Even the nations of the world know that the biggest liar is one who lies to himself. In Shakespeare's Hamlet, Polonius says to son Laertes, "But above all, my son, to thine own self be true."
When a person lies to himself, and he tries to be someone else or something he's not, he become a double loser: first, he can't possibly be the other person, because he doesn't have the tools that Hashem gave that other person to do his or her job on earth. Second, he's not himself, and he's not using his own special tools to accomplish his own designated task on this earth.
Many people who speak to me often tell me that they're embarrassed of their true inner aspirations.
That's a tragedy.
Your dreams, goals, and inner aspirations are your spice of life. They give you the power to fly out of bed in the morning. What do you care what other people think? Do they care if you're happy or not? Don't bet on it.
Henry David Thoreau said, "If a man does not keep pace with his companions, perhaps it is because he hears a different drummer. Let him step to the music which he hears, however measured or far away." How did Thoreau come to this amazing conclusion? He spent hours on end in solitude. He came to the conclusion that the Creator dwells not only in all of creation, but in every person's soul.
So what if people turn their noses up at your music. Flow with your own melody and step to the beat of your own drum, for that's exactly what Hashem wants from you.
Above all, be straight with yourself...
Continue reading The Way out of the Tunnel on this week's exciting issue of Breslev Israel web magazine.
Also featured this week:
Rabbi Shalom Arush explains the Mitzva of VeShinantam, teaching your children. Dr. Zev Ballen talks about the importance of speech in My Voice. Rivka Levy fights darkness and depression in Three Miles Down. Racheli Reckles meets challenges of parenting head-on in The Parent Whisperer.
This week's Torah portion is Vayishlach, and Rabbi Dovid Charlop gives a wonderful elaboration on it in Sparks of Good. Dovber HaLevi gives us a lift in Rising Above Mediocrity.
Editor's Choice: If learning Gemara scares you like it does so many people, or if you know someone (like your husband!) who's either having a rough time learning Gemara or is hesitant to start, then Tal Rotem's Who's Afraid of Gemara is absolute required reading.
Brand New! No parent should be without this book (click on the bookcover photo to order online):