Lessons learned from annual tests

Before I jump in, this pic was taken in Pune, India, on my regular Sunday walk. I couldn't resist sharing it with you. Back to the present day. I’m currently sitting behind 30 cars (no joke) waiting for my car’s annual MOT/טסט/vehicle inspection and it also happens to be Rosh Hashana in a few days' time. It got me thinking about the annual tests and check-ups that we do in different aspects in our lives. What a great yearly ritual that Rosh Hashana encourages us to do - to analyse ourselves and how we’re conducting our lives! Even better though would be to stop and think every day. In my opinion, there's no point in pushing our bodies and minds to their limit throughout the year, to then pay attention and perhaps feel guilty for one day a year, to then resume our bad habits the following year. Taking time out every day to analyse who we are, what we're doing and why we're doing it, is a better solution for long-term fulfillment and health. Here's my tip: wake up in the morning and do not look at your phone. This is key. Instead, go about your morning ritual of teeth, toilet, kid waking up etc and then meditate for 3 minutes (or more of course if you have the time). At the end of your meditation, before your phone starts pinging and before you get harassed by work, partners, kids, life, take a minute to think about what you want to achieve in the day. Forget about the yearly cleanse. Controlled breathing and focusing your mind, before the outside world has time to guide your thoughts, is the best cleanse of all.