Igniting Emuna Into Shabbat

As we step into Shabbat, we pause to gather all the sparks we collected this week — the whispers of will, the quiet victories, the moments we remembered Hashem is in charge, and we are never alone.

We reflected on the power of ratzon (holy desire) — habaim l’taher m’sayim lo — how just wanting to grow draws Hashem near. We remembered that every mitzvah is a bond, a tzavta, uniting us with Hashem in our daily actions. We learned to shift focus from emotional impulse to conscious clarity, asking ourselves, “Is this choice aligned with my soul’s truth?”

And we were reminded: shalom begins inside. The work of healing our homes starts with healing our hearts.

As we light the candles this Shabbat, let's whisper:

“Hashem, help me serve You with joy, awareness, and a heart open to peace.”

Let this Shabbat be a resting place for your soul, a safe space for your emuna, and a sacred time to feel Hashem’s love — not just in theory, but in your body, your breath, your being.

Functional Light

By Tzvi Freeman

G‑d did not give you light that you may hold it up in the middle of the day.

When you are given light it is in order to accomplish something, to do something difficult and novel.

Go take your light into the dark places and transform them that they may also shine!

Torah Chemistry

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TiIiUOOu3yI

Emotions Are Information, Not Instructions

A foundational Chassidic principle is that nothing in existence is random. Every detail of our lives, especially something as powerful as our emotions and reactions, is guided by Hashgachah Pratis, Divine Providence.

This means that if you are experiencing a particular feeling, it is not a mistake or a flaw. There is a Divine purpose behind that emotion, and therefore something we can and should understand and respond to wisely.

Emotions are energy in motion, signals meant to be listened to, not obeyed blindly.

The real question is not “How do I get rid of this feeling?”

It is “What is this emotion trying to tell me?”

Emotions are not random states we are meant to suppress or drown in. They carry both energy and information.

The common mistake is either reacting automatically or trying to silence the feeling altogether.

A healthier approach is to pause and ask

What is this emotion motivating me to do?

Every emotion carries momentum. Fear urges avoidance. Anxiety pushes control. Anger pushes defense. That is the motion.

What is this emotion revealing about my inner world?

What belief, fear, or attachment is being exposed?

What growth or alignment is being requested of me?

Fear is not the enemy. It often points to an area where our Bitachon needs strengthening, a place where we are forgetting Who is actually in control.

Anxiety is not random either. It frequently signals that we are holding onto control in a place where trust belongs, reminding us to deepen our Bitachon and release the illusion that certainty comes from managing outcomes.

Emotions are not commands.

They are messengers.

When emotions are filtered through awareness and Torah values, they become guides that lead us closer to Hashem, not drivers we mindlessly follow.

The Golden Shadow of Greatness: Why We Fear Our Potential

Humans are driven by two fundamental fears: a fear of death and a fear of life. The fear of death relates to the fear of losing our individuality through excessive conformity and thus motivates us to differentiate ourselves. A fear of life pulls us in the opposite direction, for individuating can feel isolating and can set us up for social rejection. But there is perhaps one factor we fear the most when embodying our greatness: if we acknowledge the existence of our potential we will no longer have an excuse for living a passive and mediocre life.

In the comments below, share one thing that has helped you overcome your fear of showing up to your own life. 👇🏿

Continue reading: https://academyofideas.com/2025/12/why-we-fear-our-highest-potential/

Today’s Tanya in one uplifting line:

Struggle doesn’t mean you’re failing.

It means you’re doing the holy work of the Beinoni, and that steady choosing is deeply precious to Hashem.

What influences your life more? Beliefs, Subconscious Programs or your Soul-Field?

FREE ONLINE COURSE

https://prepareforchange.net/2025/12/30/what-influences-your-life-more-beliefs-subconscious-programs-or-your-soul-field/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=what-influences-your-life-more-beliefs-subconscious-programs-or-your-soul-field

You are not the sum of your mistakes – you are more than the moments you wish you could redo. The past is a teacher, not a judge. Its role is to inform your next step, not sentence your future.

Growth is built from insight, not from self-condemnation. Missteps and wrong turns aren’t barriers; they’re signals. They are meant to guide you, not block the path entirely. They exist to sharpen your awareness, not to shut you down. A stumble is not a verdict – it’s an invitation to realignment.

You don’t owe your past a lifetime sentence. Taking responsibility means learning, adjusting, and allowing yourself to continue. When you release shame, you reclaim direction. The future opens the moment you grant yourself permission to step into it – freed from what held you back and anchored in what lies ahead. When you stop measuring yourself by what went wrong, you create space for what can go right.

Inspired by the teachings of Rebbe Nachman (1772-1810)

Exposing the Light

By Tzvi Freeman

All the world’s problems stem from light being withheld.

Our job then, is to correct this. Wherever we find light, we must rip away its casings, exposing it to all, letting it shine forth to the darkest ends of the earth.

Beginning with the light you yourself hold.