AND TRUST IN GOD, THAT HE IS TAKING CARE OF THINGS.

SO LET US DO SOME WORK NOW:

:AFFIRMATION

"I WANT TO BE HOPEFUL AND POSITIVE, ANDTRUSTING IN THE PROCESS. I WISH TO BE ABLE TO GET UP IF I FALL AND TO KNOW THAT ALL IS FOR GOOD."

:PRAYER

"GOD PLEASE HELP ME HAVE HOPE AND SAVE ME FROM DESPAIR… PLEASE LET ME TRUST IN YOU, AND KNOW THAT YOU ARE GUIDING ME EVERY STEP OF THE WAY… AND

PLEASE HELP ME GET UP FROM MY FALL, AND BE POSITIVE & HAPPY ABOUT WHERE I AM WHILE AT THE SAME TIME HELPING ME REACH GREATER LEVELS…"

SO WE HAVE UNDERGONE A GREAT PROCESS OF LEARNING HOW TO CHANGE OURSELVES WITH 'SELF' EMPOWERMENT AND BY USING GOD'S HELP. INDEED IT IS A VERY REWARDING PROCESS AND REQUIRES MUCH PRACTICE TO ADVANCE... WITH MANY PRESENTS IN EMOTIONAL AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH, IMPROVEMENT OF HEALTH AND RECOGNITION OF THE CREATOR.

I WISH TO WISH ALL OF US THE VERY BEST OF 'MAZAL' AND SUCCESS IN THIS PROCESS, WITH GOD'S HELP.

PROFESSOR GEZUND.