Your Attitude Can Be a Blessing (or the Opposite)

 One of the lessons from Ki Tavo is that the blessings and curses as described in our Torah portion are self-imposed. God doesn’t bring about curses- we bring them onto ourselves. We know this to be true concerning the spiritual laws governing our existence: Our good deeds create goodness in this world and the opposite is true as well. We may not see it right away or fully understand how it works but it is a principle of faith.

 

 Not only our actions matter, but our attitudes also create blessings and curses

“Because you did not serve the Lord, your God, with happiness and with gladness of heart, when [you had an] abundance of everything.”

The Torah here provides us with two attitudes that can lead to self-imposed curses. First, a lack of “gladness of heart when you had an abundance”. Curses come about when we focus on the negative in our lives, without putting it into the context of all the blessings that surround us.

 

Second, the pasuk warns us against living a life without simcha. The Rambam writes about joy in his section on the Laws of Sukkot (described as the most joyous of holidays). The Rambam writes that when a person feels happy or inspired or ready to take a step in his/her growth, they should go for it. Don’t miss the opportunity. The Rambam continues in the next Halacha to warn us against hesitating in “taking the plunge” due to concerns about what other people might think or say about us. Maimonides brings the example of King David. During the rededication of the Aron, David leads the procession with great fanfare and intense dancing. His wife Michal rebuked King David for acting in such an enthusiastic manner; she thought it was unbecoming of the king’s stature. Our rabbis weigh in and say that Michal was wrong and King David was right. Once we research an issue, think deeply and make an action plan we should not worry about what others might think or say. Not taking the plunge due to what others might think can lead us on the slippery slope towards missing out on blessings, and even towards curses.

 

This reminds me of a saying, of unknown origins:

In our 20’s we worry a lot about what everyone else is saying about us and thinking about us.

In our 40’s we do not care what others think about us or say about us.

In our 60’s we realize that no one was thinking about us or speaking about us in the first place.

 

The sooner we realize this, the sooner we can embrace the simcha in our lives and do our part to bring about the blessings that are ready to come our way.

As we prepare for the New Year, let us resolve to avoid the pitfalls that can cause curses and prepare ourselves to be the receptacle necessary to receive all of the blessings that God has in store for us.