Jan. 10, 2024

Conquering Distraction: Harnessing Reflection to Align Our Lives with Torah and Mitzvos

This week is Parshas Va'era. In this episode, we discuss the importance of self-reflection and soulful accounting. 

Do you realize the full potential of your life by simply taking a minute to reflect? Join us as we uncover the subtle yet profound connections between the distractions of YouTube, ancient Egyptian rulers, the tactics of clever parents, and the Yetzer Hara's influence in preventing us from achieving our spiritual aspirations. Our lively discussion unveils how these varied elements utilize distraction to sway our actions and thoughts, often steering us away from introspection and personal growth.

In an age where the next notification or viral video constantly hijacks our attention, we offer a practical battle strategy: a mere sixty-second weekly self-assessment session. By examining our behaviors, adherence to spiritual teachings, relationships, and even our daily habits, we can start an internal rebellion against distractions on this journey with us as we explore ways to align our lives more closely with our deepest values and the path of Torah and mitzvahs, reclaiming the narrative of our existence one thoughtful moment at a time.

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Questions or Comments? Please email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com



Transcript
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What do YouTube and ancient, evil dictator parents and the Eight Sahara all have in common?

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Maybe you've never thought about this, but there could be more than one answer.

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One of the unifying factors of all of these four separate entities is that they all engaged, and continue to engage, in the practice and art of distraction.

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See, oh, readily apparent to the eyes, the distraction that is social media, youtube.

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You can't make a seum on it.

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No matter how long you choose to scroll through social media and the different platforms, you cannot finish all of it.

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It just continues to go and go.

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It can be very distracting.

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The call to action is to schedule one weekly session for 60 seconds.

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How did I pray this past week?

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How was my adherence to Hashem's halachos this past week?

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Did I increase in my shalom bayis in my midos this week?

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What is my mida of the month?

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How was my sleeping schedule?

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Was I on time to things?

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Did I live with a certain orderliness.

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Am I too haughty, too lustful?

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But to think, to have a hejban anafesh and analyze one's ways.

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Perhaps this is the way that we will merit to overthrow the dictator of the evil, yaitzahara, and to mount a rebellion, to take back the reins on our lives, to choose the path of Torah and mitzvahs, through a moment of meditation and making a hejban anafesh.