The Power of the First Thought: How Morning Mindset and Sleep Connect to Divine Energy

In previous articles, we discussed the special power of the beginning of the day, especially the tremendous impact of the first thought a person has upon waking. That initial thought serves as a foundation and opening for all thoughts throughout the day.

When the power of thought begins to operate at the start of the day, it is untouched by previous thoughts. It emerges from the root of thought itself, known in the language of ancient philosophers as the hiyuli force—the primal, raw potential of thought. If used properly, such as to contemplate the existence and greatness of the Creator, it can serve as a powerful engine for the entire day. As the Maggid of Mezeritch taught, one should serve G-d with the very first thought that arises upon awakening.

What is the hiyuli force—the root of thought?

The hiyuli force is not just the root of thought, but the foundational force behind all forces in the world, including even the most physical aspects of existence—everything we see in the four levels of creation: mineral, plant, animal, and human.

Though the hiyuli force of thought is completely spiritual, it directly influences the physical world. Even physical creation has its own hiyuli—a basic, formless matter, like a raw material out of which all beings are constructed. Today, we refer to this substance as the atom—the smallest unit of matter that retains the properties of an element. The atom was created at the very beginning of the universe. As early commentators explained the verse, “And the earth was unformed and void” (tohu va’vohu)—the word vohu refers to the foundational substance. The Ramban (Nachmanides) defined it long ago as “a generative potential that is ready to receive form and to move from potential into actuality”, long before modern science arrived at similar conclusions.

Another profound teaching about creation is explained by the Baal Shem Tov: the world is continuously recreated from nothing, moment by moment. The divine energy that G-d used to bring the world into existence during the Six Days of Creation is still sustaining and renewing it every second. Every being has its own unique divine energy, suited to its nature, and that energy is channeled to it through its Hebrew name, which reflects its spiritual purpose. Everything exists solely through this divine spiritual power and it is the spiritual force that continually renews creation in every moment.

Just as the atom is invisible to the eye, the power of thought is spiritual and intangible. When thought engages with a certain reality, it takes on the “form” of that reality. For example, if we think about a certain person—his personality and behavior—our thought takes on the shape of that person’s inner world. Our thinking becomes influenced, for better or worse, by what we dwell on.

The Gift of Sleep: Releasing Thought Back to Its Source

Because the root of thought is a divine force—the hiyuli—the more our thoughts dwell on material matters, the more materialistic they become, distancing themselves from their divine source. This weakens their power and creates fatigue in the person thinking them. On the other hand, the more spiritual and abstract our thoughts are, the more they return to their divine root, strengthening us and renewing our inner energy.

This brings us back to the great gift of nighttime sleep and its most obvious benefit: the release of the power of thought and the rejuvenation of the body. The Maggid of Mezeritch explained that during sleep, and especially during dreaming, our thoughts return to their hiyuli source. Since our eyes are closed and we no longer see the external form of physical things, our mind is freed from the typical constraints of space and time. In dreams, we can merge different periods of life, blend distant places, and experience impossible things with ease, because our thought is no longer confined by the rules of the physical world.

In the language of the Sages, the Hebrew root ח.ל.ם (ḥ-l-m, from the word chalom – dream) is connected to strength and renewal. The word chalim (healthy person) refers to someone whole in body or mind. In Kabbalah, the vowel cholam represents a structure of emotional and psychological harmony, linking the soul's capacities back to their source: the soul’s inherent delight.

Therefore, explains the Maggid, a dream is a kind of inner strengthening. It renews the spiritual power of thought by reconnecting it to its root in the early stages of sleep. The images of the dream which are always shaped by a person’s inner thoughts, are simply a reflection of this deeper reality: a temporary disconnection from the limitations of matter and a reattachment to the hiyuli essence of the mind.

The Key to Inner Calm: Reconnecting Thought to Its Source

According to many studies, dreaming, which generally begins around 90 minutes into sleep, deepens and enhances the quality of sleep, and ultimately helps a person wake up feeling refreshed and mentally clear.

When we wake up, we are actually witnessing our thought moving outward again—unfolding from its hiyuli source into the realm of material matters, with all their limitations. It is this re-engagement with the physical world that contracts the mind and introduces stress and pressure.

Here lies a powerful key to inner peace: reconnect your thoughts to their source—the hiyuli force—rather than letting them get trapped in material limitation.

If we deepen our awareness and anchor our mind in the divine force that sustains all of creation, making it our clear and conscious reality, we will find it much easier to remain connected to the spiritual force of the universe throughout the day. This will leave us in a calm, balanced state, and can transform our lives in a truly meaningful way.

To strengthen this connection to the hiyuli force, one practice is to visualize the constant renewal of creation. As we say in morning prayers: “Who renews the work of creation every day, continually”, we can picture the entire universe existing in a state of pure potential. We can then imagine G-d choosing, in His infinite kindness, to recreate the world moment by moment so that we may recognize His kingship and bring meaning to our existence in every place, time, and situation.

If we train ourselves to see the world as an ongoing expansion of divine goodness, we will be able to connect to that infinite good, and allow it to enter our own hearts.

Rabbi Yehuda Weingarten is the chairman of the Foundation of Chassidic Thought and director of the “Yesodot HaChinuch” educational network.