Friday, May 25, 2012

What is the Essence of Self-Mastery?

by Devora Gila Berkowitz

 Hod of Malchut
(Thankfulness in Self-Mastery)

When God created you, you were given personal dignity.

Let's ask God to constantly renew our sense of self-respect and sovereignty.


Yesod of Malchut
(Connection in Self-Mastery)

Don't let your independence be a cover up for your fear of bonding.

Let's ask God for help in connecting with others deeply, no matter what level of self-mastery we've achieved.

Malchut of Malchut
(Essence of Self-Mastery)

What is the essence of Self-Mastery?

When you realize that God had you in mind at the beginning of Creation,
and that you fill a special place in the world,
that there is no one else like you,
and you are needed here at this time for a special reason (even if you don't know what it is),

When you know that information deeply,
and it fills you with lovingkindness,
and allows you to put up healthy boundaries,
and to feel balance,
and endure through life's challenges,
and be thankful for those challenges,
while connecting with others deeply,

perhaps that's the essence of Self-Mastery.








and

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

King for a Day

by Devora Gila Berkowitz

Netzach of Malchut
(Endurance in Self-Mastery)

Did you ever feel a sense of personal dignity,
only to lose your temper?

Let's ask God to help us maintain our sense of sovereignty,
despite life's challenges.



Tiferet of Malchut
(Balance in Self-Mastery)

Ever hear the expression, "tough love"?

Balance in a leadership position means being able to show kindness
while at the same time encouraging discipline.

Let's ask God to help us be centered in our authority.

Monday, May 21, 2012

Sides of Self-Mastery

by Devora Gila Berkowitz
Gevurah of Malchut
(Boundaries in Self-Mastery)

Did you ever see an authority figure take advantage of his or her position by bending the rules?
Maintaining boundaries is especially important when we're in charge.

Let's ask God to guard any temptation we may have to exploit our authority.



Chesed of Malchut

(Lovingkindeness in Self-Mastery)

When we have sovereignty over our thoughts,
emotions, and actions, it's much easier
to feel expanded and giving.

Let's ask God to bring out our best in order to love others.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Beautiful Bonding

by Devora Gila Berkowitz
Malchut of Yesod
(Self-Mastery in Connection)

When does bonding with others bring out the best in you?
Those are the relationships that support your sense of self-mastery.

When does bonding with others bring out the worst in you?
Those are the relationships that call for a change:
either you need to transform your perspective of the other person (or yourself), or end the relationship.

Let's ask G-d to give us clarity about our relationships, so that they bring out the best in us.

Thursday, May 17, 2012

First Step to Deep Connections

by Devora Gila Berkowitz

Yesod of Yesod
(Connection in Connection)

What's the first step to making deep connections?

The beginning of any connection outward
is the bond you have inward.

Are you connected to yourself?
Or do you get pulled in other directions:
people, situations, your own thoughts...

Let's ask God to help us bond with ourselves, so that we can connect deeply with others.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Secret of Connecting with Gratitude

by Devora Gila Berkowitz

Hod of Yesod
(Thankfulness in Connection)

What is the secret of being thankful in connecting?

Getting quiet inside...becoming totally present with
the experience... feeling a sense of gratitude for being alive in this moment...revealing the good that emanates from the bonding experience.

Let's ask God to connect us with our deepest appreciation for being alive in this moment.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Make a Commitment

by Devora Gila Berkowitz

Netzach of Yesod
(Endurance in Connection)
relationships. sustantivo. rapports. beziehungen.  रिश्तों. sambönd.  σχέσεις. caidrimh. relacje. relações. отношения. relaciones. relationer . 관계. relazioni. hubungan. relaţii. 関係. verhoudings. relaties. 关系. vztahy. relasyon. attiecības. ilişkiler. відноAre you willing to take on your relationships
for the long haul?

Can you overlook another's faults,
weakness, or disobedience for today,
in order to continue to bond with them a month from now?




Let's ask God to help us make a commitment to the ones we love.

Even those times they let us down.

Monday, May 14, 2012

Let's Connect

by Devora Gila Berkowitz

Tiferet of Yesod
(Balance in Connection)

How much time do you spend alone?
How much time do you spend with others?

Let's ask God to help us find the balance between relating to ourselves and bonding with others.

Gevurah of Yesod
(Boundaries in Connection)


Do you read and understand people's body language?
If you're sensitive, you can discern just how much personal space others need.

Let's ask God to bless our relationships with the right amount of personal space for everyone.


Chesed of Yesod
(Lovingkindness in Connection)

If you're like me, connecting with others didn't always come easily.
But God can heal anything, even our relationships.

Let's ask God to root our relationships in love and kindness.

Sunday, May 13, 2012

More Thankfulness

by Devora Gila Berkowitz

Malchut of Hod
(Self-Mastery in Thankfulness)


Finding reasons to be thankful
brings out the best in us.


Let's ask God to help us reveal
our inner strengths by expressing our gratitude.




Yesod of Hod
(Connection in Thankfulness)

A birthday thought:

A natural consequence of gratefulness is the bonding it creates between ourselves and the other.

Let's ask God to deepen our relationships by recognizing what we appreciate about each other.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

What is the Essence of Thankfulness?

by Devora Gila Berkowitz
Hod of Hod
(Essence of Thankfulness)

You'll probably get as many answers
as people you ask,
but here's my answer:

The essence of thankfulness is
fully embodying the role of receiver
in relationship to the giver.

That means the ability to fully accept
what is bestowed upon you,
with the realization
that it is good.

May we all be blessed to reveal the good of what is given.

Monday, May 7, 2012

Thank you, thank you, thank you

by Devora Gila Berkowitz
Tiferet of Hod
(Balance in Thankfulness)

I've heard of not being appreciative enough,

but could there be such a thing as too grateful?

Naah.
Let's ask God to help us find the right amount of thankfulness in each and every day.

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Two Sides of Thankfulness

by Devora Gila Berkowitz
Gevurah of Hod
(Boundaries in Thankfulness)

It's easy to say "thank you" to people we care about.

It's harder when we're dealing with a difficult person.

Why?

Because when we share feelings of gratefulness and appreciation, we're actually giving a part of ourselves to the other. And we're not always ready to let down our guard...

Let's be aware of when we're holding back from showing our thankfulness, and ask God to help us work through this limitation.


Chesed of Hod
(Lovingkindness in Thankfulness)

Do you ever forget to share your feelings of appreciation?

Sometimes we can be so caught up in our own inner world that we forget about expressing ourselves to others.

And there is so much to give thanks for.

Let's ask God to help us express our gratefulness.

Thursday, May 3, 2012

Are You Doing This?

by Devora Gila Berkowitz 
Yesod of Netzach
(Connection in Endurance)

Commitment, perseverence, willpower.

Aren't these admirable qualities?

To maximize your endurance, check to make sure you're connecting positively with the people or experiences you're involved in.

Let's ask God to help us bond more deeply with our goals, and to the people we're committed to.

The Secret to Endurance

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Thank God

by Devora Gila Berkowitz

Hod of Netzach
(Thankfulness in Endurance)

You know that downward spiral that follows a string of successes?

Could that be the result of forgetting that God is the One who allows you to achieve?

When we forget to thank Him for helping us persevere, He "forgets" to continue supporting us in our endeavors.

Let's ask God to remind us to thank Him for the strength to move forward.

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Netzach!

by Devora Gila Berkowitz
Netzach of Netzach
(Endurance in Endurance)

What are you determined about?

What do you use your willpower for?

What are you willing to commit to?

May our endurance shine our light into the world.