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Dear friend עמ"ש,
Recently, someone's comment pushed me to think, and gain more clarity.
For the past bunch of years, my whole work has been about approaching emotional wellness through more spiritual awareness and connection. It's the topic that is always on my mind.
Someone said, "When I'm in pain, I want the best, most professional help out there. I don't need spiritual connection. I need practical help."
I believe that spiritual connection IS the most practical help. It's the foundation of any other tools we might want to reach for. Without it, anything we do to help ourselves is like pouring water into a broken cup.
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In this week's podcast, I share a simple reason behind my position.
This is such an important topic, and if you listen to it, I'm curious to hear your thoughts on my thoughts, so please let me know!
Here is a little summary:
Whenever we do an action a bunch of times, that action becomes a habit. It becomes a part of our life. That's the power of practice.
We can use this principle to our advantage. When there is an idea or a skill that we want to bring into our lives, like pausing before responding, we don't have to wait until we really need it.
We can practice it. We can practice using the skill on a regular day, and by doing this, we are putting it into our pocket. We have it available to us, and we'll pull it out and use it when we need it.
What happens when we bring this concept to our topic of spiritual awareness and connection?
Every day, we do spiritual actions like saying Modeh Ani, or brochos before and after eating.
Very often, our lips are saying the words while our mind is somewhere else.
We are speaking to Hashem, but internally, we’re not really present.
Our body is doing one thing while our attention, thoughts, and feelings are somewhere else.
In other words, multiple times every day, we are practicing disconnection in an important relationship.
The problem is not the fact that we naturally don't pay attention. The problem begins when we don't notice, and we don't care.
Because if we practice disconnection without even noticing, our comfort with disconnection naturally flows into every relationship in our lives.
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The beautiful part is that the opposite is also true.
Every time we intentionally bring our attention, thoughts, and feelings into the spiritual things we are already doing, we are practicing connection.
Every time we stop for a moment and actually think about the words of a brocha… Or when we try to bring our heart on board with a mitzva we are doing...
We are strengthening our capacity to be present.
We are practicing connection.
And whatever we practice becomes part of our practical reality, in all of our relationships.
Please listen to the actual recording -- it's probably the most important topic I've ever addressed. These days, everyone is looking for more happiness, more strength, and healing.... And we're not talking about this massive, invisible leak. If you agree that this is a need, please share the recording with another person in your life.
May we experience the ultimate revealed connection with Moshiach now!
Love,
Shterna
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The podcast is ready for you to listen on our hotline, website, Spotify, and 24six.
On our hotline: 718-307-1100 - option 8
Do you live in Eretz Yisroel or Europe?
Our hotline has a local phone number for you!
Eretz Yisroel: +972 797 040 094
Europe: UK: +44 330 350 3094 |
| LISTEN ON THE WEBSITE |
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| LISTEN ON SPOTIFY |
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| LISTEN ON YOUTUBE |
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💛Put into practice...
1. If you want to develop a habit, practice the action.
If there’s an idea you want to actually use in real life, it's hard to implement in a difficult moment. Practice it when you're calm and not overwhelmed. For example, if you want to pause before you respond, or if you want to be more supportive, practice these habits at set times on ordinary days. Doing this will make the habits available to you when you need them.
2. Start noticing your inner thoughts and feelings.
Pay attention to the moments when your outer actions and inner experience don’t match. You may be saying a brocha while your mind is somewhere else, saying Shema while emotionally experiencing another person as if they have real Power, or listening to your child, while your mind is focused on the next thing on your list. Don’t judge the gap. Just notice it, and try to connect.
3. Practice connection on purpose.
Bring your attention, thoughts, and feelings into what you’re doing.
When you say a brocha, be with the words for a few seconds. When you do a mitzva, think about Who you're doing it for.
Every time you practice active spiritual connection, you are strengthening your ability to connect with yourself, and with the people in your life. You are becoming the connected person you want to be.
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🌷THANK YOU FOR YOU TEHILLIM!
Huge thanks for your warm wishes, extra mitzvos and Tehillim that is for sure helping our sweet baby Leah bas Chana get better and stronger every day!
Boruch Hashem, she is making progress and we have no doubt that your efforts are part of it. Please keep it up. Looking forward to sharing more and more good news!
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✨Something to look forward to...
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🔥THIS THURSDAY MORNING: BITACHON IN REAL LIFE
Before we get back to Tanya in Real Life, this week we'll be learning about Bitachon in Real Life.
I've been grappling with this topic, as I'm anticipating revealed miracles for my precious granddaughter Leah bas Chana. What does faith and trust actually look like? How can we strenghten that spiritual muscle?
I'm excited to share what I've been learning about this, because I know that we all need more faith and trust.
If you already opted in, you'll get an email on Thursday morning with the link to join.
If not, reply to this email and let us know that you want to be on the Tanya in Real Life email list.
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📩 From our inbox...
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Inner Clarity Foundations moved me in an unbelieveable way
From Sara
To Shterna and the amazing team who streams Energized Living!
Thank you for spreading this amazing work, this revelation, and, like you say, our birthright.
I’ve been doing a lot of inner work on my own for the past 2 years, and I never thought what I was yearning to hear was so accessible.
I signed up as a “why not, I’m sure I’ll gain something,” and I’ve been moved in an unbelievable way! You made the neshama tangible and real, where it’s supposed to be.
For so many years I couldn’t handle the shallow way of living, even though I was technically doing everything right. You opened my inner world in a geula way, and for that I’m so grateful.
Every topic is so spot on, and the new course was super clear.
Keep inspiring the great women of our generation! May you have continued strength!
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It’s All Hashem
From Chavie
Thank you for all the light and clarity that you spread in the world!
Reading your book has changed my life!!
It taught me how to be truly happy, no matter what other people do or how they act.
It taught me that everything that happens to me and around me is exactly for my good, planned by Hashem. It’s all Hashem. And He loves me.
I also loved your recent class on Tanya, explaining that Hashem is everywhere. We say that Hashem is in the sky because we are in golus and He is hidden in the physical world, but He really is all over. I had thought about that before the class and loved hearing it.
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Just What I Needed
From Cheryl
Hi Shterna, I love your emails and teachings, thank you very much. I’m working my way through your book Energized Living and have recommended it to many people. The ladies and young ladies will be working through it weekly. I really struggle to concentrate when I’m davening, so this message was good for me.
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Note from Shterna:
I am deeply humbled by the amount of love and encouragement so many of you have shared.
When you create a podcast or write a newsletter, since it's all virtual, there's no way of knowing how it's "landing" for people. But now I know, and that's encouraging!!
Thank you 🌷
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COMING UP NEXT WEEK, b'ezras Hashem :)
Have you ever seen something or heard about something that made you feel a little bit jealous?
Have you ever felt so jealous that it actually hurts?
How do we move forward from jealousy?
We'll farbreng about this and learn a few ways to turn jealousy into something meaningful and productive.
Looking forward to connecting again soon!
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