Tag Archives: rabbi zelig pliskin

Quoting: Allow Yourself to Experience Happiness Now

You have a right to experience happiness right now, in the present. This is a very important concept to keep in mind. You don’t need to wait until you accomplish your goals before you are happy.

Many people think, “Only after I accomplish my goals will I be able to be happy.” These individuals mistakenly think that they need to wait in order to be happy. They feel that they can’t be happy right now. They tell themselves that they first need to achieve what they would like to achieve before they can be happy.

But happiness is a birthright. You were born. You are now alive. You are breathing now. Right now you have a right to be happy. You can choose to be happy now.

-from Rabbi Zelig Pliskin’s book: “Taking Action” – page 79

Quoting: “To Do With Joy” List

People who get things done make “to do” lists. Considering it important to take action on your “to do” list leads to taking care of things. When you create a “to do” list, label it “to do with joy.”

When you explicitly write that it is a “to do with joy” list, you are giving yourself a valuable message: You are telling your mind to remember to be joyful.

A person might feel rushed to do all the things on the “to do” list. A person might feel a little resentful or overwhelmed that he or she has so many things to do. But when you call your list a “to do with joy list,” you are preparing yourself to feel good while you do the things that you want to do.

-from Rabbi Zelig Pliskin’s book: “Taking Action” – page 72

Quoting: Enjoy Your Self-Talk When Doing What You Must

Sometimes you can find ways to actually enjoy doing something dull or boring. But when you can’t come up with a creative way to enjoy what you are doing, you can still talk to yourself in interesting and fun ways. Your hands will be engaged in an activity that you need to do, but your mind will be engaged in a running dialogue that is interesting and even entertaining.

How you feel at any given moment will depend greatly on your self-talk at that moment. Even if you start out with negative self-talk that creates distress, realize that your thoughts are the key factor in whether you will feel good or bad.

People who have learned how to talk to themselves in ways they find enjoyable find enjoyment when others find distress. They don’t procrastinate as much. They get more done. If you can’t think creatively when you’re doing something you don’t enjoy, you can always think thoughts of gratitude. Thinking gratefully lifts your spirit and is the basis of happiness.

-from Rabbi Zelig Pliskin’s book: “Taking Action” – pages 69-70

Quoting: Joyful Zrizus

Some people might take action, but with resentful zrizus. “I shouldn’t really have to do this,” they say to themselves. “Someone else should take care of this.”

There is a well-known idea expressed by the late Rabbi Chaim Friedlander: “If you are doing it anyway, you might as well do it with joy.”

This is so important and valuable that it’s worth repeating. “If you are doing it anyway, you might as well do it with joy.” We are constantly choosing our thoughts, our feelings, our words, and our actions. You can choose to feel distressed or joyful about taking care of the things that you need to take care of. When you take action with zrizus, choose joyful zrizus.

-from Rabbi Zelig Pliskin’s book: “Taking Action” – page 60

Quoting: Serene Zrizus

Some people become overwhelmed when they feel they have too many things to do and they don’t have enough time to do them. This overwhelmed feeling causes them to move more slowly than they usually do. Their minds becomes unclear. It’s hard for them to focus and concentrate. Instead of becoming more efficient at what they have to do, they act way below their standard competency level.

What is the solution? Serene zrizus!

What does it mean to have serene zrizus? It means that you take action, and you do so with full speed ahead while remaining calm and tranquil inside. You move as fast as is appropriate for the specific situation and circumstance. But you have peace of mind.

You might not have previously associated zrizus with serenity, but now you can. Your mindset acknowledges that you will do everything that you have to do and that you will have an inner calm. Although you might move quickly, inwardly you are at ease.

A key benefit of having serene zrizus is that you think clearly. You think about what you need to do, and you remain calm as you take action.

-from Rabbi Zelig Pliskin’s book: “Taking Action” – pages 55-6

Quoting: The Benefit of Building Up Your Zrizus State

When you are in an energized and enthusiastic emotional state, you feel like doing much more than when you are a low energy, down state. Some emotional states are conducive to taking action, and other states aren’t.

Your emotional states are the sum total of your breathing rate, brain waves, blood pressure, energy level, heartbeat, hormones, immune system, muscle tension, physiology, and tone of voice.

Because every state you experience is stored in your magnificent brain, I advocate naming your best and most resourceful states. When you do this, you will find it easier to access those positive states.

The next time you find yourself in a “zrizus state,” say to yourself, “This is my zrizus state.” Be aware of your thoughts, mental images, and feelings when you are in this zrizus state.

-from Rabbi Zelig Pliskin’s book: “Taking Action” – page 51

Quoting: Your Mind Can Choose to Enjoy What You Do

One of the most self-empowering ideas for a happy, fulfilling life is that it’s up to your own mind to choose to enjoy what you do. You have a tremendous power to develop this attitude.

If you need to do something that seems uninteresting and boring at first, ask yourself, “How can I find a way to enjoy what I need to do?”

Brainstorm. Enjoy the challenge of thinking of a number of ways to make the task more meaningful and fulfilling.

Ask yourself, “What are some of the ways that I can think about this task (or project, goal, or job) that will enable me to enjoy what I am doing?”

-from Rabbi Zelig Pliskin’s book: “Taking Action” – pages 47-48

Quoting: Plan Your Day

At the beginning of each day, ask yourself:

[1] What are my goals for today?

[2] What are the five most important things that I need to do today and what is their order of priority?

[3] What new Torah knowledge do I plan to gain today?

[4] What acts of kindness can I do today?

[5] What one trait would I like to excel in today?

[6] What positive change am I resolved to make or maintain today?

[7] If today were my last day, what would I make certain to do?

[8] How can I gain by looking at today as the first day of the rest of my life?

[9] What would you like written on my tombstone? What do I plan to do today in that area?

[10] What is important for me to remember today?

-from Rabbi Zelig Pliskin’s “Gateway to Self Knowledge,” p.188

I must admit to not being this organized.

Quoting: Think and Act Your Wisest and Best

The quality of your choices will depend greatly on your mental state at the decision-making moment. Your choices will be different if you are at your wisest and best.

When you are at your wisest, you think more clearly. You weigh your options more skillfully. You give greater thought to the possible outcomes of a specific course of action. You realize when something is not a good idea. Since your quality of thinking is at its highest, your decision will be the best choice that you can make at that moment.

When you are at your best, your talents and skills represent your best efforts. Remember your best moments and utilize this to create your wisest and best ways of thinking and acting.

-from Rabbi Zelig Pliskin’s book: “Taking Action” – pages 43-44

Quoting: Think Before Taking Action

Action will enable you to accomplish and achieve. But something must come before taking action: thinking.

Think first. Yes, think big and think bigger, but always think first.

Taking action without thinking will lead to many avoidable mistakes and errors. Taking action without thinking first will lead to unnecessary quarrels and arguments, hurt feelings, and misunderstandings.

Taking action without thinking will lead to wasting much time and energy.

Taking action without thinking might get you far, but it’s likely to get you far in the wrong direction.

When you spend time thinking about your options and about consequences, you will be able to learn from each experience to think even better and wiser next time.

-from Rabbi Zelig Pliskin’s book: “Taking Action” – pages 40-1