Emuna Therapy

The Truth Comes Out

In the end, unfortunately at a funeral, the real purpose of life is recognized by everybody, religious and non-religious alike. After-all, no matter how wealthy or famous or intelligent the person was, these are not the things that they mention at upon his passing. Rather, what they do speak about is the person's kindness, his compassion and his connection, however slight, to the ideals of Judaism and Torah. All of the person's other worldly pursuits are not even mentioned. In the end, the truth comes out. Everyone admits to the falseness and vanity of a life that is devoted mainly to pleasure and recognizes the true purpose of life (Rabbi Yaakov Meir Shechter).

With blessings,

Dr. Zev Ballen

You're a Star

In this week's video lesson I speak about a common sense way of avoiding costly mistakes and become the shining star that you were created to be. I hope you enjoy it!

With blessings,

Dr. Zev Ballen

 

Smile and the world smiles with you

 photo by: Daniel Y. Go

A longitudinal study, Gladstone and Parker (2002) examining the effects of authentic smiling concluded that people who smile, for real (not fake-smilers) were found to be more optimistic, and were perceived by others to be more capable and competent than those people who didn't smile or didn't smile authentically.

A real smile will also cause others to judge you as more likable and approachable than non-smilers and non-authentic smilers.

So, how do you smile authentically? The study left that out. But here are two full-proof ways:

1. Be happy and grateful for exactly what G-d is giving you from moment-to       moment.

2. Simply apologize to G-d the moment you realize that you don't appreciate what you have. 

So the next time you see the world mirroring back your beautiful smile, you'll know it's for real!

By the way, if you'd like to be friends on facebook, don't be shy. You can connect to me right here!

Have a great day!

Dr. Zev

Loving Your Limitations

 

image credit:YOUneak / Shannon Frost

Once you realize that the things that you've been ashamed of because you don't do them well are coming from  G-d, you won't need to keep those things secret anymore.  You'll love and cherish what you don't do well because you can use those "deficits" to have a life of greater courage, happiness, freedom and self-acceptance. In this week's lesson, I'll show you how to turn your tailor made personal "deficits" into your greatest assets ever! 

G-d Willing you can see the live broadcast today, Wednesday at 5:00 PM Israel time at the Chut Shel Chessed Yeshiva, 13 Shmuel Hanavi Street, Jerusalem, in the main sanctuary.  The broadcast, as well as our lessons posted from now on - 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 on time as follows:

7:00 AM in LA and the West Coast, 8:00 AM Denver, 9:00 AM Mexico and Central Daylight, 10 AM EDT, 3 PM 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:o1 AM Monday morning. If you can't see the broadcast, you might need to download a new version of Flash Media player, which you can do here.

Enjoy!

With Blessings,

Dr. Zev Ballen

Live Broadcast - Belief is Power

 

 

image credit:DavidRphoto

Your ultimate power comes from living in alignment with the Truth. G-d is your Loving Master. He has a job for you to do. If you accept that. He will be make you the very best at what you do. If you don't believe it - this isn't for you.

G-d Willing you can see the broadcast today, Wednesday at 5:00 PM Israel time at the Chut Shel Chessed Yeshiva, 13 Shmuel Hanavi Street, Jerusalem, in the main sanctuary.  The broadcast, as well as our lessons posted from now on - 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 on time as follows:

7:00 AM in LA and the West Coast, 8:00 AM Denver, 9:00 AM Mexico and Central Daylight, 10 AM EDT, 3 PM 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:o1 AM Monday morning. If you can't see the broadcast, you might need to download a new version of Flash Media player, which you can do here. I hope you'll join me!

With Blessings,

Dr. Zev Ballen

Coaching At It's Best

We shot this gorgeous clip right after our sunrise prayers at the Holy Wall in the Old City of Jerusalem. I'm grateful to Hashem and our super crew at Breslev Israel for putting this one together. It's a real beauty, guys!

Please enjoy it and share it with your friends!

With Blessings, Dr. Zev

 

Top-Ranked Scientists Geared To Religion

 

 

The Army's brightest scientists gather at West Point, N.Y.             image credit: RDECOM

Science usually discredits  "creationist purpose-based" explanations of natural events - for the first time, a new study reveals how scientists from top-ranked American Universities really think.

Researchers in Boston University's Psychology Department found that, "despite years of scientific training, even professional chemists, geologists, and physicists from major universities such as Harvard, MIT, and Yale cannot escape a deep-seated belief that natural phenomena exist for a purpose." (Science Daily)

The researchers asked the physical scientists to answer true or false to statements such as: "Trees produce oxygen so that animals can breathe" or "The Earth has an ozone layer in order to protect it from UV light." When the scientists were put under time pressure and had little time to think about their answers they tended to accepted these "Creationist" accounts.

When the researchers asked the same questions to another group of scientists, who were not being rushed, they found that they generally rejected the idea of an underlying purpose to creation. 

Deborah Keleman, the primary author of this research expressed her surprize that even the most vigrorously trained  scientific minds are "more naturally geared to religion than science." They prefered to see nature as purposeful rather than random.

With Blessings,

Dr. Zev Ballen

The Illusion Of Truth

                                                                                                                                                                          

Research suggests that our minds have an easier time processing ideas that are familiar to us than ideas that are less familiar. We also tend to ascribe greater "truth" to those thoughts that come to us more easily. This illusory truth can be quite discouraging for many of us.

What is more familiar to you - thoughts of encouragement or thoughts of despair?

Here are four potent tools,  from Rabbi Arush, that can quickly bring you encouragement and Light whenever you need it:

1. Remember that all thoughts of encouragement are the Truth - they come from G-d; and all thoughts of despair are false and do not come from G-d.

2. Ask yourself: Who do I want to listen to? Do I want to listen to G-d or to the forces of falsehood?

3. Exercise your power of choice to focus on what is really True and not simply on what is familiar.

4. Repeat to yourself: "Hashem loves me. He is with me at all times. Even if I've fallen He will help me start again!"

Have a Blessed Day!

Dr. Zev Ballen

image credit: Stevpas68