When you see others [or yourself] who have Yissurim, you may often look down at them. It may seem there’s something wrong with them, or they are being punished for some Aveira. But Shlomo HaMelech calls them privileged people. The Chofetz Chaim once encouraged a Bachur to do a Shidduch with a girl, since her father was a Baal Yissurim. The Chofetz Chaim lived with the Emes, without being affected the way Goyim think, or by Daas Baalei Battim the opposite of Daas Torah.
Strive to Have Tolerance for Imperfection and for When Things Don’t Go Your Way
Learning Shaar HaK'niya was #1 in Novardok. Hachna'a will save you from nervousness and impatience. You’ll be able to tolerate those traffic jams, all those unwanted people, and your own mistakes and failures. The Germans were famous for “being on time” and being M'sudar’dik organized and their perfect workmanship etc. Look how much Ga'ava “being perfect” can produce! And Sedom was a perfect country: ןַגְכּ 'ה לך יג י like Gan Eden.
So thank Hashem for all your shortcomings! [But don’t stop trying to improve!] Say: I love being “Mr. Not Perfect”. It causes me to have so much less Ga'ava in my life! Better more Anava with less Ga'ava, than to be a Tzaddik with Ga'ava. [Chovos Halvavos].
Hachna'a is closely related to Bitachon, since it brings to Menucha, which is the foundation of Bitachon. [Chovos Halvavos]. An Anav is a relaxed person who has an easier time tolerating difficult situations and difficult people. He has Menucha and Bitachon. He knows that Hashem is in charge, and everything is for the good, even when he doesn’t understand.
