The middah of hod is represented by the left foot, which is generally the weaker foot. We often associate weakness as failure, but it can also be a middah we learn a lot from. When we feel weak, it helps keep us humble and reminds us of who the true Source of strength is.
Pesach Sheini falls out in the beginning of this week, and just like those who were too weak to travel to bring the Korbon Pesach were given a second chance, we are reminded to give those who are struggling the chance to get closer to Hashem as well.
DAY 29 חסד שבהוד
Like every character trait, humility that isn’t balanced can lead in the wrong direction. When we bring chesed into our hod we internalize that even if we feel small and humble, we have it within us to be givers, and to allow our humility to hold us back from positive action.
Another aspect of bringing kindness to a place of humility is that we tend to be pulled towards the most inviting places, such as the bright and happy parts of ourselves, or to hang out with the fun / cool people. Our avodah is to introduce chesed to the humble, less glamorous parts of ourselves and others. Find the dark and light it up!
- Can I help people even in areas that I don’t think I’m so good at?
- Which darker parts of myself do I tend to ignore?
DAY 30 גבורה שבהוד
We often try to distance ourselves from our weaker parts. Gevurah within hod gives us the strength to embrace who we are, and work with our weaker parts rather than trying to avoid them.
- Do I avoid thinking about my mistakes?
- Can I find the strength to love and work on myself despite my flaws?
DAY 31 תפארת שבהוד
Sometimes we zoom in and focus on our flaws with too narrow of a perspective. Tiferes within hod gives us the ability to zoom out, and look at ourselves in a broader and more balanced way. You may be surprised to see that within the bigger picture of yourself, your flaw isn’t as bad as you thought, and you may notice that your strengths and flaws fit together to create a beautiful symphony. Even as you work to improve, every part of you is an important part of you, and even your weaknesses help build your strengths.
- Zoom out, and look at yourself in a broader and more balanced way. Can you see the harmony of your strengths and weaknesses?
DAY 32 נצח שבהוד
We usually feel strong when we win, and we enjoy the feeling of victory (Netzach). Netzach within hod teaches us that sometimes the greatest victory is to have the humility to let someone else win, and to let them feel victorious.
- Think about a time when you let someone else win, or when you kept quiet when someone said something unkind to you. Can you see how that is the ultimate victory?
DAY 33 הוד שבהוד
Hod within hod represents the weakest parts of us. But the word hod also means glory and splendor. Sometimes it is how we navigate the lowest parts of ourselves that brings us the most splendor in the eyes of Hashem. We may feel proud of our great accomplishments, and humble and weak about the battles we fight that we don’t even feel we are winning, but Hashem may see it the opposite way, and be filled with pride over our attempts to improve even when it seems hopeless.
- How do I feel after making a mistake?
- Can I see my ‘low battles’ in the way Hashem sees them?
DAY 34 יסוד שבהוד
Oftentimes even our strongest motivation wears away, and we find ourselves feeling weak and unmotivated to finish the work that we’ve started. Yesod represents an inner connection, and yesod within hod is the ability to use an inner strength to remain connected and focused even when we feel unmotivated and weak.
- Which of my weaknesses do I use as an excuse to avoid getting the job done?
- How can I push through when I lose motivation?
DAY 35 מלכות שבהוד
Humility (hod) seems like a contradiction to malchus, which represents Kingship and authority. But true malchus isn’t something you give yourself. You need to be crowned as king by others. Malchus within hod teaches us that true Malchus comes from hod. When we are humble before Hashem we achieve our greatest levels, and the pathway to influencing others for good is not from asserting control but rather by interacting with others with humility and patience.
- Is greatness achieved through assertively trying to “be great,” or is greatness better achieved through humility?
This article was found in Nekuda Tova Issue 79 – Lag Ba’omer.