Waking Up to a Life with Hashem: Seizing Each Day with Enthusiasm

Waking Up with Awareness

"Shiviti Hashem ke'negdi tamid—I have set Hashem before me always" is one of the fundamental principles of the Torah. What this means in our everyday lives is being constantly aware of Hashem's presence. Wherever we are, whatever we are doing, whatever we are thinking, Hashem is there with us.

When we wake up in the morning, this should be the first thought of the day: I am living with Hashem.

When we live with this awareness, our lives are transformed. Just as we would behave entirely differently in the presence of a great king or even an elected president, our thoughts, speech, and actions are entirely different when we are conscious of being in Hashem's presence.

Waking Up with Gratitude

You went to bed tired and you woke up refreshed. More than that — you woke up! How many people don't wake up in the morning? And there you are, lying in bed, with all your faculties intact. Thank Hashem for His kindness. Did you do anything to deserve it?

The first thing a Jew says in the morning is "Modeh ani lefanechah, Melech chai ve'kayam, shehechezarta bi nishmati be'chemlah; rabbah emunatechah—I offer thanks to You, living and eternal King, for You have mercifully restored my soul within me; Your faithfulness is great." (This is said right away, even before we wash our hands, as it does not contain Hashem's Name.)

What is this faithfulness? Hashem decided that you are worthy of another day of life, that you can achieve great things today. It doesn't matter what came before; you are a new person today, a fresh creation, full of potential. Resolve to use the powers invested in you to serve Hashem.

Waking Up with Enthusiasm

In Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers), we read: "Yehudah ben Teima says: Be bold as a leopard, light as an eagle, fleeting as a deer, and mighty as a lion, to do the will of your Father in Heaven."

"Bold as a leopard" means that we should not be deterred by people who mock us for living according to the Torah. We should not feel embarrassed to be serving Hashem

"Light as an eagle" means that we should turn away from evil and guard our eyes from anything that tempts us to sink into the material world, as this is how evil starts: first we see it, then we desire it, and finally we do it.

"Swift as a deer" refers to our bodies which should not hesitate but run to do mitzvot, to pray, to serve Hashem in any way.

"Strong as a lion" refers to the heart and our firm resolve to do what is right and overcome opposition.

Waking Up with Determination

Now you're awake, full of awe at having been given the gift of a new day of life. Jump out of bed and get started right away!

It doesn't always feel that easy. The yetzer hara (evil inclination) always provides an excuse to linger in bed "just another few minutes." In winter, it's so warm and cosy under the blankets. In summer, when the nights are short, it tells you how tired you still are and how badly you need "just another half hour of sleep."

The yetzer hara is personal — each person gets customized temptations according to his nature. And each person is given the ability, by Hashem, to overcome those temptations and earn everlasting reward.

Imagine someone was standing at your bedside telling you, "Get up now! There's a deal you need to sign this minute for a billion dollars and if you put it off, the chance will be gone forever!" Would you hesitate?

Hashem gave you another day of life for a reason. You might not know what that reason is, but be assured that it's there; you wouldn't be alive otherwise. Seize the day with both hands and jump right out of bed.

The Talmud tells us that when we genuinely exert ourselves to do the right thing, we receive Divine assistance. Embracing the morning with awareness, gratitude, enthusiasm, and determination may seem challenging at first. Yet, with practice, these habits become second nature, revolutionizing not just our mornings but our entire lives.