Lessons in the Service of Hashem from Chapters 2–3 of the Maamar

Lessons in the Service of Hashem from Chapters 2 – 3 of the Maamar

1. In this world, we can always change. No matter how much someone is "stuck" in a bad habit or destructive way of thinking or feeling, a person can always change their lifestyle and perspective from negative to positive, from unholy to holy. This is because the unlimited truth of Hashem is expressed specifically here in the physical world, and just like Hashem can do anything, he can enable us to always turn ourselves around.
2. We need to keep in mind that we are only here on a mission. The G-dly soul, our true essence, doesn't need any correction; it came here to accomplish something. Our main mission is to transform our human intellect, our natural emotions, and our body, to make them holy and to reveal Hashem. (In addition to revealing Hashem in our animal soul and body, part of our mission is to reveal Hashem to every Jew, and by extension to everyone and everything in this world.) When we live every day that we are on a mission, and every day is vital, we will take to heart to make our time really count.
3. Even if we didn't use our time properly in prayer, Torah study, and Mitzva performance, we have the ability to make up for it. Through Teshuva we reach a deeper level of Hashem than even that of Mitzvos, and that new revelation from Hashem compensates for everything that was lacking. But to reach the Essence of Hashem, we need to reveal the essence of our G-dly soul, which takes work. The easiest time for us to reveal the essential connection we have with Hashem through our own effort is during Elul, when Hashem makes Himself available to us, giving us the power to reveal that connection.
4. The greatest celebration is when we work hard to accomplish something. Since Teshuva is not easy, when we actually do Teshuva, we should celebrate it much more than something that came to us as a revelation from Above.