Getting Rid Of Stored Explosives
While “all eyes are on Rafah”, I want to share the story as an analogy for life and the explosive nature of what we store inside of us.
Watch any honest news report and you’ll get the facts about Israel’s very small and precise hit on two Hamas operatives in Rafah, which was followed by a massive explosion that took many lives.
Why was there a massive explosion?
Not because of Israel’s negligence, but rather because Hamas was storing ammunition there!
Watch the news for more details, but in the meantime, you and I have something to learn from this story in the way we navigate life.
In short: For minimal damage, don’t store explosives.
Judaism has specific Mitzvahs to help us avoid the explosive nature of stored negative emotions. “Don’t hold a grudge”, we are commanded. “Don’t carry resentment in your heart”.
If difficult emotions arise, process them.
If it is toward another person, we are encouraged (there’s a mitzvah!) to have that difficult conversation, where you speak for your upset, not from your upset. Let your soul’s voice calmly represent the upset that your animal soul experienced.
(If the person towards whom you carry these difficult emotions, can’t or won’t be receptive to your words, speak it through with someone else to help lift the burden off of your heart. )
When the upset is toward yourself and your own mistakes or failures, don’t let that sit inside of you either. Inner shame and criticism are toxic to your health. On the other end, carelessness and apathy towards your behaviors and reactions, also impede our personal growth and progress.
It is important to process what you are feeling so that it can move its way out of you.
Do it with an internal dialogue between your souls.
(For example:
Animal soul: Ugh! This is so frustrating that I keep messing up likes this.
G-dly soul: This whole “being human” really is a struggle. I see you are being challenged and it really is hard to always put your best foot forward. But I know we can…Let’s come up with a way to make it easier next time around…)
What we know and what the Rafah analogy reminds us, is that when “stuff” sits inside of us, even a tiny little hit (with otherwise minimal repercussions) could trigger a massive, disproportionate explosion.
Follow the above stated mitzvahs and a healthier emotional being will be part of your future.
Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom.
