If Only
Bnei Baruch
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There is an unidentified disease that is possibly genetic to humanity. The official name of the disease 
is "If Only." Perhaps this is causing a chuckle, and if so, that is good. Perhaps your brow is furrowed and you are wondering, what is this person writing about? And surely some of you are nodding your heads up and down saying, "I have this disease and I am so glad it has been diagnosed!"
It is an ailment that keeps the eternal carrot always dangling in front of the one seeking. What are the symptoms of "If Only"? The symptoms are very easily identified.
It begins when one starts to strongly desire a specific person, place or thing. It could be money. It could be an education, a new job, losing weight, a new home, or a new love. What the desire is does not matter. What matters is the attachment to the coveted object.
This is how the disease progresses. The desire grows and grows until the person is consumed with wanting the item of the day. Wanting that new car becomes so important that it begins to consume the afflicted one. The desire grows to the point that the only thing to be said is, "If only I had that car. If only I had that car my friends would think I am rich. If only I had that car, I would have friends! If only I had that car my self esteem would rise to incredible heights. If only I had that car, I would be happy!" The person begins to believe that his or her eternal pleasure depends on this object!
That is the nitty gritty. "If only I had the car, or lost weight, or was rich, beautiful, young, old, smart, had a new house, dining room set, or job, I would be happy."
How long would that happiness last? It would not last long. In a very short time, one would become infused with another strong desire followed by another "if only," and another and another. The problem with this disease is that it is progressive. It just keeps getting worse.
The ancient wisdom of Kabbalah, discusses this very issue. Man was created with these strong desires. They are sparks that push us to continue acquiring everything and anything we can find that gives us pleasure. We seek and seek, hoping that one day "it" will come. And, what is "it"?
It is an ailment that keeps the eternal carrot always dangling in front of the one seeking. What are the symptoms of "If Only"? The symptoms are very easily identified.
It begins when one starts to strongly desire a specific person, place or thing. It could be money. It could be an education, a new job, losing weight, a new home, or a new love. What the desire is does not matter. What matters is the attachment to the coveted object.
This is how the disease progresses. The desire grows and grows until the person is consumed with wanting the item of the day. Wanting that new car becomes so important that it begins to consume the afflicted one. The desire grows to the point that the only thing to be said is, "If only I had that car. If only I had that car my friends would think I am rich. If only I had that car, I would have friends! If only I had that car my self esteem would rise to incredible heights. If only I had that car, I would be happy!" The person begins to believe that his or her eternal pleasure depends on this object!
That is the nitty gritty. "If only I had the car, or lost weight, or was rich, beautiful, young, old, smart, had a new house, dining room set, or job, I would be happy."
How long would that happiness last? It would not last long. In a very short time, one would become infused with another strong desire followed by another "if only," and another and another. The problem with this disease is that it is progressive. It just keeps getting worse.
The ancient wisdom of Kabbalah, discusses this very issue. Man was created with these strong desires. They are sparks that push us to continue acquiring everything and anything we can find that gives us pleasure. We seek and seek, hoping that one day "it" will come. And, what is "it"?