And last but not least, don’t be “platchik” (i.e., a superficial fool) about yourself. So many of us demand from ourselves Madregos that we simply cannot do, nor are we expected to do. So: ה'ע ַמ ַלְַּןַ For Hashem’s sake! Don’t treat yourself like a cruel S.S. Nazi, who insists on standards that are simply impossible. ***********
Some people simply don’t believe in: אוֹנֽׁסַ ר חְּ מָ נָאַ פּ טְּ רֽׁ יהַַב"קַ כחַ ב “If you can’t, you are Patur (exempt)”. They feel that they must be just like everyone else, no matter what! No excuse! (However, sometimes being tough on yourself can have true, healthy fruits. Every case is different). ************
In Breslov, they call this “self-persecution”. R' Shlomo Freifeld Zatzal told me to be easy on myself, and easy on other people. Remember: דְּ רָ כ יהָ ַד רְּ כֽׁיַנֹ ע םמשליַגַיזַ the Torah’s ways are sweet. לִּ יַוְּא נְּ וֽׁהוּ-ז הַאַַַֽׁבשלחַטוַב It’s our job to make our Avodas Hashem beautiful, and to find the right M'halech. Each person needs a “tailor made” prescription for his unique Matzav.
