Stop Complaining: Embrace the Good Around You

We often complain and hear many around us doing the same because we are accustomed to a culture pushing us toward maximal, unnatural achievement and materialism, with insatiable expectations of ourselves and life. Western culture ties our self-worth to a successful career, wealth accumulation, fame, and shiny cars. A person's value is measured by their salary or the number of "likes" they receive, rather than who they truly are. Due to this misleading culture, many don't know how to love and appreciate the good in themselves and, like a mirror reflecting back at them, struggle to value and love the abundant good in the world.

It's a fact that the world is mostly outwardly good: most people are not sick, not starving, and not living on the streets, but instead enjoy an abundance of reality. We enjoy the sights of nature, tastes, and aromas, music, love, friendships, wisdom, laughter, and more, to the point that we can't even count them all. Whether we notice it or not, we've received countless gifts that reflect the goodwill of Hashem.

In our bodies, we can count organs and parts that provide not just utility but also immense pleasure: eyes, ears, nose, tongue, hands, legs, fingers, and more. These things are very good in our eyes, for who would be willing to trade their sight or hearing for money? Who would give up their hands, legs, or even teeth? For example, how convenient it is that we have vocal cords, a tongue, and lips, allowing us to easily express our wishes and thoughts through speech. Without them, we would be mute.

These gifts are worth a fortune − more than anything anyone else could ever give us.

Even very small gifts greatly enhance our quality of life. For instance, try tying your thumbs for a day and see how you manage without them, or try not using your fingernails for an entire day − you will find it's a very challenging task. But who among us has thought to be thankful for a thumb or a fingernail?

Hashem created goodness within human hearts too: love for parents, spouses, children, friends, the people, and life. We've been given empathy and the ability to feel compassion and help others. A world of kindness will be built! Within us all exists an inner desire for good, peace, and happiness, which teaches us about our good purpose. And for all these, Hashem gave us − the people of Israel − the Torah, to guide us on the path of goodness and lead us to a world that is all good.

How Do We Connect to the True Reality?

To do this, we must get used to complaining less and make a regular habit to thank Hashem every day for the many gifts He gives us − for the peace and comfort in our lives, for our health, for our family and friends, and above all, for the privilege to grow in Torah and mitzvot. From gratitude, we will achieve love for reality, love for ourselves, and most importantly, love for Hashem.