„That which a person is able to rectify, it is good that he think abou…”
„That which a person is able to rectify, it is good that he think about it, and let him not be lax in its rectification. And that which is not in his power to rectify, let him not occupy himself with it constantly.”From Middot HaRe'iyah
Many times we fall because we occupy ourselves too much with our great flaws.
The Rav says that this is fitting as long as we feel that we are advancing and that we can indeed rectify that flaw; in such a case it is right that we engage with it until we succeed in mending our flaws and our low places. But when it concerns a flaw that we do not succeed in rectifying and that recurs again and again, we must be careful not to sink into occupation with it, since this can bring us down further and further ("Look what a nothing I am, I cannot guard my eyes and I stumble from time to time, so how am I to pray?!" or "I am so foolish and unsuccessful in mathematics, I am not worthy to be a student...").
It is important to say that the Rav does not claim that a person should despair of himself; he must try again and again to advance even in his difficult places. The caution must be against obsessiveness (excessive occupation) with these places.
From the community archive of Mishpetei HaRav Kook — studying Rav Kook's teachings since 2011.