SEEK GROWTH

SEEK GROWTH
I received an email from a student recently who said, “Living a life of spirituality is such hard work. Isn’t there ever a time when we can just rest and be comfortable?” As much as I wanted to tell this student what they wanted to hear, I couldn’t. The truth is, as long as we are living and breathing, the spiritual work is never done. The kabbalists teach that those who merely seek a comfortable life will never find it, but those who challenge themselves will experience true joy and fulfillment. We don’t have to look far from our own lives to prove this to be true. How many years have we spent chasing after comfort, and did it ever truly make us happy? While comfort may give us some sense of instant gratification, the feeling is never lasting and is often followed by a crash. Meanwhile, it’s challenging ourselves that makes us stronger, helps us to grow, and gives us a more lasting sense of fulfillment in the long run. When you think of the people you look up to the most, or those who changed the world for the better, “I’m doing enough” was never a statement in their vernacular. The heroes we admire throughout history were not those who settled for personal comfort. They knew there were countless things still to achieve, and miles to go before they slept. This week, make transcending any innate laziness the priority on your spiritual wish list. This isn’t to say that we should become righteous overnight, but simply to push ourselves a little more with each passing day. Understand that the true fulfillment we seek is a result of our efforts to share more, do more and be better people. Seeking comfort is what limits our blessings. Seek comfort and you might get something. Seek growth and you’ll end up with everything.