The Spiritual Practice of Good Actions: Finding Balance through the Soul Traits of Mussar

Followers of the Kabbalah will be intrigued by this introduction to Mussar, an enlightening practice with Jewish spiritual roots that provides instructions for elevating oneself in the eyes of God by making one small change at a time. After taking an online course titled "Everyday Holiness," Marcus was inspired to teach Mussar, attesting that it helped him recognize his weaknesses and overcome them. "What makes you tick?" and "What are the things inside that make you act the way you do?" are some of the questions that the Mussar technique proposes for those looking within. The fun and entertaining exercises begin with a self-evaluation of soul traits such as humility, enthusiasm, silence, and awe of God's majesty. The approach notably has doable, helpful suggestions for bringing each soul trait into balance within two weeks. For example, if patience is a challenge, one might choose to speak less throughout the day. Mussar is geared towards a Jewish audience, but (except for the word Mussar) Marcus has chosen not to use the Hebrew text, and anyone wishing to become a more compassionate individual will benefit from this course. Agent: Jeff Herman, Jeff Herman Agency. (Sept.)