The single most important goal in life is to have clarity, to live in reality. Remember the time you asked yourself, What does it all add up to? We have this moment of clarity, and then what do we do? We run for the ostrich hole, start playing tennis, put on the music, call up a friend. Dont run for the ostrich hole. Remember that reality exists objectively – outside of your own subjective perception of it. Be afraid of waking up one morning and saying to yourself: What did I do with my life? Each of us knows we will die one day. But we fool ourselves into thinking that those who die belong to a separate sector of humanity. They are the mortal ones. We are immortal. Underneath it all, we have this illusion. Do you really think you are going to be different? Be real! You are one of them! We all have a clock ticking and dont know how long its going to run. How many years do you figure you have left? Dont think its open-ended. Someday you will have only one year left. And someday you will have only one day left. So plan for it now. As the Sages say: Put your life on track one day before you die. Some Jews have the custom of visiting their future burial plots once a year, usually before Rosh Hashana. Why? Its not morbidity. It makes the point clear: I am mortal, and this is where Ill end up. So what do I want written on my tombstone? Be real with the consequences of life. You dont need a roller coaster. All you have to do is remember that the Almighty is watching you, every moment of every day. And when a person dies and goes to heaven, the judgment is not arbitrary and externally imposed. Rather, every decision and every thought, all the good deeds, and the embarrassing things a person did in private is all replayed without embellishment. Thats why the next world is called Olam HaEmet, the World of Truth, because there we clearly see our strengths and shortcomings, and the true purpose of life. Carry that fear with you always, and use it as a positive motivator for greatness. Its a constant struggle, but the reward is eternal.
Posted on: Thu, 15 Jan 2015 03:30:00 +0000
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