R' Chatzkel Zatzal warned about how Davka during Elul you get a flat tire or other: ַע ָס ִק םי activities which tear you away from your: ְק ִבּעי תו regimen and plans in Avodas Hashem. They say that Dwight D. Eisenhauer, the 5-star general who won WWII, remarked that he prepares for a battle with all the minute details of his strategy, and it’s all set and M'sudar, and in the end nothing comes out as planned, and you have an emergency quick thinking plan B to make up as soon as possible.
I heard that Gen. Patton said the same thing, and L'havdil my friend took a course from a top M'sudardik M'chanech, and he had everything all set, and nothing worked out as planned. A person has to respect his plan B (and life is loaded with them!) as if it’s Le'chatchila, especially since it takes יִדָי םֶצֹעְו יִחֹכּ (your feeling of accomplishment) out of the picture, and you’re forced into Bitachon in Hashem, since you are so helpless.
R' Yaakov Galinsky Zatzal told me that in Novardok they said that if you get ½ or a third or ¼ of the Ruchaniyus you want, then that’s to be expected and appreciated since you realize how everything is: ְבַּי'ד ה in the hands of Hashem, and you’re a zero with no say. Just your trying and your pain and frustration in Avoda are your best: ְמ ִל ֵצי וֹי י ֶשׁ ר Heavenly advocates, despite the fact that you feel you became inferior in Torah, Mussar, Bain Adam La'chaveiro, Kedusha, and in all kinds of Avoda.
