Offer books to readers everywhere – simply and on your own terms.
Offer books to readers everywhere – simply and on your own terms.
Today’s culture sees the rationality of the mind as an ultimate goal to achieve and perfect. While being able to engage in rational thinking is a needed and helpful skill, an overemphasis of the importance of rational thinking created a society that places science itself as our new idol. Its worshipers will follow strictly that which the latest scientific study states as true. Moreover, the depressed and suffering mind tends to become hyper-rational. This makes recovering from certain mental challenges even harder, as many try to help heal a hyper-rational mind with more rational thinking. “From where will my help come?” (Psalm 121:1) – מֵ֝אַ֗יִן יָבֹ֥א עֶזְרִֽי?
Not only do so many try to heal a challenged mind with the same type of thinking that is plaguing it, our ‘science-worshiping’ cultures often ridicule those who dare live with faith in G-d, the Bible and other spiritual beliefs. Too often, we neglect to recognize the power that faith and religion have over healing ailments of the mind and soul.
If you happen not to believe in G-d, consider the following: Even if you believe the Bible is a fictional story, we can probably agree that the Bible is one of, if not the, best story ever told in human history. It has, after all, been told and passed down for thousands of years and is read and known all across the globe. If you are extremely skeptical, you might say the extent of the book’s popularity does not change the fact that a fictional story is a made-up story regardless of its popularity, like Harry Potter. With this mindset, it becomes easy to conclude that the Bible is fictional and is, therefore, a falsehood. Consider the fact that the most remarkable fictional stories become so great precisely because they manage to describe universal patterns of human behaviour. Great works of literature mirror back to us our realities throughout multiple generations, and across different cultures. Great literary works help us see ourselves in the bigger context of the world. Over the years, studies have found that reading great literature helps with developing empathy, improving cognition, and can help alleviate depression, amongst other benefits.
A great story will have the power to shift your mindset, beliefs, and behaviour. A profoundly epic tale can change your whole life. So whether you believe in the Bible as a fictional or non-fictional story, and whether you believe in G-d as an all-powerful entity that can direct the forces of the universe or not, it is clear that the stories in the Bible contain universal truths that run so deep that they have lasted the harshest of critics; the test of time.
The magic of reading the Bible repeatedly is that it allows you to reveal a multitude of layers, and in them, we find the stories mirror back to us the exact lessons we need to learn at any given moment. Whether you choose to believe in G-d, the Bible or you do not, you can still believe in the power of written words to move you, inspire you, and to even heal your soul. Like the Israelites declared when they received the Bible “Na’ase Ve’Nishma” (נעשה ונשמע) (Exudos 24:7), we will do and we will hear; we will read and we will feel (and maybe even heal). Do not follow me blindly, experiment with this idea; dive into the book and see what it can reveal to you. This is not me telling you what to believe in. This is me inviting you to experiment with your own opinions.
The ideas are organised through the lens of the story of creation. Each chapter briefly reflects on the Bible text and how it relates to mental health challenges. These ideas are then unpacked and explored through Psalms, Jewish ideas about character development, and ideas from the world of psychology. Scattered throughout the chapters are experts from my journals, and a selection of my personal and off-bit practices to face the pain.
I am not a Jewish scholar, nor am I a psychologist. I have a condition that caused me to confront many challenges – I am a living, breathing person – I came from darkness and to the darkness I will return. It is through the humbling experience of people sharing with me their stories of pain, that I decided to share a little of my way of finding love and joy in a world that seems to be overflowing with darkness and pain. Take from these pages only what is meaningful for you, and may it bring you peace and joy.
The exercises in this book are not a replacement for seeking help. Some exercises and suggestions might cause aggravation of depressive and anxiety symptoms. Please use caution and, when possible, discuss the option of using these methods with your therapist or with your support person. All recommendations in this book are intended to ignite your power to advance on the path from darkness to light. I do not know what the details of your path are, therefore I cannot provide tailored recommendations. If you choose to take on any of the practices in this book it is entirely your responsibility – for better or worse – own up to your journey and its consequences. This path is not for the weak, but if you read this far, I have faith in you – I trust you could turn your life around in the way that you would wish to. You got this.
It is important to note that much of what I am offering you here has already been understood and explained by others, and much of it you yourself already know merely by reflecting on your life experiences. I am writing these pages as I believe that the way I weave some of these understandings into a rope-ladder that helped me climb out of very deep pitfalls, might serve as a good reminder for you to explore your own internal life, and not fear taking the needed steps through pain and challenges, for only through them will you ever be able to touch the true and pure light, real and lasting joy.
