Q&A Getting Through This Difficult Times

Q: I would like to know how we can get through each day without crying during this extremely difficult time?

A:  This is really an amazing question. As I mentioned before 99% of our crying spells are due to a lack of the proper vitamins in our bodies. Though you may be eating a healthy diet but if you are going through a trauma, you may need a boost.

The body works extra hard during digestion. Not only does it digest its food but it also digests the trauma and pain it’s going through. You do not need to take vitamins, you can eat soaked legumes instead, especially split peas which are a super-food (see the article “An Essential Boost Of Nutrition” and “Emotional Pain”). If the crying spells or emotional pain persists, you may need a boost of vitamins B12 and perhaps folic acid. When we have the right vitamins in our bodies, we have a greater chance of doing better with ourselves, others and Hashem. It is not that all our problems will disappear but we will be better able to cope with our difficulties in life.

Q: I have heard that we – this generation – do not have much to do but I feel that we have a lot to do. I do not feel that the hard work has been done before us, as people say.

A:  You are absolutely right, we have a lot to do in this world and that is why we are here. If we had nothing to do, we would not be here. We are here for a few reasons;

• To praise Hashem in all His glory. 
• To spread His love, His joy and His Torah.             
• To get to a point where we accept everything that happens to us and have no worries in this world. This can help us get out of our    anger, pain and suffering. We trust that our Father in Heaven knows exactly what is going on in this world and that everything that happens is for a reason. (See shiur “Hashem Everything Is In Your Hand”).   
• To do the mitzvos He commanded us with true love and joy.      
• To bring children into this world and teach them with love and joy the true derech of the Torah. This includes teaching them to be loving, giving and compassionate towards all Hashem’s creation. Those without their own children can reach out to other children as if they were their own. This is quite easy if you are a teacher,   caregiver or a person who deals with children. Today this tafkid is more difficult because most parents and society think that no one can rebuke their children and that their children are always right, even when they are wrong. This attitude is against the Torah.         
• We are here to work on our Ahavas Yisroel and live a life of chesed, first and foremost to our spouse our children, parents and then spread out our chesed to others.             
• To improve ourselves in every aspect of our lives. Be kadosh, for I am Kadosh. (Parshas Kedoshim. Anyone who truly wants to improve and get closer to the truth should study Parshas Kedosim well).

It is not advisable to literally dwell on our sins but to move forward and improve our character and connection with Hashem. We will always make mistakes but the question is, what do we do with our mistakes? Do we justify our wrong actions and blame others for the pain we are going through or do we acknowledge that we need to realign our lives in some way and connect to HKB”H in different ways? It is through our pain and suffering, that Hashem is simply speaking to us and trying to guide us in a specific direction. By accepting our pain and suffering, at times we may receive answers. Mezuzos and Teffilin play a big role in our lives. that is why it is important to go to a Sofer Stam who has true yiras shamayim. ֍