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Saying No and Letting Go: Jewish Wisdom on Making Room for What Matters Most
An inspiring introduction to the most important lesson for today's busy the take-away is to take away . "All we can hope to accomplish―by paying attention―is to learn to live with the mystery, become more comfortable with not knowing and try to enjoy life's uncertainty. Every day is a gift, but we often squander it by missing what matters most."
―from the Introduction Every day we are faced with choices that entail saying no―and frankly we’re not very good at it. Whether it’s the desire to please, get ahead, accumulate or impress, our lives have become so full and so busy that it is hard to determine what we really need and what’s really important to us. The purpose of this book is to help you regain control of the things that matter most in your life. It taps timeless Jewish wisdom that teaches how to "hold on tightly" to the things that matter most while learning to “let go lightly” of the demands, worries, activities and conflicts that do not ultimately matter. Drawing insights from ancient and modern sources, it helps you identify your core values as well as the opportunities that do not reflect those values, and that you can learn to pass up. It also shows you how to establish a disciplined practice to help you adhere to your choices. Whether it’s letting go of resentment, learning to say “no” at work or to your loved ones, downsizing your diet or asking less of the earth, this book will help you distinguish between the trivial and the profound.
―from the Introduction Every day we are faced with choices that entail saying no―and frankly we’re not very good at it. Whether it’s the desire to please, get ahead, accumulate or impress, our lives have become so full and so busy that it is hard to determine what we really need and what’s really important to us. The purpose of this book is to help you regain control of the things that matter most in your life. It taps timeless Jewish wisdom that teaches how to "hold on tightly" to the things that matter most while learning to “let go lightly” of the demands, worries, activities and conflicts that do not ultimately matter. Drawing insights from ancient and modern sources, it helps you identify your core values as well as the opportunities that do not reflect those values, and that you can learn to pass up. It also shows you how to establish a disciplined practice to help you adhere to your choices. Whether it’s letting go of resentment, learning to say “no” at work or to your loved ones, downsizing your diet or asking less of the earth, this book will help you distinguish between the trivial and the profound.
192 pages, Paperback
First published March 1, 2013
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 31, 2021
Like "Chicken Soup for the Soul" but grounded in Judaism. This series of sermonettes offers reflections on living well tied together by the concept of tzim-tzum, a sacred holding of space, based on an idea in Jewish mysticism that God stepped back from existing everywhere when he made the world, in order to allow for the creation of humans.
The book is non dogmatic and light enough on theology to be accessible for non Jewish readers. It makes its points simply, and offers practical advice written in easy to access language. I have found incorporating the idea of tzim-tzum to be personally beneficial in my life, and although I usually read meatier religious materials this volume was inspirational and I am glad I picked it up.
The book is non dogmatic and light enough on theology to be accessible for non Jewish readers. It makes its points simply, and offers practical advice written in easy to access language. I have found incorporating the idea of tzim-tzum to be personally beneficial in my life, and although I usually read meatier religious materials this volume was inspirational and I am glad I picked it up.
September 20, 2018
I read the hard copy because ebooks are trash. Yeah, you heard me you electronic book, you're trash!
I enjoyed this book thoroughly and took away good pointers into relaxing my hold on so many preconceptions, routines, and overall outlooks that have contributed to weighing me down. I finished this book a few months ago and wish I had wrote a more thorough review more immediately but can still remember how positive I felt after I finished.
I enjoyed this book thoroughly and took away good pointers into relaxing my hold on so many preconceptions, routines, and overall outlooks that have contributed to weighing me down. I finished this book a few months ago and wish I had wrote a more thorough review more immediately but can still remember how positive I felt after I finished.
July 5, 2019
Horribly ill fitting cover to this book of Jewish wisdom. A literal, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” situation.
This book opened about 4 amazing new ideas for my spirituality, and I will buy it for my personal life long bookshelf.
This book opened about 4 amazing new ideas for my spirituality, and I will buy it for my personal life long bookshelf.
September 28, 2022
a must read and apply
June 17, 2023
The trick certainly is to learn to live with the mystery... Another brilliant read!
September 20, 2013
Book is transformation-inducing. Finally, someone finally tells me HOW to let go of past pain and gives me a good reason to do it - to make room for what is important in life. Rabbi Goldberg, (ironically he's senior rabbi at my synagogue) talks about many topics in this book, even a dark topic like death. He finds a positive spin about all of these topics so that even death does not produce fear. While this is a book with a Jewish spin, you don't have to be Jewish to enjoy it. I keep this book for reference so if I feel myself sliding, I get a "booster shot".
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews