Echoes of Elul, Day 15: Awareness

By Donna Wolffe

When we first become aware of a problem, a situation, or a feeling, we may react with anxiety or fear. There is no need to fear awareness. No need.
Awareness is the first step toward positive change and growth. It’s the first step toward solving the problem, or getting the need met, the first step toward the future. It’s how we focus on the next lesson.

Awareness is how life, the Universe, and our Higher Power get our attention and prepare us for change. The process of becoming changed begins with awareness. Awareness, acceptance and change—that’s the cycle. We can accept the temporary discomfort that comes from awareness because that’s how we’re moved to a better place … and because we can trust God, and ourselves.

Today I will be grateful for any awareness I encounter. I will display gratitude, peace and dignity when life gets my attention. I will remember that … I can trust that it’s my Higher Power moving me forward.

This piece is from Melody Beattie’s book The Language of Letting Go. It spoke to me, Donna Wolffe, because Elul is a time for reflection on where we have been and where we are going. I hope you will also find this insight helpful as our congregation begins the Jewish New Year of 5781. We pray for awareness of our need to make healing changes and to move our community forward together.