A Yungerman was working in an office, and he got the impression that certain co-workers disliked him, with their nasty, negative criticism. He started imagining that everybody loved him, and he loved them. You can’t imagine what a radical change took place! It’s all up to you.
In Novardok they kept saying: כַמַיִם הַפָנִים לַפָנִים כֵּן לֵּב הָאָדָם לָאָדָם משלי כז יח Just like the water reflects your facial expression, your friends heart reflects your feelings towards him. When you force yourself to love the worst anti-Semite, you may even save your life, by working on seeing good and loving your sworn enemy. And talking to them is: לַ או דַ וְ קָ א not necessarily needed; just your positive thoughts alone can save you. (But there are no: כְ לָ לִ ים rules).
My uncle, R' Manis Mandel Zatzal, once quoted the Vishnitzer Rebbe, and he said: “As far as those who love me, it’s already fine. And with regard to those who don’t love, me I’ll love them so much that they’ll be forced to love me! R’ Manis Zatzal lived such a life, and his children have plenty of pictures with him hugging people.
In general, as we clean for Pesach and get rid of our Chametz (all kinds), it’s a big Inyan to get involved in working on Ahavas Yisroel. Between Purim and Pesach, the Novardokers would go to a winter resort, and cross examine their behaviors even more than in Elul, and they would come home for the Seder like new people.
