Q:
How does one control one’s emotions that they should be accordance with one’s intellect? For example, I lost a large sum of money. Intellectually I know that it’s good for me because Hakodosh Boruch Hu does only good, yet I’m still vexed about it.
A:
And the answer is, he should continue to utilize the opportunity and knock it into his head again and again that that’s for his benefit. Because he’ll never think about that principle otherwise. But because he lost the money, now it’s an opportunity.
So even though the hurt of the loss of the money will always rankle in his mind, but the lesson can still be learned.
He can bring home to himself again and again the thought, “No, it’s for my benefit. It’s for my benefit.” Again and again. And finally, a little bit he’ll realize it’s for his benefit. That’s a very big achievement.
It doesn’t mean you’re going to sing and dance because you lost money. That’s unnatural. But the little bit will enter your awareness: “Maybe it’s for my benefit.” Ah! If you already say, “Maybe it’s for my benefit,” then you already have achieved something big.
Any misfortune in life, if it’ll bring you to say, “Maybe it’s good for me; maybe I’m getting better because of it,” then you already are better.
TAPE # 256 (February 1979)
