What does the wise person do? He understands that HaKadosh Baruch Hu designed it this way so the person would remain close to Him. He says, “If so, why not address my ruchniyus deficiencies before I need to become awakened by gashmiyus problems? I have a great idea! I will awaken the feeling in myself that I am lacking spiritually... I will acknowledge that my situation isn’t the way it should be. I am a ba’al yissurim in ruchniyus. I will pour out my heart to Hashem to help me. I will meditate on this, I will be broken, I will strengthen myself—all so that Hashem should help me in my spiritual life.”
Similarly, if a person recognizes that his shemiras einayim is not the way it should be, he should feel that he is in a calamitous situation. Not one Shemoneh Esrei should pass without him davening for this. He thinks about it, he begs the Ribbono shel Olam for it. The davening for ruchniyus—and not only the davening itself, but the preoccupation with it—will prevent so many tzaros from afflicting a person, because there is no need to wake him up; he has already awakened himself. He recognizes constantly that he is need of Heavenly assistance, and he truly wants to elevate himself. He is humble before HaKadosh Baruch Hu because knows that he hasn’t yet elevated himself.
