Perfecting one's Middot: Difference between revisions
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People are naturally very unique when it comes to their personality and character traits. Some people are constantly angry, while others are calm and don't get angry ever or rarely. Some people are arrogant, while others are humble. <ref>Kitzur S"A 29:1</ref> | People are naturally very unique when it comes to their personality and character traits. Some people are constantly angry, while others are calm and don't get angry ever or rarely. Some people are arrogant, while others are humble. <ref>Kitzur S"A 29:1</ref> | ||
==The proper balance of Middot== | ==The proper balance of Middot== | ||
# Not only does one have to do Teshuvah for sins that require an action, like theft but one also needs to avoid bad middot <ref> Rambam Hilchot Teshuva 7:3, Shulchan Aruch Hamiddot 1: page 177. see there for a discussion of the torah source for this obligation </ref> | |||
# The correct and straight way in regards to character traits is to follow the middle path. For example, a person shouldn't be too stingy or too generous in giving away of his money, rather one should give according to one's ability. <ref>Kitzur S"A 29:2, Shulchan Aruch Hamiddot volume 1: page 7</ref> | # The correct and straight way in regards to character traits is to follow the middle path. For example, a person shouldn't be too stingy or too generous in giving away of his money, rather one should give according to one's ability. <ref>Kitzur S"A 29:2, Shulchan Aruch Hamiddot volume 1: page 7</ref> | ||
# Similarly, a person shouldn't desire physical items other than what a person needs to live. Nor should a person work too much in his business rather one should work to have enough funds for his worldly needs. <ref>Kitzur S"A 29:2</ref> | # Similarly, a person shouldn't desire physical items other than what a person needs to live. Nor should a person work too much in his business rather one should work to have enough funds for his worldly needs. <ref>Kitzur S"A 29:2</ref> | ||
Revision as of 02:16, 20 August 2013
People are naturally very unique when it comes to their personality and character traits. Some people are constantly angry, while others are calm and don't get angry ever or rarely. Some people are arrogant, while others are humble. [1]
The proper balance of Middot
- Not only does one have to do Teshuvah for sins that require an action, like theft but one also needs to avoid bad middot [2]
- The correct and straight way in regards to character traits is to follow the middle path. For example, a person shouldn't be too stingy or too generous in giving away of his money, rather one should give according to one's ability. [3]
- Similarly, a person shouldn't desire physical items other than what a person needs to live. Nor should a person work too much in his business rather one should work to have enough funds for his worldly needs. [4]
- However, arrogance is a very bad character trait and should be avoided altogether. One should accustom oneself to have a humble spirit. Additionally, anger is a vey bad character trait and one should stay far away from it. Thus, one should accustom oneself to refrain from anger even over something which is deserving of getting angry. [5]
- A person should attempt to engage in being quiet except for speaking words of divrei torah or something that's necessary for his worldly needs. Even for one's worldly needs one shouldn't speak excessively. [6]
Financial matters
- There is a pious practice not to accept any gifts but rather to trust that Hashem will provide his needs.[7]
