R’ Ahron Leib Steinman Zatzal admired Novardokers because they had so much Ruach and fire. He told this to a prominent Mashgiach in Eretz Yisroel. R’ Ahron Leib also encouraged working on Hish'tavus not caring if people love you or hate you. He said that indeed #1 is learning Torah, but besides learning you must have Avoda. He said that Novardokers were able to have pure Middos because of their Bais HaBedidus house of isolation [to work on themselves].
He explained that when you are together with people, you are constantly involved in Ka'as and Ga'ava, and you may not even be aware of it. When you are alone, especially far away from home like in a Bais HaBedidus in the forest, your thoughts are pure and you aren’t controlled by: תוֹיִרְבַּה וּרְמאֹי הַמ making good impressions which otherwise dominates you.
People are worried about Parnasa and Nachas, and are always concerned about their Kavod and their friends. But who is interested in just plain being close to Hashem? The Rambam says that when you pass by a Mezuzah, you should remember that nothing stays with you forever, except for your knowledge of [i.e., closeness to] Hashem.
Did you ever go to a big Tzaddik and ask for a Bracha for Parnasa, Nachas, Shiduchim, health, Gadlus B’torah? Everyone does. But rarely do you hear a person asking for a closer relationship to Hashem. This is the true Simcha of Olam HaZeh, and the only Simcha of Olam Habah.
Truth is, the reason for our “pecklach” is because Hashem wants us to be close to Him [since this is the main reason for our existence] and pecklach force us to daven harder and come closer.
People who are close to Hashem can get Yeshuos that others cannot get, in the same way that those who are close to the king get special treatment from the king.
My friend was raised in Bais Medrash Bais Yosef in Boro Park. He told me that these people were unusually happy and fearless. Although they were big Bnei Torah, their main conversations and interests were their levels of Bitachon and working on Middos. Even those who had pecklach weren’t involved in their pecklach; their main focus in life was their personal Avoda. These people were Zoche to very high Madregos; among them were even Baalei Ruach HaKodesh.
