You Are an Elevated Person From this moment on, do not regard yourself as a lowly person, an animalistic person for whom any actions and any behaviors, even degraded ones, are appropriate. Instead, as our sages hinted, “a person should always view himself as though holiness rests within his belly” (source). You are elevated, and things that are fit for others are forbidden to you. Regarding your every thought, word and act, do not only look to see whether it is generally acceptable. Such things may be fine for some other person, but not for you. Instead, look to see whether they are right for you at your high level.
This is not to say that you should consider yourself an superior personality and grow proud, heaven forbid. To the contrary, make yourself as nothing before every Jew. Break your heart by telling yourself, “Considering my level and the state of being to which I have dedicated myself, my actions are not correct. Who knows how much damage I am causing with my behavior—my thought, speech and action—since the time that I have consecrated myself to heaven?”
וּמֵעַתָּה יַבִּיט עַל עַצְמוֹ לֹא כְּעַל אִישׁ נָמוּךְ אִישׁ בַּהֲמִי שֶׁרָאוּי לוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת כָּל הַמַּעֲשִׂים וּלְהִתְנַהֵג בְּכָל הִתְנַהֲגוּת אַף נְמִיכֻיּוֹת, רַק כְּמוֹ שֶׁרָמְזוּ חֲזַ"ל, לְעוֹלָם יִרְאֶה אָדָם את עצמו כְּאִלּוּ קָדוֹשׁ שָׁרוּי בְּתוֹךְ מֵעָיו, אִישׁ מְרוֹמָם הוּא, וְהַדָּבָר שֶׁכָּשֵׁר לִפְנֵי אִישׁ אַחֵר אָסוּר לוֹ, וְעַל כָּל מַחֲשָׁבָה דִּבּוּר וּמַעֲשֶׂה לֹא יִתְבּוֹנֵן אִם טוֹבִים הֵם בִּלְבַד, כִּי יָכוֹל לִהְיוֹת שֶׁטּוֹבִים הֵם לְאִישׁ אַחֵר וְלֹא לוֹ, רַק יִתְבּוֹנֵן אִם טוֹבִים הֵם לוֹ וּלְעֶרְכּוֹ הָרָם.
You Are an Elevated Person
From this moment on, do not regard yourself as a lowly person, an animalistic person for whom any actions and any behaviors, even degraded ones, are appropriate. Instead, as our sages hinted, “a person should always view himself as though holiness rests within his belly” (source). You are elevated, and things that are fit for others are forbidden to you. Regarding your every thought, word and act, do not only look to see whether it is generally acceptable. Such things may be fine for some other person, but not for you. Instead, look to see whether they are right for you at your high level.
לֹא שֶׁיַּחְשֹׁב אֶת עַצְמוֹ לְאִישׁ מְרוֹמָם וְיִתְגָּאֶה ח"ו עַל יְדֵי זֶה, רַק אַדְּרַבָּא יִתְבַּטֵּל לִפְנֵי כָּל אִישׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְיִשְׁבֹּר לִבּוֹ בְּקִרְבּוֹ לֵאמֹר הֲלֹא לְפִי עֶרְכִּי וּמַצָּבִי שֶׁהִקְדַּשְׁתִּי אֶת עַצְמִי כָּל מַעֲשֶׂה שֶׁאֲנִי עוֹשֶׂה אֵינָם רְאוּיִם, וּמִי יוֹדֵעַ עַד כַּמָּה פּוֹגֵם אֲנִי בְּכָל הַנְהָגָתִי שֶׁל מַחֲשָׁבָה דִּבּוּר וּמַעֲשֶׂה מֵאַחַר שֶׁהִקְדַּשְׁתִּי אֶת עַצְמִי לַשָּׁמַיִם.
This is not to say that you should consider yourself an superior personality and grow proud, heaven forbid. To the contrary, make yourself as nothing before every Jew. Break your heart by telling yourself, “Considering my level and the state of being to which I have dedicated myself, my actions are not correct. Who knows how much damage I am causing with my behavior—my thought, speech and action—since the time that I have consecrated myself to heaven?”
וְיִתְחַזֵּק וְיִתְגַּבֵּר לְהֵטִיב אֶת עַצְמוֹ מֵעַתָּה.
Encourage yourself and strengthen yourself to improve from this moment on.