Tell Hashem All Day How You Love Him
אֲנִי לְדוֹדִי וְדוֹדִי לִי
Elul means more and more positivism and love
And keep telling Him how great Klal Yisroel is, and keep “blowing yourself up" by constantly thanking Him for your own greatness. Working on self-esteem these days is true Shviras HaMiddos, and even if you don't get anywhere, you get loads of Schar for just working on it.
Pick a drop of the above מַה שֶׁלְבּוֹ חָפֵץ the things that speak to you, or do much more; whatever works! And do whatever gives you Geshmak. A major Zechus is working on Anava )יַעַן כִּי נִכְנַע אַחְאָב( and giving in, being soft and Eidel, and not boisterous (unless you are a שָׁפֵל בְּטֶבַע, then you have a Zechus for being the opposite of an Anav, since you are seriously missing in: 'וַיִּגְבַּהּ לִבּוֹ בְּדַרְכֵי ה kosher Ga'ava).
If you are smart and you have the right Rebbe to be M'chanech you, you can have both Anava and: וַיִּגְבַּהּ לִבּוֹ kosher Ga'ava together.
לְמַטָה, אֵין דִין לְמַעֲלָה דב"ר ה ד an accounting below (in this world), they don't need to make an accounting above. All these Yesodos are pertinent from Elul through Simchas Torah.
There is no Safek (doubt) that for many people, learning plenty of Chasidishe Seforim on Simcha and Chizuk is the best thing. Also, being Melitz (advocate) on yourself and telling Hashem why you feel you should be Zoche B'din can make a big Zechus for you. Actually, you are considered a big Tzadik when you are Dan yourself L'kaf Zechus, since just like: וְאָהַבְתָּ לְרֵעֲךָ כָּמוֹךָ you have a Mitzva to love your friend, you have a Mitzva to love yourself also!
And if you are the type that tends to be negative about yourself, then it's a sin which you are overcoming by being Dan yourself L'kaf Zechus and sticking up for yourself. For sure, giving lots of Tzedaka, or even better, to collect for others, like it says: גָּדוֹל הַמְּעַשֶׂה צְדָקָה תַּצִּיל מִמָּוֶת :and יוֹתֵר מִן הָעוֹשֶׂה ב"ב ט א Tzedaka can save your life. The most Gevaldig Sefer on Elul that I know, is Leket Reshimos of R' Nosson Wachtfogel Zatzal, written by his Talmid, R' Reuven Hochster Shlita. Always daven that you should have the kind of Elul that Hashem wants you to have. And the same with Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur,etc. לְעוֹלָם יַקְדִּים אָדָם תְּפִלָּה לְצָרָה סנהדרין מד ב And daven in advance.
Worrying about Klal Yisroel during Elul will for sure put you on Hashem's "good list". Always say nice things to Hashem about Klal Yisroel, praise them, & be Dan them L'kaf Zechus. And daven that they all do Teshuva. This is great for them and great for you! Point out how they all want to improve, and how they are superior, in Ruchaniyus & Gashmiyus.
When I first saw R' Gershon Liebman Zatzal and R’Ahron Kreiser Zatzal get together, all they did was to cry for Klal Yisroel. This is another reason why: וַיִּגְבַּהּ לְבַן kosher Ga'ava is so important. You don't spend your life worrying about yourself (albeit Ruchaniyus). You “rise to the occasion" and act like an Adam Gadol who worries about the Klal. This is priceless advice to be Zoche B'din. Hashem will love you for this. PS. Any breaking a Midda is always top-top, and Midda K'neged Midda you get Nissim for acting L'maala than your Tevah. Especially if you break yourself to see the good side of a Shita that you never liked, or had a Shita against it.
