tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8247002274040490045.post8381057971255765845..comments2023-04-09T07:29:05.937-04:00Comments on B'nei Machshava Tova: Belief in "Self Empowerment"Shmuelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08623549507370220071noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8247002274040490045.post-23226124422862475702010-12-14T14:43:30.321-05:002010-12-14T14:43:30.321-05:00I'm not sure "self empowerment" is l...I'm not sure "self empowerment" is less of a minefield.<br /><br />Again, we have to remember that we are empowering ourselves to be who Hashem wants, rather than empowering myself to be the self I want.<br /><br />-michamicha bergerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11612144735431285113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8247002274040490045.post-20554295970568510602010-12-14T09:16:26.786-05:002010-12-14T09:16:26.786-05:00Reb Micha - thanks for your comment. For clarifica...Reb Micha - thanks for your comment. For clarification's sake, I specifically didn't use the term "self esteem" for this purpose. As you say, it can be a very dangerous focal point that obscures the goal instead of clearing the path toward it. <br /><br />Perhaps this is why Reb Kalonymos Kalman devotes two whole chapters to this dichotomy by focusing on false humility (not in the egotistic sense, but rather the erroneous image that one has of himself), and the worse trait of 'Yeshus'.<br /><br />This is one of the paradoxes of life, though. On the one hand, we have to remind ourselves that "The world was created for me" but we also must keep in mind that "I am but dust and ashes..."<br /><br />Yasher Ko'ach!Shmuelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08623549507370220071noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8247002274040490045.post-23528115173413441252010-12-10T10:46:37.179-05:002010-12-10T10:46:37.179-05:00I argued on Avodah recently that self-esteem, whil...I argued on Avodah recently that self-esteem, while important, is an inherently dangerous topic to focus on. It must be approached with that awareness.<br /><br />One has to work on one's middos to craft a better eved Hashem, a holier person. Not to be more the person you want to be. Certain middos, particularly in today's mileau, threaten to shift one's focus from what Hashem wants me to be to what I want me to be. Self esteem is second on my warning list to happiness.<br /><br />See http://article.gmane.org/gmane.culture.religion.jewish.avodah/22408micha bergerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11612144735431285113noreply@blogger.com