We Are All Important Pieces Of The Puzzle

Some of our primary aspirations in life are to attain a state of inner peace and a harmonious relationship with others. The principal cause of all internal tensions and conflicts is that we are all very complicated creatures.

Humanity is made up of a great variety of personality traits. Our hearts are constantly full of many different feelings. Often they compete to dominate the others who are pulling in a different direction.

This dynamic is similar in terms of society in general. As our sages say, “No two minds are alike, just as no two faces are alike.” (Berachot 58a).

The principal challenge of life is how to integrate the opposing forces which are rooted in our nature into a harmonious whole.

The good news is that we all share one unique characteristic. The mystics identify this special quality as ‘Tiferet’.

No word accurately captures its potency. Its unique character resides in its ability to unify opposite forces. Words such as «harmony» and «peace» are used. However, they too are inadequate.

One can access this trait only by transcending oneself, by releasing the hold that any particular emotion has on us. At all times we must be able to create space in our hearts to enable this transcendent power to shine its light. This energy allows us to focus upon the “Whole which is greater than the sum of its parts.” (Aristotle)

Every feature is just one component in our human psyche. For us to operate in a healthy manor, each emotion must have its time, place and degree of intensity.

We can only do this if we constantly focus on something greater than ourselves. This will allow us to moderate the intensity of a particular emotion at any given time.

The same principle applies in our relationships with others, no matter with whom we interact and engage. There are people who are different from us, whether it is their personality, their character traits or their opinions on matters that are close to our hearts.

We must always remember that at the end of the day, each and every one of us is only one piece of a vast puzzle. It is both futile and foolish to overstate our importance and our contribution to the overall situation.

We need to acknowledge both the strengths and weaknesses within us. It's equally important to fully appreciate the unique qualities and limitations of others.

Only then are we on the right track, where we can genuinely and willingly collaborate with each and every individual. This will enable us to fulfill our collective mission to make this world a better place for all humanity.