If the Creator has free choice, then human free choice is possible. He can give what He has. Our free choice is limited, but it can still be real.
How much of life do we actually choose?
The Rebbe explains that we do not have free choice over every part of life, like the color of our clothing. Real free choice means you can choose how you live and what kind of person you become. Believing that matters for self-esteem.
Why does believing in your choices matter for self-esteem?
You need to believe your choices are real to believe you can change, accept responsibility, and repair harm you caused. If you hurt someone, saying “I had no choice” protects you from shame, but it also takes away your ability to repair what happened. In the talk Kedoshim 5721 [1960-61], the Rebbe discusses Yosef’s [Josephs] brothers.
Where did the brothers of Yosef go wrong?
Yosef begged them from the pit, and later Reuven said their guilt was that they heard his pleading and did not listen. The problem was not only the harm they caused. They became unmoved by the pain in front of them.
Can a lack of mercy be worse than the sin itself?
The Rebbe explains that this lack of mercy can be worse than the sin itself.
The same idea exists spiritually.
When a person uses their life in a way that separates them from their purpose, the soul and the Divine energy within creation are, in a sense, pleading to be released and expressed through something good.
What does responsibility ask of you?
So responsibility is not only about admitting, “I did something wrong.”
It is learning to hear the pain you caused — in another person, in your own soul, and in the part of creation you were meant to lift up — and then using your free choice to repair what you can.
Healthy self-esteem is not believing you never cause harm.
It is believing you have enough free choice to face what you did, care about the pain, and choose differently now.
Related guides:
Explore more of the philosophy and psychology behind spirituality at nextself.ai/blog
Deep emotional healing explained
How to transform guilt and worry about the past into love
Emotionally healthy beliefs of the world of souls
The deepest relationship is about what you're willing to do: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18gkoHqwPi/
#NextSelf #kabbalah #Torah #biblestudy
Questions people ask
Do people really have free choice?
Yes, but it is limited. The Creator has free choice and can give what He has. You do not choose everything, like the color of your clothing, but you can choose how you live and what kind of person you become. Believing that is what lets you practice emotional skills like accepting responsibility and repairing harm you caused.
What does healthy self-esteem look like after you hurt someone?
Healthy self-esteem is not believing you never cause harm. It is believing you have enough free choice to face what you did, care about the pain, and choose differently now. Each of those is an emotional skill: honesty about what you did, mercy toward the person you hurt, and repair through a new choice.
What is wrong with saying, “I had no choice”?
It protects you from shame, but it also takes away your ability to repair what happened. Responsibility is an emotional skill, and it is not only admitting, “I did something wrong.” It is learning to hear the pain you caused, in another person and in your own soul, then using your free choice to repair what you can.
Why were Yosef’s brothers guilty for not listening?
Reuven said their guilt was hearing Yosef plead from the pit and not listening. The problem was not only the harm they caused; they became unmoved by the pain in front of them. The Rebbe explains this lack of mercy can be worse than the sin itself. Staying moved by pain is an emotional skill, and repair starts there.
“If the Infinite Creator has free choice, then human free choice is possible. He can give what He has.”
Explore the NextSelf Blog. Start with this post explaining the world of souls. And my Youtube. Content is published to this facebook first and a few days later, to the blog.
The blog lists all the difference patterns to study, understanding patterns is how one can develop 'Daas' [felt knowing].
Update: As awe, trust, and love deepen, they can allow greater openness and intimacy with the Creator. That intimacy can include sadness when you notice how much more of His goodness can be revealed.