Accepting The Torah Means Being High, Exalted, and Proud
Yovel and Shofar are mentioned repeatedly by Har Sinai. A Shofar comes from the Keren (horn), which is the top and the pride of many kosher animals. Dovid HaMelech was smeared with oil from a Keren. וּצְמִיחַת קֶרֶן לְדָוִד עַבְדֶךָ. Accepting the Torah means being high, exalted, and proud; symbolized by going upward on a mountain (albeit a small mountain, Har Sinai, since: תָפַסְתָּ מְרוּבָּה לֹא תָפַסְתָּ by grabbing too much, you will end up with nothing, and: לֹא עָלֶיךָ הַמְּלָאכָה לִגְמוֹר אבות ב טז you are not responsible to get it all done!) But having the Torah means going “up”, growing, and becoming great. The spectacular: קוֹלוֹ תוּב רָקִים thunder and lightning and fire of Har Sinai and a trembling mountain all add to the Romemus.
Having the Torah makes you proud. You are in the true world of Kavod HaTorah. Amalek cheapens everything, and only Yisro who respected, was Zoche. This is why fear and Yiras Shamayim is so important. It makes you respect and value, instead of leading a cheap empty life.
You have rules and principles, and you feel important. A classroom once told a teacher to be more-strict. Having rules makes people feel more secure. But remember: Go only one step at a time, and do only where you are holding; without jumping Madregos and hurting yourself.
Har Sinai is the perfect situation, i.e., a mountain to look up to, but a small one; something you can achieve without stressing yourself. Everyone needs a happy Geshmaka climbing-up in Avodas Hashem. You always look up, but not too high up, so you never get discouraged and frustrated.
קַבָּלַת הַתּוֹרָה
How Chashuv Is Just Our Wanting to Improve or Just Deciding to Improve
The Simcha of Shavuos is for officially having accepted the Torah, not necessarily for actually being M'kayem the Torah. We can suggest that the Yom Tov of Simchas Torah is a celebration for finishing the entire Chumash, but Shavuos celebrates the mere acceptance of, and desiring the Torah. When the Yidden decided to do the Korban Pesach, it says: וַיֵלְכוּ וַיַעֲשׂוּ בא יב כח they “went” and they “did”. Rashi explains that although they hadn't yet done anything, since they were M'kabel to do it, it is as if they actually did it.
The Medrash says that the extra word: וַתֵּלַכְנָה שְׁתֵּיהֶם רות א יט teaches us: כֵּיוָן שֶׁנָּתְנָה דַעֲתָהּ לְהִתְגַּיֵּר הִשְׁוָה הַכָּתוּב לְנָעֳמִי רות רבה ג ה as soon as Rus just decided to be M'gayer, she became equal to one of the greatest women in Jewish history, Naomi. A person has no idea of the Chashivus of your wanting to improve or deciding to improve yourself! This is why there is so much unnecessary pain going on in so many of us.
When we worship humans who only care about success (even in Ruchaniyus) then we are in trouble. Similarly, we have: מִזְמוֹר שִׁיר חֲנֻכַּת הַבַּיִת לְדָוִד תהלים ל א Dovid is given credit for building the Bais Hamikdash, even though he never did, because he tried and wanted to do! R' Yisroel Kanarek Zatzal from Peekskill told me a story. Although most Yidden in Poland were frum, yet, the representative of the Jews was irreligious. They complained to the Chidushei HaRim about this, and he said: "If you combine all the irreligious side of the religious (that is, in their hearts) then the irreligious are the majority!"
The more Simcha you have with your own Torah and Mitzvos, the more you are on the Derech HaYashar. And the more internal or external kvetching and dissatisfaction that you carry around, the more you are away from the Derech HaTorah, Rachmana Litzlan. R' Moshe Feinstein Zatzal said that the reason why so many children of frum parents went off, was because the parents weren't M'kabel their difficulties B’simcha, and the children didn't see the: דַרְכֵי נוֹעַם pleasant way of Yiddishkeit.
However, in a Dor like ours, I would be: מֵלִיץ יוֹשֶר stick up and be Dan L'kaf Zechus, and say Aderaba! A person who serves Hashem with all kinds of worry and pain and Atzvus (sadness) and complaints, may be even greater, since: לְפוּם צַעֲרָא אַגְרָא אבות ה כב the reward increases according to your effort. But of course, Le'chatchila we aim for more and more Simcha; especially Sameach B'chelko and Shaar HaBitachon.
Remember this Shavuos to respect every tiny Ratzon, and the faintest of your holy wishes to improve yourself as a mini form of Kabala (accepting on yourself to do) since this is the most you can do for the moment. And the Zechus of appreciating your even inferior Avodas Hashem, will help you grow more and more, with Hashem’s help, since Hashem sees that you are satisfied with what you have, albeit as tiny and insignificant as it is.
