R' Grant, you are a fountain of inspiration. I hope it never runs dry. Thanks for sharing.

Very often, making the commitment is more difficult and more intimidating than actually keeping it.

Grant400 wrote on 05 May 2023 21:43:

I guess this is true, I just heard something tonight about this concept. There is the level of doing nothing, doing good, doing excellent and genius. To explain the last 2, Excellent is where I can be in the leagues of the elite of my kind but still in the comfort of treaded territory. This is the limit of where I can exist with others. The moment I am doing something that no-one has done before now I am alone and therefore scared. This fear is the barrier to my genius. The thing that has not been done is the streak of genius. 

In my world something that I did that was genius is starting a campaign for someone that doesn't have the money to live in eretz yisroel. No-one was doing it and I felt that I had the passion and the time necessary to carry out this mission. I don't think that the genius has to be something extraordinary, it just has to be unique. I have heard from others that I have to try my best to change my status by trying to be extraordinary. I hear that, but what exactly am I meant to do, become an elephant trainer in the royal circus? I personally think it is simply the things within my reach and skillset where I have to see my skills and see where opportunity lies.
I think this starts with. asking Hashem for guidance, a personal inventory of the things I have learned and what I am good at, and brainstorming the opportunities.
Thank you for letting me share

Ninety days of holding back, is a change for 90 days. 

Ninety days of deep introspection, brutal honesty and educating yourself relentlessly, can effect a change for a lifetime.

Grant400 wrote on 05 May 2023 21:43:

Well said.

It's not necessarily because it's really easier then it initially seemed.
Just deciding to do it gets you halfway there.

iwillmanage wrote on 07 May 2023 14:24:

I don't mean because it ends up being easier than you thought. Rather, it's the commitment to never indulge in something that is overwhelming. The signing off on something forever.

I fear the commitment - the 100% certainty, more than what I am actually committing to.

Complacency is a recipe for disaster.

(Please feel free to comment on this thread. All posts welcome and encouraged.)

Grant400 wrote on 07 May 2023 21:20:

Definitely agree, sometimes the easiest times to fall are the ones when you think you're the stronge

EccentricComposer wrote on 08 May 2023 00:47:

אַל תַּאֲמִין בְּעַצְמְךָ עַד יוֹם מוֹתְךָ

Continuously sneaking small hits of "benign" lust, may not be a fall, but it is death by a thousand cuts.

Grant400 wrote on 08 May 2023 15:57:

So resisting all those small benign temptations must be life by a thousand heals!

Circumstances always change, my commitment doesn't. 

It may not be my fault, but it's still my loss.

Grant400 wrote on 09 May 2023 00:41:

Wow so true!

It hurts like hell, but that's ok.