It’s a Mentality Game. Based upon what is fed to your mind that’s the attitude you take.

Some put two words in their mind “I Can’t.” Really the “I Can’t” many times is “I don’t feel like putting in the effort.” But the mind gets used to the “I Can’t” propaganda and really thinks it is so.

The elephant is a good example. People train Elephants to stay put by a simple trick. The young elephant is chained with a strong chain to a strong post. After the elephant struggles with the post – not being able to escape – it resigns itself to not trying anymore to escape. The keepers then replace that post with a weak post from which the elephant can easily escape. Yet he does not try. He assumes he cannot get out.

This technique stops people from personal progressing, from reaching higher heights, from putting their self-esteem at risk – like in the case of making cold calls, etc. I am afraid of rejection – so I won’t make that sales call. Why? Society has trained us to be averse to failure. But failure helps us to improve.

Hash-m / G-d wants us to try and rewards us for effort – more than what we accomplish.

Many people use the “I can’t” technique to absolve themselves from investigating or observing Torah Judaism. They say “I can’t” do the Shabbat. Really they could – but it’s convenient to say “I can’t.” They could gain so much if when approached by Torah Judaism – they would say – it’s “doable”. G-d does not give you Torah commandments that you cannot do.

A mother will not tell her 3 year old to jump over a 20 foot fence. She tells him things to do that are doable – not things that are not doable.

Even more so – Hash-m / G-d knows the capability of humans. Thus he gave the Jews 613 doable Torah commandments. And the Gentiles 7 doable Noahide laws.

Let’s take it one step further. Many religions believe in the Torah. They say “G-d gave the Torah to the Jews – but the laws were not “doable”. Make sense? Would G-d give a law that was impossible to do? Obviously not. Like a mother would not tell her son to jump over a 20 foot fence.

There is another contradiction. Some religions say that the Jews were punished for not observing their commandments. At the same time – they say that the Torah commandments were not doable. If that is the case – why would G-d punish them if they were not “doable”?

If the religion says yes the Torah laws were “doable” – so why would G-d want to change them?

Think you can – and you’ll be better able to do the doable.

You want to get work done. Procrastination and distraction are major productivity breakers. I know.

Being Productive by Removing Barriers

To be more productive short-term & long-term we try to find ways to break the productivity breakers. One major step in the right direction is to get a flip phone instead of a smart phone. Many executives made the move and found afterwards they focused more on business than distractions.

To break the breakers we must know what activities causes the most time wastage. Is it surfing the shopping sites? Is it communicating with whatsapp? Is it talking to friends over the phone at work? You decide. Write down 5 and focus on those.

Rules for Efficiency

An idea to break the productivity breakers is to establish rules and stick by them. At times I tend to get distracted. So I made a rule and put it on my list of tasks on my email software – that has a simple task manager – like “No talking to friends on phone during work before clearing desk.” Obviously dealing with non-work related issues should be kept to a minimum. But breaking the habit or establishing a good habit takes concrete steps – like the one above and dedicating a short time – let’s say 2 minutes daily (for continuity) towards the goal.

The 2 Minute Rule

Those are the short term habits. Work habits. We also can use the same system for personal habits. Like taking 2 minutes a day to express appreciation to one’s spouse or children or parents.

Torah Rules

The Torah provides laws to be most productive in life. It says in the Torah – that a person only transgresses – when a spirit of folly enters their mind. If a person thought out thoroughly their actions before they did them – they would come to the conclusion that the way of the Torah is best.

Let’s take some examples: A Jew follows the 10 commandments – which are major categories of 613 commandments that they follow. Gentiles follow the 7 Noahide laws from the Torah – which are major categories of 30 commandments that they follow.

Examples of Gain vs. Loss

One commandment for both is “Do Not Steal.” A person who gets away with stealing – may gain in the short term – ie, the money they stole. In the long term – they put themselves in a situation of worrying about being caught, covering their trail, losing their reputation, losing their job. Is the $1000 gained worth the worry? No.

A Jew observes the Shabbat. We do not write, light a fire, initiate electricity, etc. Some go shopping instead. So what did they gain? A good sale? What did they lose? A time to connect to spirituality – ie, connecting with Hash-m / G-d. A time to connect with family and friends. The Loss outweighs the gain.

Torah – In Best interest of Man

The Torah – written by Hash-m / G-d – is made in the best interest of man on a personal, community and global level. What we gain by following Torah allows us to live a more productive life.

Regrets of Youth

I have a friend. He said when he was a youth – he followed the way of the world. He had girlfriends, toured the world – enjoyed the high life. He complained that while he was “living it up” – others were establishing families and building their future. He expressed regret. Some – learn quickly and correct the errors of youth and eventually align themselves with Torah values. Some don’t.

Starting a New Page

To be most productive – to become the best that you can – G-d / Hash-m gave us the Torah. A good place to start for a Jew is by learning the Pirkei Avot / Ethics of the Fathers and about the 613 commandments. For a Gentile – the best palce to start is to learn about their 7 Noahide commandments. That is a good start to live a productive and meaningful life.

Note: This is one person’s account of how he dealt with COVID-19. Obviously, one should consult a competent physician for treatment of any ailment.

The Man & the Motorcycle

Once a Baal Teshuva – a person who repented from their past ways and decided to follow halacha / Jewish Laws talked to Rabbi Noach Weinberg – the founder of Aish HaTorah – a Yeshiva for Baalei Teshuva. He said “Rabbi – G-d and I are close. Once I was riding on my motorcycle on a narrow road winding around a mountain. All of a sudden a big truck is coming my way. I veer off the side off the road – my motorcycle falls and I grab onto a branch on the mountain side and I hold on until the police came. You see how G-d saved me!” Rabbi Noach answered him “That’s impressive. But who do you think sent the Truck?”

He meant to tell him – that just as his being saved was sent by Heaven – his dangerous situation was also sent by Heaven.

If that’s the case – why did G-d send the the truck in order to save him. Let this young man not encounter the truck? The answer – this is the way G-d communicates with us. He sends us messages daily. Whether we listen or not is in our hands. But if we tune ourselves in – we can hear clear messages daily. Sometimes a person deserves a bad decree due to their actions – but their prayer, teshuva / Repentance to Hash-m & Tzedaka / charity to a worthy Torah cause – changes the decree.

Teshuva, Tefilah & Tzedaka Removes a Bad Decree

If G-d just let this young man go on his way – he would probably be still be riding his motorcycle into the horizon. This incident gave the person a reason for self-introspection. The boy was intelligent and was appreciative of G-d’s kindness of saving his life and thus decided to learn more about Torah Judaism by enrolling in a Yeshiva.

HaKol Biydei Shamayim – Hutz MeYireat Shamayim. Everything is in the hands of Heaven – except for the fear of Heaven.

Recently, I received a message in the form of the Covid-19. Barukh Hash-m, I survived. Someone in my family tested positive for Covid. Soon after I felt tired. I had the symptoms and also tested positive. Due to fatigue I spent much of my days resting in bed. I could hardly eat or drink. I took a sip here and there of seltzer or some soup. My sense of smell became more attuned. I shunned smells of cooking from the kitchen. I had the chills and getting up at times invoked dizziness. I was reluctant to sit up because I did not want to feel that dizziness. Almost 5 days I spent going from couch to bed.

When my sister heard I was not feeling well – she sent me a a slew of Vitamins, minerals and pills – Zinc, Quercetin (to help allow the zinc to be processed by the body), vitamin C, vitamin D and others. She was in Morocco about a year before – she happened to buy (Azix / Zithromax) Azithromicin (Z-pack) 500 mg. There – Azithromicine is sold over the counter. She sent me the Azithromicin.

I was reluctant to take it but my spouse mentioned that it is most effective if you take it in the beginning of the ailment. So I listened. I took 1 pill the first day and 1/2 pill the rest of the days.

After about five days I was able to get up. I started eating small amount of foods. I avoided – meat, eggs, nuts, beans, dairy and cheese and other proteins. (as it says in Masechet / Talmud Tractate Berakhot 57b). Little by little I was able to build up strength to be able to leave the house after about 10 days of the onset.

Someone suggested I take an IV (Intravenous) for dehydration but I abstained. I took mineral water. Some people who had Covid did do the IV and did feel better from the dehydration.

Fortunately, I didn’t need a respirator or an oxygen mask. Some people who did use the respirator – were caused more harm than good. If the technician who sets it, is not an expert – it may cause harm. Thus in many cases the oxygen mask is more prudent. My father, z”l, who passed on many years ago, was hooked up to a respirator. I am not sure if the hospital’s staff din not regulate the machine properly. One of his last words was “I am exhausted.”

I prayed to Hash-m to heal me. I said I know that my transgressions caused me to receive this. I did some teshuva and did my hishtadloot – effort to be healed and Hash-m sent me a refuah. It was a tough message – but Barukh Hash-m – thank G-d I survived.

Afterwards, since I was in bed for at least 1 day – I did the birkat ha Gomel at the Torah. Birkat HaGomel is said after an Aliya at the Torah to thank G-d for saving a person from a dangerous situation (Kol “HaHayim” Yodukha Selah / All the Living will Praise You (Hash-m) forever. – is the verse that alludes to this blessing. It is said by H’avush – a captive. Yisurim – a person who was ill in bed. Yam – someone who traversed a sea. Midbar / Mem – a person who went through the Midbar / Desert.)

ארבעה צריכים להודות יורדי הים כשעלו ממנה והולכי מדברות כשיגיעו ליישוב ומי שהיה חולה ונתרפא ומי שהיה חבוש בבית האסורים ויצא וסימנך וכל החיי”ם יודוך סלה “חולה “יסורין “ים “מדבר:

We learn the way to life in the Yom Kippur services – Teshuva, Tefillah and Tzedaka save a person from a bad decree. I was fortunate that my and my beloved ones tefilot / prayers were answered.