Rabbi Zelig Pliskin is an Orthodox Rabbi, writer, lecturer, counselor, and author of more than 20 books, including Guard Your tongue, Love Thy Neighbor, Gateway to Happiness, and Building Your Self-Image and the Self-Image of Others.
Born in 1946 in Baltimore, Maryland, Rabbi Pliskin attended Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim Talmudical Academy of Baltimore and later studied at the Telshe Yeshiva in Cleveland, Ohio. He graduated from SUNY with a degree in Psychology. After his marriage to Raizel they moved to Israel and he studied for five years at Brisk.
Rabbi Pliskin currently provides marriage counseling and works with individuals to encourage their personal growth and improvement. The focus of Pliskin’s teachings is helping people improve themselves and find happiness.
He believes that we must maintain a positive state of mind, allowing us “to be productive and reach our full potential, achieve our goals and bring out the best in others.”
In the following article and video, he explains how to be happy in life in 9 steps:
1. I think appreciatively and gratefully. What five things am I grateful for now?
2. I speak and act joyfully and kindly. (When you speak and act joyfully and kindly, your brain produces the biochemicals that create joyful feelings.)
3. I assume there is a benefit. What is good about this? (Develop the skill of reframing. Find positive ways of viewing events, situations, and circumstances.)
4. I strive for meaningful goals. What is my goal for now? (Being clear about your priorities is the first step to accomplishing and achieving goals. Take a step forward.)
5. I see myself being the way I wish to be. How do I want to be? (As you picture yourself speaking and acting in ways consistent with your highest and wisest self, you create your ideal self.)
6. I focus on solutions. What outcome am I looking for? (If a problem arises, first clarify the problem. Then ask, “What can I do now to solve it?”)
7. I let challenges develop my character. “This too will develop my character.” (Look at difficulties as divinely sent opportunities to upgrade who you are. What quality can you develop now with a challenge that you faced or are facing now?)
8. I consistently access positive states. My awesome brain stores my best states. What state do I want for right now? (When you give names to your favorite and best moments, you will find them easier to access. Just tell your brain to access the specific state you want to experience now.)
9. I smile and wave to mirrors. They always smile and wave back to me. (Research has shown that smiling to yourself in a mirror creates positive chemicals in your body. This works even if you smile without a mirror.)
VIDEO:
Special Thanks to The Happiness Club and SimpleToRemember.com
Rabbi Pliskin is Rabbi Motty Berger a’h first cousin.
definitely worth listening to!!!! its very funny but very insightful!! if u only have a few minutes watch the last 5 min. or so!!!
Worth watching. Humorous and helpful.
That’s the most important word in my opinion! A person has the power and ability to reframe their mind. Being grateful for specific things several times a day will do that!! Can change your life!!!