Say You Love Me
Depression. Anger. Co-dependency. Jealousy. Addiction. Impatience.
Sound familiar? What do all of these things have in common? They’re all forms of idol worshipping.
This week’s Zohar portion (Tzav) refers to the dangers of idol worshipping. If you think it only refers to bowing down to ancient statues, think again. Anything that you allow to control you is considered by the Kabbalists to be idol worshipping.
The energy in the coming days assists you in cleansing one form of idol worship — approval-seeking.
What is approval-seeking? It’s looking for someone else’s energy to fill up your black holes. Rav Ashlag, founder of The Kabbalah Centre, said dependence on others’ approval in order to feel good is the seed of uncertainty, depression, and sadness. Rav Ashlag also said that this need is an essential part of who we are, but the only way to truly fulfill it is to generate it from within.
Make no mistake, approval-seeking is the greatest drug ever invented. Looking for other people’s energy to fill you up gives you a temporary high but a lasting crash. And for those of you who are thinking, “There really isn’t one person in my life from whom I’m hooked on getting approval,” chances are you’re seeking approval from anyone and everyone.
The bottom line is this – the Light sees everything you do. You don’t need the human mind to recognize your greatness. It’s registered upstairs. If you are out there doing good, following your internal compass, then you are going to get good in return.
In one of my favorite prayers of Rosh Hashanah, it is written that God remembers everything that’s been forgotten. The kabbalists explain that God remembers the good things we do but only after we have forgotten them. That is, God remembers the things we don’t have ego about and seek approval for. Remembering your positive actions and the fact that YOU did them means you’re still waiting for the praises to come back to you.
According to the Zohar, by drawing attention to your positive actions, you are actually sucking the Light out of them and reducing the positive affects of your sharing. This is why the kabbalists say the highest form of sharing is done anonymously.
This week provides you with the perfect energy to begin recognizing just how much you are an approval junky. Take this opportunity to practice stepping away from yourself and noticing how many actions and words you spend seeking others’ approval. The moment you notice how much you rely on others for your own sense of self-worth is the moment you begin to have your own feelings of self-worth.
All the Best,
Yehuda