The Complexity of Happiness - Rabbi Aryeh Leibowitz

everybody wants simba that's the goal happiness and yet when we look in the doesn't seem to be the destination it doesn't seem to be the goal rather simha seems to be the way that we do things to serve hashem not to achieve the talk is critical of so what is simcha or are we seeking now we're doing things with some people what is it [Music] so simcha is clearly not laughing it's it's doesn't mean to have fun that's not what simha is i think is an attitude it's it's an intellectual realization list that begins there it's it's the recognition that what i'm doing is something that allows me to maximize myself to fulfill myself to actualize my potential you know when i when i look at myself in the morning in the mirror and i say i'm living my life exactly the way i'm supposed to or at least i'm on the track i'm doing the things that i was created to do that's a very deep symbol it's something that speaks to my essence it's a recognition that i'm involved in something that's so valuable so ennobling so self-defining and yet it's so hard for people because when we attempt to serve hashem we try to learn we try to dive and we so often focus on the fact that i haven't succeeded yet that i'm not there yet and yet the reorientation of looking at simcha is part of the process of the way that we do things as as something that defines the journey not the goal of the journey so then we're able to approach things but simply we don't have to be down that we're not there yet in fact apostle says hashem who's the one who has the one who's in the process life is a process one was in the process and if we can't identify that if we're only focused on achieving somehow but we don't realize that going through the process of trying to be better with our meetings trying to dive in with more kavanaugh that's why we're here and as soon as we realize that so then the process of working on davening working on meetups becomes one of tremendous symbol because again is realizing that i'm engaged in the thing that i'm here to do when we're chasing after all different types of things that are not supposed to define us that's when we're lacking simply hashem should help that we should have the recognition not only to be doing the right things but to recognize those are the things that are going to make us great those are the things that we're here to do and that will bring a tremendous sense of sympathy we can do it we can wake up in the morning and even if we're tired we can say let's go let's go let's daven because i recognize the value davening is not a chore it's not like brushing your teeth so that you could finally start your day let me get through the let me get dressed let me brush my teeth let me dive in and then i could finally start my day no te fila is the highlight of the day that's why we're here as soon as we look at feeling that light it's then to feel it could be done with simcha with the recognition that this is i'm engaged in the in that which is the purpose of my existence and then we could fulfill then we can say that is the ones who are in the process they are seeking out they have the bikush they want it even if they haven't accomplished but they want it and they're pursuing it they'll be the ones who are filled with similar you