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that I had succeeded in identifying the root and essential point, the must always strive, toil, and seek the truth. But in the work
key and secret, upon which the acceptance of prayers depends. of the will, there is only one truth: to remain steadfast and
focused on single goal.
While this question was consuming my mind, Hashem brought
me an experience by way of which He enlightened me with a new
insight, so that with its help I understood the simple and deep
explanation of the Gemara’s words. A very great principle was Believe in Yourself—Believe in Hashem
revealed to me, so that I saw before me a literally new Torah.
The stories of the Torah, the midrashim of our sages and the most Be aware that nothing breaks a person’s spirit like a lack of
well-known stories about tzaddikim acquired a new complexion and progress. When a person fails to progress, he loses faith in himself
a new meaning in my eyes. But it is not the learning that is of and faith in his path. He develops a negative self-image, and he
principal importance. Most important, a practical way of serving feels unsuccessful, forlorn and hopeless. This is particularly the case
Hashem opened up before me. This is in fact an old way—but for if, after the passage of days and years, he feels that he remains the
me it was very new. same as before.

This principle that I rediscovered is a very powerful practical The strongest point of encouragement comes when a person
tool that may be used by everyone who seeks Hashem. I can testify believes that, even though he seemingly abandons his greater
that I and my students who have employed this old-new approach aspirations, his achieves a single goal. That gives him self-
have seen very great changes in a short period of time. In areas confidence, with belief in himself and belief in the power of his
where my students had been stuck, their lives began to move at an prayer. This state of mind is better than anything else, because it
astonishing rate, and they all acknowledged that they began to live is the key to success in everything. Rabbi Natan explains (Likutei
a new life. Halachot: Nachalot 4) that when a person focuses on and is successful
in his prayers, he builds a wonderful tool of self-confidence, and as
“I Will Retrieve from the Depths of the Sea” a result he has the power to bring about results with his prayers for
his entire life!
I will tell you how the One Who brings matters about, Who
initiates each chain of events, caused this solution to be revealed Achieving this gives meaning to his life. When he progresses, when
to me. I was on my way to pay a shiva call to a couple whose son he successfully transforms himself and improves, his life begins to
had drowned. My driver asked me sadly: “What possessed a person go forward. He is filled with joy, satisfaction, and a positive self-
who didn’t know how to swim to go into the deep water? How image, which are so vital to help him continue in his work.
could he do such a thing? If you don’t know how to swim, go up
to your waist and stop there. Why do people play with their lives?” Perfect Sweetening of Judgments
I told him, “You are making a mistake. You aren’t looking at the
situation correctly. Such people aren’t so responsible for drowning. In addition, you must be aware that when you invest half an hour
Their death is a decree from heaven. I am sure that there are every day in working on one goal, even if you still remain far from
people who didn’t go in deep water, yet who were carried away by perfection and many more matters remain to be rectified, that this
the water and drowned.” I have heard of a considerable number half hour completely sweetens all of the judgments against you.
of such cases. I have even heard about people who were excellent
swimmers against whom the heavenly decree was passed—as the What is the meaning of the concept of “judgment”? Judgment