questions to ask yourself

Use these questions to evaluate your day:

1. What were the "seeds" that started to erode your humility today?
2. Think of how you responded to praise, or how you responded to someone else receiving praise.  Did you become puffed up when you were complimented?  Did you feel jealous or resent someone else receiving good words?
3. Did you take the time to truly listen to those around you today, or were you more focused on speaking? Were you able to say words to lift up those around you?
4. In the course of your day, did you make an effort to wholeheartedly look at your shortcomings today rather than focus on those of others?
5. Were you able to use prayer or meditation to balance out your humility?
6. When you are around others, do you often feel superior?
7. Are you realistic in your analysis of who you truly are?

questions to ask yourself

Use these questions to evaluate your day:

1. What were the "seeds" that started to erode your ability to maintain a heathy separation from those things that you should have distance from today?

2. What was your reaction in your moments of challenge?

3. If you were unable to maintain a separation from the things or people that cause you to stumble, is this a recurring struggle? What will you do differently tomorrow to prevent it? What fence will you erect to help you?

4. If you were on the verge of losing the battle with separation but won instead, what did you employ that worked?

5. Were you able to use prayer or meditation to help you through the circumstances?

questions to ask yourself

art-questions

Use these questions to evaluate your day:

1. What were the "seeds" that hindered your ability to manifest righteousness today?

2. Did a good deed you tried to perform today lift up someone while lowering someone else, or was this good deed mutually beneficial for all involved?

3. Were your deeds done merely for the sake of Heaven, or for some personal gain?

4. Did you consider the honor of your fellow in all your actions?

5. Were you able to use prayer or meditation to help you in making the more noble choices you were confronted with today?

questions to ask yourself

Use these questions to evaluate your day:

1. What were the "seeds" that started to affect your ability to be frugal today?

2. Think of how you used the resources around you (money, natural, etc..). Did you squander them, or were you excessive in their use?

3. Is there an area where you struggle with frugality (clothing, technology, trinkets, food, alcohol, etc..)? Do you have a plan to curb your habits?

4. If you were on the verge of losing your frugality but instead won, what did you employ that worked?

5. Were you able to use prayer or meditation to help you through the circumstances?

questions to ask yourself

Use these questions to evaluate your day:

1. What were the seeds that started to affect your enthusiasm today?
2. Think of matters in which you were successful today, versus ones in which you weren't. Were they a function of your level of enthusiasm?
3. Do you experience recurring snags in your walk forward or your daily activities? What is affecting your enthusiasm?
4. If you were on the verge of getting stuck in a rut or wasting time, what did you employ that helped you become enthusiastic again?
5. Did you use prayer or meditation to help you with your enthusiasm today?
6. Did you procrastinate in doing something today?
7. Do you avoid doing certain things because they are not your favorite tasks?

questions to ask yourself

Use these questions to evaluate your day:

1. What were the "seeds" that started to affect your ability to hold your silence on a matter today?

2. Think of several good things that happened today. What was your reaction to them in contrast to your moments of challenge? Did you speak out righteously, or use your speech in a negative and non-productive fashion?

3. Is there a common situation where you find that you are consistently unable to keep silent?

4. Was there a moment where you should have spoken and didn't? Why?

5. If you were on the verge of speaking out in a negative way but didn't, what did you employ that worked?

6. Were you able to use prayer or meditation to help you through the circumstances?

questions to ask yourself

Use these questions to evaluate your day:

1. What were the "seeds" that started to erode your calmness today?

2. If an event caused you to lose your calm spirit, what was it and how did you react? Is this something that has caused you agitation previously?

3. If you were on the verge of losing your calmness of spirit, what did you employ that helped you?

4. Were you able to use prayer or meditation to get through the circumstances and remain calm?

questions to ask yourself

Use these questions to evaluate your day:

1. What were the "seeds" that started to affect your ability to exemplify truth?
2. Think of several moments when you were challenged to express truth. What was your reaction?  Did you forsake truthfulness for social peace or to prevent embarrassment, or were you weak and not able to stand up for the truth?
3. If you were unable to express truth today, is this something that you have struggled with previously? 
4. Were you able to use prayer or meditation to give you strength to work through the circumstances?

from the mussar masters

“Silence is a protective fence for wisdom.”—Avot 3:17

“And you shall honor it [Shabbat] by abstaining from your affairs, by refraining from your wants, and by not engaging in [prohibited] speech.” —Isaiah 58:13

Rabbi Shammai said: “Say little and do much, and receive all men with a cheerful countenance.” —Avot 1:15

 “For the whole of the Torah is summed up in this one sentence : 'Love your neighbor as yourself'; but if you go on snapping at each other and tearing each other to pieces, watch out, or you will be destroyed by each other!" —Galatians 5:13-15

"By the blessing of the upright, a city is raised up; but the words of the wicked tear it down. He who belittles another lacks good sense, whereas a person of discernment stays silent." —Proverbs 11:11-12

"Anyone who thinks he is religiously observant but does not control his tongue is deceiving himself, and his observance counts for nothing." —James 1:26

"Don't speak impulsively—don't be in a hurry to give voice to your words before God. For God is in heaven, and you are on earth; so let your words be few." —Ecclesiastes 5 :1-2

“Evil talk (lashon hara) is so grievous a sin because it kills three people: the one who speaks evil, the one who listens to evil talk, and the one who is being slandered.” —Talmud, Erechin 15b

“When a person insults someone else, it is his own defects that he is revealing.” —Talmud, Kiddushin 70a

“In an abundance of words, offense will not be lacking, but one who restrains his lips is wise.” —Proverbs 10:19

from the mussar masters

For who in the skies can be compared to G-d?  Who is like G-d among the heavenly beings? -- Tehillim 89:7

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.  -- Mishlei 11:2

Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.  -- Mishlei 16:18

Be lowly in spirit before everyone.  -- Avos 4:10

Wherever you find God's greatness, there you will find His humility -- b. Megilla 31a

The greatest among you shall be to you as a servant. Everyone who lifts himself up will be brought low, but everyone who lowers himself will be lifted up.  --  Matthew 23:11-12, DHE

A true genius admits that he/she knows nothing. -- Albert Einstein

True humility is not thinking less of yourself, it is thinking of yourself less. -- Timothy Keller

Be careful not to mistake insecurity and inadequacy for humility! Humility has nothing to do with the insecure and inadequate! Just like arrogance has nothing to do with greatness! -- C. Joybell C.

Pride must die in you, or nothing of heaven can live in you. -- Andrew Murray

The humble person is open to being corrected, whereas the arrogant is clearly closed to it. Proud people are supremely confident in their own opinions and insights. Filled as they are with their own views, the arrogant lack the capacity to see another view. -- Thomas Dubay

It stands to reason that anyone who learns to live well will die well. The skills are the same: being present in the moment, and humble, and brave, and keeping a sense of humor. -- Victoria Moran

Humility is that freedom from our self which enables us to be in positions in which we have neither recognition nor importance, neither power nor visibility, and even experience deprivation..and knowing that we are not in the center of the universe, not even in the center of our own private universe. -- David F. Wells

from the mussar masters

“And he called out to the people, saying to them,'Listen and understand! It is not what enters the mouth that makes the person tamei, but what comes out from the mouth—that makes the person tamei.'” --Mashiach Yeshua, Matthew 15:10-11, DHE

Rabbi Samuel bar Nachman said in the name of Rabbi Yonatan: “Here the Yetzer seduces you, there the Yetzer betrays you.” --Talmud

Nittai the Arbelite said: Keep thee far from an evil neighbor and associate not with the wicked; and abandon not belief in retribution. --Avot 1:7

“The greater a person is, the greater is the force of his temptation.” --Talmud, Succah 52a

Hasten to do even the slightest mitzvah, and flee from all sin. Because one mitzvah will lead to another, and one sin will lead to another.” --Avot 4:2

“You have given Your people beginnings of new months, which are time of forgiveness for all their transgressions.” – Rosh Chodesh Mussaf service

“One who walks with the wise will grow wise, but the companion of fools will be broken.” --Proverbs 13:20

Rabbi Eleazar ha-Kappar used to say: “Jealousy, lust, and ambition remove man from the world.” – Avot 4:28

“Reflect upon three things and you will not come within the power of sin: Know what is above you --a seeing eye, a hearing ear, and all your deeds recorded in a book.” --Avot 2:1

 Don't quench the Spirit, don't despise inspired messages. But do test everything – hold onto what is good but keep away from every form of evil.” --1 Thessalonians 5:19-22

“What G-d wants is that you be holy, that you keep away from sexual immorality, that each of you know how to manage his sexual impulses in a holy and honorable manner, without giving in to lustful desires...” --1 Thessalonians 4:3-5

“Therefore, do not let sin rule in your mortal bodies, so that it makes you obey its desires; and do not offer any part of yourselves to sin as an instrument for wickedness.” --Romans 6:13

from the mussar masters

Simeon ben Shetah said: "Examine the witnesses diligently and be cautious in thy words lest through them they learn to falsify." --Avot 1:9

“You shall be sincere with the L-d your G-d.” --Deuteronomy 18:13

“Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from deceitful speech.” --Psalms 34:14

“Accustom your tongue to say, 'I do not know.'” --Talmud, Berachos 4a

“Correct yourself first, and then you can correct others.” --Talmud, Bava Metzia 107b

“Keep your distance from falsehood.” --Exodus 23:7

“Foolishness is joy to one who lacks [an understanding] heart, but a man of understanding [will rejoice] when he walks uprightly.” --Proverbs 15:21

“Do not offer vain testimony against your fellow, to denar yourself with your lips. Do not say,'As he has done for me, so will I do for him; I will reward the man according to his acts.'” --Proverbs 24:28

“One who deceives his fellow through flattery is spreading a net for his own footsteps.” --Proverbs 29:5

from the mussar masters

“But I tell you that whoever is enraged against his brother baselessly is liable to a beit din, and whoever says to his brother, “reka” is liable to a sanhedrin, and whoever calls him “naval” is made liable to the fire of Geihinnom.” --Mashiach Yeshua, Matthew 5:22, DHE 

“The world is a very narrow bridge. They key to crossing is to not be afraid.” --Rabbi Nachman ben Simcha of Bratslav

“It is intelligent of a person to be slow to anger, and his splendor to ignore an offense.” --Proverbs 19:11

 “If you have been abused, remain aloof; and if you have thoughts [of responding in kind], put your hand to your mouth; for the squeezing of milk produces butter; the squeezing of the nose produces blood; and the squeezing of anger produces strife.” --Proverbs 30:32

 “A gentle reply turns away wrath, but a galling word incites anger.” --Proverbs 15:1

“Into His hand I shall entrust my spirit, when I go to sleep – and I shall awaken. With my spirit shall my body remain. Hashem is with me, I shall not fear.” – Siddur, Morning Blessings

 “For G-d alone, wait silently, my soul, because my hope is from Him. He alone is my Rock and my Salvation; my Stronghold, I shall not falter.” --Psalms 62: 6-7

“Hashem is my shepherd, I shall not lack. In lush meadows He lays me down, beside tranquil waters He leads me. He restores my soul...Though I walk in the valley overshadowed by death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me. --Psalm 23:1-3

 “Hashem is my light and my salvation, who shall I fear? Hashem is my life's strength, whom shall I dread?” --Psalm 27:1

 “From the straits did I call upon G-d; G-d answered me with expansiveness. Hashem is with me, I have no fear; how can man affect me?” --Psalm 118:5-6

 “Hashem will protect you from every evil; He will guard your soul. Hashem will guard your departure and your arrival, from this time and forever.” --Psalms 121:7-8

 “There are four temperaments among men: Easy to provoke and easy to appease--his loss is canceled by his gain. Hard to provoke and hard to appease--his gain is canceled by his loss. Hard to provoke and easy to appease--he is a saintly man. Easy to provoke and hard to appease--he is a wicked man.” --Avot 5:14

from the mussar masters

On Diligence...

“Act while you can: While you have the chance, the means, and the strength.” – Talmud

“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.” – Ecclesiastes 9:10

“One who is lax in his work is a brother to the master of destruction.” – Proverbs 18:9

“Through indolence the ceiling will cave in, and through inferior handiwork the house will leak.” –  Ecclesiastes 10:18

“I hastened and I did not delay to keep your mitzvot.” – Tehillim 119:60

Be not lazy but rather diligent, for it says: “Thus said the indolent, 'A lion is on the road, a lion [lies in wait] in the streets.'” – Proverbs 26:13

“Don't have contempt for your ability to do good. You make the effort and God does the rest...” – The Bershider Rebbe

“The work is not yours to complete, and [yet] you are not free to abstain from it.” – Avot 2:16

“A person should always be astute when fearing the Eternal; he must be knowledgeable, capable of deducing one thing from the other, and inventive in ways that will please his Creator through whatever means possible.” – Talmud, Berachot 17a

On Enthusiasm...

"True zeal consists of one's heart being alert, his mind being wakeful, and his limbs being light for the performance of his labor, but not in overhastiness in any matter." -- The Ways of the Tzadikkim, The Gate of Zeal, pg 293

"Early the next morning Abraham got up and loaded his donkey." -- Bereishit 22:3

"Rabbi Yehudah be Tema said: Be bold as a leopard, light as an eagle, swift as a deer, and strong as a lion to do the will of your Father in Heaven." -- Avot 5:20

"When a man frees his heart of all other thoughts that reside in it and seizes upon one thought, then he will undoubtedly be zealous in its execution." --The Ways of the Tzadikkim, The Gate of Zeal, pg 283

"You must know that the trait of zeal is the foundation of all the traits, for one cannot constantly be learning. One must eat, drink, sleep , and attend to his other needs." -- The Ways of the Tzadikkim, The Gate of Zeal, pg 285

Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair said: "Zeal leads to cleanliness, cleanliness to separation, separation to purity, purity to holiness, holiness to humility, humility to fear of sin, fear of sin to saintliness, saintliness to the holy spirit, the holy spirit to the revival of the dead, and the revival of the dead to Eliyahu the prophet of blessed memory." -- Yerushalmi Shekalim 3:3, Sotah 49a, Avodah Zarah 20b

"If a poor man comes to your house to ask for bread, do not say, ' I cannot go to bring bread,' but go with zeal to bring it." -- The Ways of the Tzadikkim, The Gate of Zeal, pg 287

"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm." -- Winston Churchill

"The zealous advance themselves towards the doing of mitzvot." -- The Ways of the Tzadikkim, The Gate of Zeal, pg 285

"Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might, for in the realm of the dead, where you are going, there is neither working nor planning nor knowledge nor wisdom." -- Kohelet 9:10

"Do not say, 'When I will be free I will learn'; maybe you will not be free." -- Avot 2:4

from the mussar masters

“Amen, I say to you, it is difficult for a rich person to enter the kingdom of Heaven. Moreover, I say to you, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of G-d.”  —Mashiach Yeshua, Matthew 19:23-24, DHE

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rottenness consume them, and thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in the heavens, where moths and rottenness do not consume them, and thieves do not break in and steal." 

—Mashiach Yeshua, Matthew 6:19-21, DHE

Ben Zoma said : "Who is wealthy? One who is happy with his lot.” —Avot 4:1

“The lover of pleasure will be a man who lacks; the lover of wine and oil will not grow rich.” —Proverbs 21:17

"Whoever possesses the following three traits is of the disciples of our forefather Abraham: … a good eye [generosity], a humble spirit [humility], and a modest soul [frugality]." —Avot 5:19

 “A desirable treasure and oil endures in the abode of the wise, but the fool of a man swallows it up.” —Proverbs 21:20

 On taking frugality to an extreme, it is said: “In the future world, a man will have to give an accounting for every good thing his eyes saw, but of which he did not eat.” —Talmud, Kiddushin 4:12

“It is forbidden to cause the oil in a lamp to burn too quickly, thus wasting fuel.” —Talmud, Shabbat 67b

from the mussar masters

Rabbi Judah the Prince said: "Which is the right course that a man should choose for himself? That which is an honor to him and elicits honor from his fellow men." --Avot 2:1

Rabbi Jose said: “Let the property of your fellow man be as dear to you as your own.” --Avot 2:17

“But if three have eaten at one table and have spoken over it words of the Torah, it is as if they had eaten from the table of G-d, for it is written (Ezekiel 41.22) 'He said to me, 'This is the table which is before Hashem.'” --Avot 3:4

“A person may tend to deliberate whether he should or should not give tzedakah (charity). That is why the Torah exhorts, 'Do not close your hand to the poor.'” --Rashi, Deuteronomy 15:7

“I constantly place the presence of G-d before my eyes” (Psalms 16:8). This is a fundamental rule in Torah and behavior of the righteous who walk in the path of G-d. --Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 1:1

“Judge every person favorably.” – Avot 1:6

 “A person should be humble and as flexible as Hillel, rather than as stern and strict as Shammai.” --Talmud, Shabbos 30b