Encouragement

When you sense that you have fallen because the spirit of your ethical awareness is weak, consider this: you have to draw forth precious pearls from the depths of the abyss. When you know this, then you will rise. You will renew your abilities with strength and tranquility. You will approach the ever-lasting light with more capability than you ever had before. This rule applies to the entire generation. It governs reality forever.

Orot Hakodesh III, p. 252

Do not set aside any exalted goal that you can envision, even if it seems that the obstacles are many, whether from the outside or from your own personality. As you strive, visualize inner truth. In this way, you will align your present knowledge with your conceptual insight. You will unify your aspiration with the ideal part of what you already know.

Arpelei Tohar, p. 42

When you feel humiliated, empty, lacking all spiritual strength, when you fall and stumble, realize that a great light has been prepared for you. All of your imperfections and all the damage that you have caused—this-worldly, spiritual, things you did or didn't do throughout your life—all stand before you. Everything you ever did wrong testifies against you. You are stunned. You feel great anguish, and from the midst of that anguish you experience regret. Then you rise up and repent. You rise up from the depth of the abyss to the elevated pinnacle, from impurity to purity, from blackness to a great light.

As you emerge and rise, you have to pass through realms of darkness that overwhelm you and eclipse you. But be aware that "God is merciful and gracious," that "even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall not fear evil, for God is with me." When you cry out to God from the midst of the confusions of the abyss, your voice will be heard. When you call out for the light of knowledge, it will shine on you. Wisdom and kindness will support you and crown you. You will swiftly return to the citadel, filled with wisdom, joy and strength.

Orot Hakodesh III, p. 252

Exaggerated fear removes the radiance of life from people and from any creature that can experience feelings. There is nothing in the world, no matter how evil and cruel, that is quite like it. It magnifies all evils beyond comparison to what they really are, and it darkens the brightness of all good things, for it burrows beneath their foundations and excessively claims that evil is hidden beneath the obvious good.

The source of all weakness and all feebleness, whether physical, ethical, or intellectual, solely a fear that crosses beyond its proper boundary. Such a fear terrifies a person so much that he will do nothing to save himself. He will not even lift a finger to help himself, because he is afraid that he might be hurt, he is afraid that action may bring an evil that he cannot escape. And finally, this fear weakens and enfeebles him so much that out of his inertia and inaction, he falls prey to every evil.

Hador, pp. 119-121

Everything that is said about the greatness of man as well as everything that is said about his insignificance is true. If he is worthy, he takes precedence over Creation. If he is unworthy, a flea is more important than he. Thus, we must always use these opposite points of view for the good. When it comes to divine, supernal teachings, when it comes to pouring forth our spirit for the sake of glorious and elevated ideals, we must draw power from the perspective of our greatness: of how man is the central point of the most primal creations, of how all acts of creation are included within him. When man rises, everything rises; when he falls, everything falls.

Arpelei Tohar, p. 100