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Dealing with the Internal Factor

When we make our way in accordance with the laws of life, we When a new state of awareness in serving Hashem—
are certain to succeed. And there is an added significant benefit as something that had been unknown until this point—
well. When we do the work of the will, engaging in a great deal of is awakened, then “many of the sleepers in the dust
prayer day after day, seeking the true solution, the very first thing of the earth will awaken.” However, “some [will
we must pray for is the ability to know the principal factor that awaken to] eternal life, and others to disgrace and
caused us to fall prey to the craving for food. Then we pray to be eternal degradation” (Daniel 12:2). That is because
healed of these internal causes. In this way, we solve the problem “the righteous”—those who serve Hashem, may He
at its root. be blessed, with this awareness—“will go in them, and
the sinners”—those who do not serve Hashem, be
For example, many times a person’s craving for food results from He blessed, with this—“will stumble in them” (Hosea
dejection and depression. Seeking happiness, he finds it in food, 14:10).
which calms him and makes him feel happy for a few minutes.
However, afterwards he grows upset that he fell prey to overeating. (Likutei Moharan I 171)
Also, as a result of that eating, he harms himself. This damage
undermines his happiness for an extended period of time. And If we work, we change; if we do not work, we stumble
even after he satisfies his cravings, his dejection does not fade away.
On the contrary, it returns even more vigorously and intensely, and
he suffers in ways that cannot be described or imagined.

If this person proceeds with the attitude of “my power and the
might of my hand,” even if he successfully loses weight for some
period of time, that does not solve his problem at its root, which
is his inner dejection and depression. Until now, it expressed itself
in relation to food, and now it will seek another way to attain
satisfaction. I have heard about people who underwent weight loss
surgery who indeed lost weight. But afterwards, they discovered
that they had developed new problems that had not previously
existed, such as outbursts of anger. Many required psychological
help following the operation, because the personal problems that
had caused them to overeat remained completely unabated, and
tormented them in other ways.

On the other hand, when a person does the work of the will and
prays a great deal to attain true joy and realize that he will never
find true happiness in eating, not only does he stop overeating but
he also solves the root of the problem, and he succeeds in living a
truly happy life.