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Perfecting one's Middot: Difference between revisions
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## There are people who pursue desires that they never satisfy, and those who don't even desire necessities. | ## There are people who pursue desires that they never satisfy, and those who don't even desire necessities. | ||
## There are people who are exceedingly greedy, and will never have enough money; there are those who are satisfied with less than they need, and don't attempt to pursue a livelihood. | ## There are people who are exceedingly greedy, and will never have enough money; there are those who are satisfied with less than they need, and don't attempt to pursue a livelihood. | ||
## There are some who gather money, and eat what they own with distress. And there are those who spend all of their money. | ## There are some who gather money, and eat what they own with distress. And there are those who spend all of their money.<ref> Rambam Deot 1:1, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 29</ref> Acknowledging one's traits, strengths and weaknesses alike, is crucial in being able to begin one's journey in perfecting one's middot. <ref>Mesillat Yesharim (ch. 3 s.v. klal), Gra in Even Shelemah 1:3</ref> | ||
<ref> Rambam Deot 1:1, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 29 | |||
</ref> Acknowledging one's traits, strengths and weaknesses alike, is crucial in being able to begin one's journey in perfecting one's middot. <ref>Mesillat Yesharim (ch. 3 s.v. klal), Gra in Even Shelemah 1:3</ref> | |||
# All of middot can be boiled down into three head categories: desire for pleasure, desire for honor, and anger. <ref>Gra in Even Shelemah 2:1</ref> A person who perfects these three middot positively will certainly have simcha of life<ref>Rav Dessler (Michtav M'Eliyahu v. 1, p. 2)</ref>, otherwise, they will suffer as though they are removed from the world.<ref>Mishna Avot 4:21. See Rambam Deot 2:2 how a person effectively makes his life not worth living if he's an angry person. </ref> | # All of middot can be boiled down into three head categories: desire for pleasure, desire for honor, and anger. <ref>Gra in Even Shelemah 2:1</ref> A person who perfects these three middot positively will certainly have simcha of life<ref>Rav Dessler (Michtav M'Eliyahu v. 1, p. 2)</ref>, otherwise, they will suffer as though they are removed from the world.<ref>Mishna Avot 4:21. See Rambam Deot 2:2 how a person effectively makes his life not worth living if he's an angry person. </ref> | ||
# Some say that the basis for all objectivity is selfishness or a desire to take.<ref>Rav Dessler (Michtav M'Eliyahu v. 1, p. 140)</ref> | # Some say that the basis for all objectivity is selfishness or a desire to take.<ref>Rav Dessler (Michtav M'Eliyahu v. 1, p. 140)</ref> | ||
