Duvid Chaim's 2b1 Institute

Tag: emotions

  • Do your THOUGHTS rule over you?? – Join Miriam’s Sunday 12:30 Noon EST Conference Call on Zoom

    Do your THOUGHTS rule over you?? – Join Miriam’s Sunday 12:30 Noon EST Conference Call on Zoom

    Today, we will be discussing:

    Do your THOUGHTS RULE YOU?

    We seldom accept negative comments from other, YET, we often accept our own INNER NEGATIVE CHATTER!

     

    JOIN

    Miriam’s Weekly Conference Call:

    Sunday at 12:30 pm New York time / 6:30 pm Israel time.

    Strictly confidential -Zoom meeting.

    Join Zoom Meeting

    https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3183180567?pwd=YnBLWWx0b09SVUsyTndBa3VSclptdz09

    Meeting ID: 318 318 0567

    Passcode: davidc

    We will learn about:

    Few people enjoy the company of individuals whose attitudes are persistently negative. Yet many of us tolerate the critical chatter that can originate within our own minds. Since we are so used to the stream of self-limiting, critical consciousness that winds its way through our thoughts, we are often unaware of the impact these musings have on our lives. It is only when we become aware of the power of such thoughts that we can divest ourselves of them and fill the emptiness they leave with loving, peaceful affirmations. Many people, upon paying careful attention to their thinking patterns, are surprised at the negativity they find there. But when we take notice of involuntary thoughts in a nonjudgmental way, we initiate a healing process that will eventually allow us to replace intimidating and upsetting self-talk with positive, empowering thoughts. 

    While the occasional downbeat or judgmental thought may have little impact on your contentment, the ongoing negativity that passes unnoticed can have a dampening effect on your mood and your outlook. When you are aware of the tone of your thoughts, however, you can challenge them. Try to be conscious of your feelings, opinions, and judgments for a single day. From sunup to sundown, scrutinize the messages you are feeding into your subconscious mind. Consider your thoughts from the perspective of a detached observer and try not to judge yourself based on the notions that come unbidden into your mind. Simply watch the flow of your consciousness and make a note of the number of times you find yourself focusing on gloomy notions or indulging in self-directed criticism.  

    As you become increasingly aware of your patterns of thought, whether positive and negative, you will gradually learn to control the character of your stream of consciousness. Endeavor always to remember that the images and ideas that pass through your mind are transient and not a true representation of who you are. In training yourself to be cognizant of your thoughts, you gain the ability to actively modulate your mood. The awareness you cultivate within yourself will eventually enable you to create a foundation of positivity from which you can build a more authentic existence.  

  • Parsha Vayeira – Don’t make me LAUGH!!

    Parsha Vayeira – Don’t make me LAUGH!!

    Parsha Vayeira –

    Don’t make me LAUGH!!

    “I was to TEST my thinking by the new God-Consciousness within. Common sense would thus become uncommon sense!” (BB pg 13)

    We are are continuing our weekly Series:

    Today, we are learning, how Parsha Vayeira speaks to those who seek Recovery.

    Avraham – the First Man to LAUGH in the Torah!

    ויפל אברהם על פניו – ויצחק

    “And Avraham threw himself upon his face – and laughed (Lech Lecha 17:17)

    ותצחק שרה בקרבה

    “And Sarah laughed at herself (Vayeira 18:12)

    It just doesn’t make sense – it must have been a “MIRACLE!”

    How is it possible that a 100 year old man and a 90 year old woman could have a baby?  It doesn’t matter if it happened to Avraham and Sarah in the Hebrew Year 2048 or if it was today in the Solar Year 2017, this was beyond anyone’s wildest dream – IT WAS BEYOND TEVA (Nature)!

    On April 19, 2016 – Daljinder Kaur, a woman in India who’s 72 years old, gave birth to a son – and is considered by all sources to be the oldest woman to ever give birth!!  The baby was the first for Kaur and her 79-year-old husband, Mohinder Singh Gill, after nearly five decades of marriage.

    The word “teva” טבע – means “nature.”  It is widely accepted and understood that the World operates according to the “Laws of Nature.”  What goes up must come down…water boils at 212 degrees fahrenheit…the Earth takes 365 and 1/4 days to revolve around the sun…apple trees can only grow from apple seeds…and human birth only occurs when a man’s seed combines with a woman’s egg.  Scientists can explain almost every physical detail in the universe.  Even emotions and spirituality can be explained by neuroscience.

    Yet, in spite of all of these claims, we still find events that go above nature – we call them “miracles.”

    Let’s consider what the Parsha can teach the addict...

    Without question, for Avraham and Sarah at such an advanced age to give birth to Yitzchak (laughter in Hebrew) was way above nature – Teva.  So lets’s consider the word Teva and how it relates to the addict.  The Hebrew word Teva has other meanings – “imprint,” “coin,” and “signet ring.”  The common thread to all of these various meanings is the constant, unchangeable and permanent nature of the item described as it’s nature.  So too the addict!  No matter how hard they try, “with a firm resolution not to act out again” (see the Doctor’s Opinion pg xxix), they cannot stop on their own!  Not only can they not stop on their own, but nobody else – spouse or other loved ones included – or the risk of dire consequence can get the addict to stop acting out.  Step One says it best by describing the Powerlessness of the addict.  It is constant, unchangeable and permanent – it is their nature – it is their Teva!!

    Yet, we all know many men and women who are sober today and have recovered from their addiction.  We can say that these addicts have risen above their nature, to a level that we call a miracle!

    So is it possible that Avraham and Sarah have something in common with the addict – the answer is a resounding YES!  If you look carefully at the events leading up to their renewed vigor and ability to give birth, this rise above nature, this miracle occurs right after G-d changes the name of Avram to Avraham and Sarai to Sarah – in which G-d added the letter hey to Avraham’s and Sarah’s name!!

    Lastly, please note that the word Teva has the Gematria of 81.  And the letter hey has the Gematria of 5.  And when you add the letter Hey to Teva – HaTeva, the Gematria is 86 – which is the same Gematria of Elokim!! (Elokim is the attribute of G-d represented by Gevurah – Strength)

    Which teaches us that it is only God-our Higher Power (Strength) that can transform THE NATURE-הטבע of an addict!!

    As we read in the Doctor’s Opinion pg xxix:

    “On the other hand – and strange as this may seem to those who do not understand-once a psychic change has occurred, the very same person who seemed doomed, who had so many problems he despaired of ever solving them, suddenly finds himself easily able to control his desire for lust, the only effort necessary being that he is required to follow a few simple rules!”  

    Shabbat Shalom!

    Please join others and feel free to post your comments in the box below.
    (ps. if you have a personal story or chiddush, you would like to share, I am looking for “guest” contributors to post.)
  • Get out of your NOACH ZONE! – Parasha Noach

    Get out of your NOACH ZONE! – Parasha Noach

    Parasha Noach –

    Get out of your Noach Zone!!

    “We have been trying to get a New Attitude, a New Relationship with our Creator, and to discover the obstacle in our path” (the Mission Statement on BB pg 72)

    We are are continuing our weekly Series:

    Today, we are learning, how Parasha Noach speaks to those who seek Recovery.

    Noach – the most Mysterious Figure in the Torah

    Tucked smack in the middle of the generations between Adam HaRishon and Abraham is a somewhat peculiar man named Noach.  As we all know, Noach was commanded by G-d to build an Ark since G-d intended to destroy all the inhabitants of the Earth for their slide into perverse behaviors.  If we use the timeline of Noach and his sons, our Sages calculate that is took Noach 120 years to build the Ark.

    Did you know that the translation of the word Noach is “COMFORT.”

    Why did G-d name this righteous carpenter and the last living man on the earth during the Flood (along with his sons and family) “Noach?”

    Let’s consider what the Parasha can teach the addict...

    Of course you’ve heard of the phrase –“The Comfort Zone.”  Consider people (maybe ourselves) who live in the Comfort Zone.  In fact, it is recognized that 98% of the population lives in the comfort zone.  These are people who:

    • Choose to live like everyone else
    • Who are insecure
    • Who are just getting by
    • Who play it safe
    • Who Procrastinate
    • Who settle for less and
    • Lead a Dull Life!

    Does this sound like you?  Well for certain reasons, Noach represents living in the Comfort Zone!  We learn that the main reason that it took Noach 120 years was so he could try to influence others to abandon their evil and destructive ways.  But we see that Noach was unable to do so.

    Take a look at Genesis Chapter 6 Verse 14:

    “Make for YOURSELF an Ark…עשה לך תבת”

    For the Addict, everything is about Him/Her.  Their choices, what they focus on, how they interpreted the world and the people around them is all about themselves.

    We know that the core of the Program is the 12 Steps.  Our Recovery depends on our working ALL 12 STEPS!   Notice that Step 12 is “Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to addicts and to practice these principles in all our affairs.”

    Torah Commentators criticize Noach precisely for his ineffectiveness in “Working with Others.”  That’s why he was commanded to “Make for YOURSELF an Ark.”  Why wasn’t Noach told to Make an Ark for Others?!

    Isn’t it time that we GET OUT OF OUR COMFORT ZONE – to pay attention to our loved ones – to spend less time being a TAKER and spend more time being a GIVER?!  We can only do this by remembering to practice Step 12!

    Isolation is I-Solution

    Fortunately, G-d gives us a great piece of advice on what is the primary cause of our acting out: ARROGANCE.  

    As we learn from Steps 6 and 7 in our Program, when we are entirely ready, we HUMBLY ask G-d to:

    Remove our Defects of Character!

    And when He does, it is then our obligation and opportunity to replace the void when giving up our Selfishness and Dishonesty  with being in alignment and replacing these defects with the G-dly traits of:

    • Humility
    • Honesty and
    • Generosity

    Thanks to Parsha Noach, I learn to shift my focus from Self-Consciousness to Other Consciousness and ultimately to G-d Consciousness!!

    Shabbat Shalom!

    Please join others and feel free to post your comments in the box below.
    (ps. if you have a personal story or chiddush, you would like to share, I am looking for “guest” contributors to post.)
  • Our Body is our Temple! – How are we treating it? (Listen to the Audio Message to learn more)

    Our Body is our Temple! – How are we treating it? (Listen to the Audio Message to learn more)

    Our Body is our Temple –

    How are we treating it?

    Duvid Chaim shares his Message for Tisha B’Av 5778 –

    And for every day of the Year!

    Lesson #1 We’ve already lost Two Temples – What can we do to save our Body – our current TEMPLE?

    Lesson #2 – You can actually make a difference – by yourself – just like a small BRICK in the WALL of our Eternal Temple

     

    (PLEASE CLICK ON THIS AUDIO FILE TO HEAR THE MESSAGE:)

    And learn how to REDEEM YOUR BODY – YOUR TEMPLE

    to release you own UNIQUE POTENTIAL!!

    Please post your comments below. Let’s start an exchange of our struggles and how we overcame them.)
  • If I think it…it must to true!

    If I think it…it must to true!

    Have you ever been in a social setting…like around friends or at the office…and you saw two people looking at you then talking to each other?  Without a doubt in your mind, you conclude that they are talking about you!  And for sure, they are sharing gossip and putting you down, perhaps they know about the fight you had with your spouse or heard about how your boss refused to give you that raise.  Your mind is set and you believe 100% that they don’t respect you anymore

    And that gives you ample reason to feel lots of resentment or fear.  Yep, you got the entire “Story” all figured out in your head.  What they said, who they shared it with.  And what everyone is saying about you.  So, now it’s your turn to get back at them.  Time to spread some gossip and get even with these two disloyal so called friends!

    This is just one of about a dozen or so examples of what we do each and every day.  How we can take some simple or random thought and turn it into a firm and hard belief.  So firm, that you could swear by it.  And worst of all, this belief will drive your emotions and actions – for as long as you hold on to the underlying belief – even if it means for the rest of our life!!

    Perhaps it time to wake up and become aware of how potentially toxic some of our beliefs are – when if fact they are just based on unexamined thoughts.

    Then perhaps it’s time for you to join our Journey as we learn 2b free, 2b whole and 2b connected…