The Chiddushei HaRim said that he worked on himself for some seventeen years to acquire the trait of ayin tova (a good eye) that allowed him to see only the best traits and good in other people. His grandson, Rav Pintshe of Piltz, mechaber of Sifsei Tzaddik testified that he worked on himself tirelessly to be able to see only the good in other Jews and ignore any shortcomings or evil. Once he became a Rebbe, however, and many Chassidim traveled to him seeking his berochos and advice and he wanted to help each and every one of them, he realized that he had no choice but to recognize their shortcomings so that he could advise them what to correct and help them on their path to teshuva.
The Chiddushei HaRim once declared, “I have the power and ability to remove the Yetzer Hora completely from all the limbs of a person so that he will be ready to accept the yoke of Malchus Shomayim, but that is not Hashem’s will. He wills instead that we have a yetzer and that we struggle with it and overcome it.
When their financial situation was dire indeed, the Chiddushei HaRim’s wife complained that they lacked basic needs. The Rebbe, however, seemed to ignore her words and sat and learned, studying Torah and davening as if everything was fine. When his wife expressed her surprise at him and asked, “Doesn’t everyone worry about their parnossa, and you sit there and study and daven as if everything is fine? Don’t you worry at all about our financial situation?” he countered, “How do you know I don’t worry about it?”
She answered, “I don’t see you worrying! All I see is that you daven and learn regularly as if nothing has changed.”
The Rebbe responded, “Your father took me as his son-in-law because I was a prodigy in Torah – an illui. So whatever requires much effort I can accomplish quickly because of my keen mind. The same worrying that people worry for three days straight I can worry in a minute!”
“And what have you accomplished by this feat of worrying for just a minute?” his wife demanded.
“And what does he who worries for three days straight accomplish? At least I finish with all the worry in a minute!” (Meir Einei HaGola p. 304–306, Vol III #10)
