WHAT IS YOUR STARTING POINT? KNOW YOURSELF. UNIQUE Rabbi Soloveitchik My generations Rav Dessler

W H AT I S YO U R S TA RT I N G P O I N T ?

KNOW YOURSELF

UNIQUE

• Rabbi Soloveitchik

•My generations

• Rav Dessler

NATURE VS. NURTURE

• That’s just who I am• That’s how I was raised• Choice •My voice• Avraham• Rosh Chodesh•Nikudat habichira/point of choice

NATURE

•Genes• Temperament• Learning ability •Health • Creativity

What would you add to this list?

NURTURE

• Birth time/year• Birth place/country• Family of origin• Socio-economic status• Coping mechanisms

What would you add to this list?

CHALLENGES

• Internal1. Brain chemistry2. Attitude3. Health

• External 1. Single parenthood2. Angry or oppositional relatives3. Financial woes

What would you add to this list?

MIDDOT

• Hacarat HaTov (recognition)• Thankfulness (appreciation) • Chesed • Zareizut/Alacrity• Seder/organization• Anger (ease of getting, depth, length, appeasement)

• Sadness• Simchat HaChaim• Samayach b’chelko• Hatmada/stick-to-itiveness/zitzfleish

CHOICES

• School/education •Health (nutrition/drugs/exercise/sleep)• Financial (earn, spend, save, give)• Body use (shmira, nezek)• Relationships (give, take, kind, harsh)•Marriage (faithful, growing, supportive)

What would you add to this list?

ASSETS

• Enjoyable temperament1. Happy2. Easy-going3. Seeks and remembers good

• Loving and supportive family• Financially comfortable• Pleasant community• what would you add to this list?

DESIRES

• Thin• Beautiful• Rich• Healthy• Organized• Focused• Learned• Strong Marriage• Peaceful home• Increased emunah

DREAMS

• Thin/Beautiful => look like ______• Healthy => lean, strong, drug free, alert (well slept)• Organized => surfaces clear, calendar kept, no overdrafts

• Focused => clear goals, clear steps to achieve them, daily inspiration

• Learned => know Shas, poskim, Rambam, Zohar• Strong Marriage => loving feelings, support each other• Increased emunah => Feel Hashem’s presence in my life

• Dream Big!!!

• Goals are dreams with a deadline --- Diana Scharf Hunt

GOALS AND DREAMS

• Goals are something you act upon. Dreams are something you just think about.

• Goals have deadlines. Dreams are just dreamy. • Dreams are free. Goals have a cost. • Goals produce results. Dreams don’t. • Dreams are imaginary. Goals are based in reality. • Goals have a finish line. Dreams never have to end. • Dreams can inspire you. Goals can change your life. • Goals must have focus. Dreams don’t. • Goals require hard work. Dreams just require your

imagination. • Dreams stretch your imagination. Goals stretch you.

STATEMENT OF UNIQUENESS

I am a ____ year old man/woman created in the image of Hashem. I have a unique nature, nurture, history, and set of dreams and goals. B’ezrat Hashem, I can use (am using/will use/plan to use) my special self to create a singular relationship with Hashem. Through that, I can shine (am shining/will shine) my light, and the light of Hashem, into my life, my family, my community and the whole world.

LIFE BALANCE

• Looking at the various areas of our life•Make Our Dreams into Goals•Make sure our goals are reasonable

1. Make sure we are not overreaching 2. Make sure we are not under reaching