PLANNER
By Rabbi Raymond Beyda
One of the keys to success is good planning. Setting a clear goal and
planning the steps towards achievement of the goal is a talent shared by
successful people in all walks of life. Leaving things to chance
or “playing it by ear” is too risky and often yields a result far
different than the one that one works to produce.
But don’t confuse a good planner with a worrier. A good planner has
confidence that his or her plan will work. Positive thinking also makes
one flexible to alter the plan along the way to compensate for changes in
circumstances or miscalculations in the original outline. A worrier, on
the other hand, reviews and evaluates from a position of negative
thinking. He or she is so concerned that problems and failures are avoided
but doesn’t get moving forward towards the goal because of an overload of
concerns that just might not even happen anyway. The fear of failure
freezes the worrier in a position of inactivity.
Today when you decide to get something done – stop and make a plan. A plan
geared for success taking all possibilities into account. It is o.k. to
review and re-evaluate but don’t freeze. Get moving towards your goal
ready to adjust the plan while anticipating ultimate success. It only
takes a minute but it will help achieve what you are out to accomplish.
DID YOU KNOW THAT
One who is reading Keriyat Shema is not allowed to signal with the eyes or
mouth out words with ones lips or point with ones fingers while reading
the first paragraph. Some rule that even in the second paragraph these
restrictions apply. They do, however, allow these signals in the second
paragraph -- ONLY IF IT CONCERNS MISVAH PERFORMANCE. [Source, Shulhan
Arukh, O’H Siman 63:6 and Mishnah Berurah op. cite.]
CONSIDER THIS FOR A MINUTE
Rebbi Hiya and Rebbi Shimon bar Rebbi were sitting together. One
said, “One who is praying should look down towards the ground.” The other
replied, ‘One should have their eyes looking up towards heaven.” Each
quoted a verse of the Torah in support of his position. In the meantime
Rebbi Yishmael bar Rebbi Yoseh came by and asked, “What are you busy
discussing?” “We are discussing prayer,” they replied. “Rebbi Yoseh says
that one should have their eyes looking down in humility and his heart
should be hoping heavenward in order to fulfill the requirements of both
verses”, he explained. [Yebamot 105b]
Raymond J Beyda
www.raymondbeyda.com
Text Copyright © 2004 Rabbi Raymond Beyda and Torah.org.
