Every person is created differently, and each person is granted with a particular strength of character, that no one else in the world has. He must use this strength to accomplish great things, and to serve Hashem in his unique way. It is Hashem’s plan that the character trait should have its limitations. This is how it is meant to be. The problem is when the person develops limitations of his own. These self-created boundaries prevent him from performing the mission incumbent upon him.
The limitations can be called the galus Mitzrayim of the nefesh. Three thousand years ago, we were enslaved in galus Mitzrayim. Although we were redeemed, if extra limitations prevent our souls from revealing their beautiful strengths and from serving Hashem, we are essentially still confined in this exile.
Practical Application
Everyone must discover the unique character trait and strength that Hashem gave particularly to him, which no one else has. Then he should ask himself whether something is holding him back from using this specialty. When the obstacle is found, he must now toil and strive to overcome it. Then his nefesh will shine brightly, and he will perform his unique service to Hashem.
“These are the names of Bnei Yisrael who were coming to Mitzrayim” (Shemos 1:1)
Each person has strengths that are limited. The limited strength variates from person to person. A person’s avodah is to recognize his particular strength, and its limits. When a person’s strength is as it should be, his strength is within the boundaries of its roots.
However, just as there was galus for the entire nation in Mitzrayim, so, too, each nefesh has his personal exile to Mitzrayim. This means that the strengths of his soul are limited, more than the boundaries that are fitting for them. The limitation of the strengths of his soul is the galus Mitzrayim of the nefesh.
In Practice
It is proper that a person should think about the primary strengths of his soul (see the sefer Building Yourself), and he should clarify whether they are within its correct borders, or whether there are too many limitations, which is galus Mitzrayim. He must work and free this primary aspect of the soul from galus Mitzrayim.
