Words mean nothing.
If it's not signed, witnessed and notarized, it didn't happen.
Or so we're told.
The road to unpleasant places is paved with [un-actualized] good thoughts and intentions. Sentiments may feel worthy, but they're not part of the real world.
Or so we're told.
I remember the Rebbe sharing a teaching in the name of the Baal Shem Tov (founder of the Chassidic movement): "a person resides wherever his Will/Desire resides".
I never really understood that one.
I would imagine myself sitting in my sixth grade classroom during a nice Spring day, daydreaming about playing in the park; my thoughts were on the baseball field.
What was the Baal Shem Tov teaching me? That I wasn't being cognitively present in my class? Obviously! Was the point that my wandering mind had actually physically removed me from my classroom? That obviously (sadly?:-)) wasn't the case.
So what was the lesson? What does the Baal Shemtov mean, and what is he teaching us for life today?
Chassidic writings explore and expand the basic Jewish premise that 'action is the main thing'. Talking about helping someone doesn't change the world, action does.
At the same time, Chassidic wisdom calls attention to the awesome, transformative power of thought.
By thought, we’re not referring to the lazy mental meanderings of a bored student. It means pro-active, deliberate thought. It means passionate desire and commitment. It means focusing on an objective and digging deep – then even deeper – within yourself to find a core desire to achieve it.
The Baal Shem Tov teaches us that if you really want to get somewhere in life, invest yourself in that pursuit and its value. Find a profound personal connection to your objective and allow it to sweep up your psyche.
If you can do that, then that’s where you live. That’s who you are.
Of course, you won’t actually reach your objective until you follow the functional process which gets you from point A to point B.
But that’s just so the rest of you catches up.