Emuna Therapy

Live Broadcast Today

photo by: Emmanuel Rigaut

Our sages taught that we should consider everything we do before we do it, suggesting that we must learn to control our thoughts too.  How though, are we supposed to deal with thoughts when they enter our minds so automatically? Is it really possible to control thoughts? What is the Torah's view regarding  the role of memory? How can we ensure that concentration, memory and imagination are working for us rather than against us? These are some of the topics I'll speaking about later today in this week's live broadcast entitled: Your Higher Self.

G-d Willing we'll be broadcasting today's lesson live from the Chut Shel Chesed Yeshiva in Jerusalem at 5:00 PM Israel time. The broadcast, as well as my lessons posted are Mac and iPod compatible. If you tune in too early to the live broadcast link, you'll be sent to the main page of the Breslev Israel website, so try to tune in as follows: 10:00 AM in NY; 7:00 AM in LA and the West Coast, 8:00 AM Denver, 10:00 AM Mexico and Central Daylight; 3:00PM in the UK, 5:00 PM Johannesburg and Capetown, 5:00 PM Israel. G-d willing, we'll try and post a link to the lesson for all those who couldn't see it live by 12:01 AM Monday (Israel time).

If you can't see the broadcast, you might need to download a new version of Flash Media player, which you can do here. We hope you enjoy the broadcast.

With blessings,

Dr. Zev Ballen

Bringing Sunshine to Work

  

image credit: gieta

A little while ago, I was in my car, on the way to pick my wife up from her work. As I was driving, I suddenly saw a beautiful sunbeam come down ahead of me, which lit the whole road up. That scene sparked something off, and Hashem sent me a lovely memory from my childhood, where I was just happy to be alive and breathing. I was probably out of school and it was a nice sunny day, and I was on the way to the park to play basketball, or something similar. It was a wonderful feeling. But then, it started to turn sour, because initially, I thought to myself: 'I wish I could do something today to be free, and to not have to be doing all this work...' but then, I caught myself, and turned it around. I said: 'thank you for the negative thought, G-d. Now, I can bring some sunshine into my work, today. I can use those memories from the past in a positive way and infuse them into my present, and that's the main focus I should have.'

 Hashem puts the emphasis on the present tense above all others; we are living in the here and now, and we really only have this moment. If Hashem is going to the trouble of sending me a message or memory from the past, it's not because He wants me to go back to that time of my life, or to be that person again. That memory or message is meant to be used by us now, today, exactly how we currently are, in the lives we are currently living. Yes, it's great to be out on a sunny day playing basketball without a care in the world - if you're nine! But I don't want to be nine years' old anymore. I want to feel the same freshness and joy that I felt then in my adult life now.

Remember to live strong; live with emuna!

Dr. Zev Ballen 

"Poor Memory" Helps Learning

 

image credit:dm74

Research shows that learning only occurs when we're forced to work hard to remember something. The opposite is also true - when we recall something quickly without effort no learning occurs. (How Memory Works) It has also been found that making the effort to remember something in multiple contexts and settings aids memory more than remembering it in one place.

This is why after you learn a lesson in emuna, it is so helpful to switch to another setting and work at recalling what you learned on your own. This is the meaning of of Rebbe Nachman's advice to turn your learning into prayer. Through the process of reviewing what you learned and applying it to your own life, you will make that new wisdom your own. It is good to stay on one theme , for example - love of others - for a while, and speak about it to Hashem in multiple places. This will enable you to recall your commitment to applying what you learned; and you will find yourself doing it where ever you go!

- Dr. Zev Ballen