One of the most awesome parts of our relationship with Hashem is that every single thing that happens to us, and everything we do – and don’t do – can be used as a tool to deepen that relationship and come closer to Him. The besht way to use our life experiences as tools to come closer to Hashem is through mindful intention. Some of these opportunities are obvious, and some are less so. The most obvious tools are mitzvos. When we pay attention to the mitzvah we are about to do, and prepare ourselves to perform the mitzvah as Hashem commanded – with the intention to bring honor to His name and deepen our relationship with Him – we are setting ourselves up for success. That mitzvah is far more likely to bring us feelings of closeness to Hashem, than one done mindlessly, out of habit.
What about when we avoid sinning? Does avoiding doing an aveirah bring us closer to Hashem? Of course it does! Here too, we can maximize this tool through mindful intention. For comparison, there is a “L’shem Yichud” people say before doing a mitzvah, where one can declare his/her intention to do the mitzvah for sake of Hashem. It goes something like this: “For the intention of the unification of the Name of the Holy One, Blessed is He, and His Presence, in awe and in love, to unify the Name Yud-Kei with Vav-Key in perfect unity…I am prepared and ready to perform the positive commandment of _________……”
Why not make a “L’Shem Yichud” before avoiding transgressing a mitzvas lo saaseh as well! If you are in a situation where you have a temptation to do something that is prohibited in the Torah, and, with the help of Hashem, you muster the self-control to overcome that yetzer hara, make a L’Shem Yichud! There can be many reasons we avoid a sin – maybe we’re afraid of getting caught, of ruining our relationships or our health or finances, but take advantage of this opportunity to use this tool. It doesn’t have to be from a formal text, but in your mind or using your own words, look up to Hashem and say: “Hashem, I did that for You! I was tempted, but I overcame my yetzer hara, and I will not violate your prohibitions!” The same way doing an action mitzvah is more powerful when done with intention, avoiding a sin is also more powerful when done with intention.
We can take this a step further. Our sages teach us that even the most mundane daily activities can be elevated to the status of a mitzvah when done for the right reason. Daily activities become daily mitzvos through the power of one simple thought – “I am doing this to serve my Creator.” I am sleeping, eating, and exercising to fulfill the Mitzvah of guarding my health so that I can serve my Creator. More accurately: “I am serving Hashem by sleeping, eating, and exercising.” The same applies to working, taking care of your family, paying your bills, going to the doctor, shopping for groceries, and so much more.
There is a statement of intention printed in some Siddurim before Shacharis that says that when one is on their way to shul to daven they should say: אני הולך לבית הכנסת לעבוד את בוראי יתברך שמו “I am going to shul to serve my Creator, blessed is His name.” This statement can be adapted to so many other things we do throughout the day, simply take out the word בית הכנסת / shul and then fill in the blank with the name of the place you are going or the action you are doing. I am going to ______to serve my Creator. I am going to Walmart to serve my Creator. I am going to clean my house to serve my Creator.
אני הולך ______ לעבוד את בוראי יתברך שמו
“I am going to _______ to serve my Creator, blessed is His name.”
This article was found in Nekuda Tova Issue 11.