„That which a person is able to repair - it is good that he think abou…”
„That which a person is able to repair - it is good that he think about it, and let him not be lax in repairing it. And that which is not in his power to repair - let him not occupy himself with it constantly.”From Middot HaRe'iyah
Very often 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 repair that flaw; in such a state it is right that we touch upon it until we succeed in repairing our flaws and low places. But when it comes to a flaw that we do not succeed in repairing and that recurs again and again, we must be careful not to sink into occupying ourselves with it, since this can bring us down further and further ("look what a zero I am, I don't succeed in guarding my eyes and I fall from time to time, so should I even pray?!" or "I'm so stupid and don't succeed in mathematics, I'm not worthy to be a student...").
It is important to say that the Rav does not argue that a person must despair of himself; he must try again and again to advance even in his difficult places. The caution must be against obsessiveness (excessive preoccupation) with these places.
A pleasant day to all!
From the community archive of Mishpetei HaRav Kook — studying Rav Kook's teachings since 2011.