Don’t worry. Be happy.
We like to be content and upbeat.
Want to stay away from sadness; it has dark overtones, and describes an unpleasant state of mind.
Indeed, Torah thought guides us to seek and maintain a joyful attitude. Positive thinking and an optimistic demeanor are very important ingredients for a Torah life.
That makes this time of year especially challenging: We are in the midst of observing Judaism’s annual ‘three week period of sadness’, which mourns many of the tragedies we’ve experienced throughout our history, but primarily focuses on the destruction of our two Holy Temples – and two Jewish Commonwealths (490 years apart) - two millennia ago.
On the 17th of Tammuz (which fell on July 8th this year), Jews throughout the world fasted to remember the marauders’ breach of Jerusalem’s protective wall. On August 29th, Tisha B’av, we’ll fast again, to bewail the Temples’ actual destruction.
It’s a gloomy few weeks. At the same time, we can’t allow the mood to paralyze us.
While some forms of sadness are decidedly unproductive, some sadness is actually constructive. You can tell the difference by observing their respective manifestations.
When sadness brings despair, the desire to crawl under the covers and wish the world away, that’s not the productive type.
Yet sadness – in controlled quantities – can facilitate self-honesty; it can be a call to action, prompting you to take control of your life.
With a quick Google search, I found a study from the Australian University of NSW which concludes that “sadness promotes information-processing strategies best suited to dealing with more-demanding situations.” That’s how an unpleasant internal atmosphere helps you grow.
When we’re flying high, we’re probably less inclined to recognize and address our weaknesses. Why should we go through the emotionally-demanding exercise? Things are great!
Self-improvement takes self-honesty, and the guts to tackle the rough edges you find inside. And we usually don’t go to that place unless we’re dragged there, kicking and screaming.
So once a year, Torah life presents us with a necessary – albeit unpleasant – opportunity. And it’s happening right now.
Now. Now is the time to focus. Now is the time to recognize. Now is the time to correct.
It will give you something genuine to celebrate once it’s all over.