ראה אנכי נתן לפניכם היום ברכה וקללה (יא-כו)
Moshe Rabbeinu tells Klal Yisroel, “Look, I am placing before you today a blessing and a curse.” Every moment of life is an opportunity. The same situation can be a blessing or it can be a curse! It all depends on what you choose to see. It is your attitude in life that will determine your altitude in life!
The Pele Yoetz gives us a fascinating understanding here. He explains that the “blessing” and the “curse” are located inside of us! We are all made up of two parts. The body is the curse since it is pulling us in the wrong direction. The body only wants physical pleasure and material gain. It wants comfort and pleasure and those who are governed by their bodies are really living a life of “curse.” They are missing the whole purpose of real LIFE! The body, however, is the only possible casement for the neshama. The neshama can only thrive in a body and a body can only function with a neshama. They need each other! And we need them both - in order to test us. So that we can get schar and reward in this world for making the right choice. Every moment can be utilized for beracha or chas v’shalom, for klala - a curse. It all depends on what we choose to LIVE for.
R’ Noach Weinberg zt”l would often say that the way to determine if we are making the right choice is by viewing every situation as one of comfort vs. growth. When I am confronted with a dilemma, should I go or should I stay? Should I say it or not? What should I do? Whenever you find yourself asking this question, stop for a minute and ask yourself a different question: Is this the comfortable choice or not? Am I just doing what is easy for me or is it really a benefit? If not, then that is the wrong choice. It is the more difficult decision that will eventually lead you to growth.
Growth is beracha! We have all come here for the purpose of growing and becoming closer to Hashem. The only way that will happen, however, is with hard work. By taking the easy way out, we will achieve the opposite of true blessing, r”l.