fbpx
[additional-authors]
May 17, 2010

Interesting times, these. I’m finding that we are, most of us, in some state of transition. And we are having to get very comfortable with not knowing. It’s not easy having to deal with so much uncertainty. But we must adapt. 

For centuries, we have been programmed to take control of our lives by planning, working hard, and doing everything we can to safeguard ourselves from future challenges. Of course, life never works out the way we plan it. And while dedication and focus are key components to success, truly skillful living has always required a goodly amount of capacity for SURRENDER. And by that I mean, the ability to LET GO of control and allow the best outcome to emerge. In today’s world this is not something we can avoid practicing. In fact, for our lives to work these days, we need to quickly master this. And that means learning how to be PRESENT, accepting what IS, and trusting that we are safe and secure and that life will work out, even when we don’t know how. 

While on the one hand we need to LET GO, on the other, we need to HOLD ON. We need to hold on to what is highest and truest within us: to a deep belief in ourselves and our capacity to transcend any challenge, to our talents and gifts and our inherent value, to the practice of kindness, understanding and love, to the discovery and fulfillment of our higher purpose, and to the awareness of the spark of light in ourselves and in everyone we meet.

That’s a lot to hold on to …

The world around us continues to morph, but perhaps we can let go of trying to control it, and instead focus on the things we can control – becoming and being the kind of person that we truly want to be.

Email me with your questions misha@mishahenckel.com and I’ll be happy to respond. Answers will be anonymously posted to the blog.

Did you enjoy this article?
You'll love our roundtable.

Editor's Picks

Latest Articles

A Bisl Yom Kippur~ Plenty of Regrets

Yom Kippur is admitting our plentiful regrets and summoning and building our inner determination and drive to be better people, regrets, and all.

Expanding the Soul

There is a struggle within us between constriction and expansion, between despair and vitality. Good humor can be a powerful ally against the constriction that suffering creates.

Making Torah More Accessible

The 402-page book is organized around 36 life lessons related to the Book of Genesis, with thoughtful study questions and dozens of responses from respected sources in Jewish thought.

Avi Nesher Fights the Boycott with a Human Story

Making Israeli films is not easy. Budgets are generally small by American standards, and international financing has become increasingly difficult to secure amid the cultural boycott of Israeli cinema.

Knowing Our History

In this time of introspection and rising adversity, let us resolve as American Jews to write our new chapter by better understanding our history.

My Choice for Essay of the Year

The collective assault against Israel has been so broad and deep it’s been hard finding anyone in the mainstream media who will dare go after the Hamas murderers whose biggest victims are the Palestinians.

More news and opinions than at a Shabbat dinner, right in your inbox.