prayer, relaxation, sleep Speaking of the issue of lack of concentration in prayer, Rebbe Nachman said we should find one portion we can pray with true intent, and then try to eventually spread that intention to all the prayers. I think one can think of mitzvot observance in the same way. Even if you don't feel joy in doing most of the mitzvot, surely there's at least one mitzvah that you enjoy doing? Even hitbodedut is a mitzvah. And part of hitbodedut is relaxing and settling the mind through relaxation and meditation on God's love or greatness. I never realized the importance of this silent meditation in Breslov thought until I recently read some amazing passages by Reb Noson in The Tree That Stands Beyond Space: Rebbe Nachman on the Mystical Experience (by R' Dovid Sears). R' Zev Ballen also has some wonderful columns about relaxation techniques. In my experience, even a minute or so of such meditation can be produce a very nice joyful and spiritual feeling, and if it is repeated throughout the day (or in short prayers before mitzvot, as I've heard of R' Arush doing) this can have a big impact on one's day. However, I think a big obstacle to feeling joy (on my part and on the part of my people) is lack of enough sleep. It is very hard to feel happy about anything without enough sleep, but today with all the responsibilities and distractions people have, getting enough sleep seems to be rarer and rarer.

Speaking of the issue of lack of concentration in prayer, Rebbe Nachman said we should find one portion we can pray with true intent, and then try to eventually spread that intention to all the prayers. I think one can think of mitzvot observance in the same way. Even if you don't feel joy in doing most of the mitzvot, surely there's at least one mitzvah that you enjoy doing? Even hitbodedut is a mitzvah. And part of hitbodedut is relaxing and settling the mind through relaxation and meditation on God's love or greatness. I never realized the importance of this silent meditation in Breslov thought until I recently read some amazing passages by Reb Noson in The Tree That Stands Beyond Space: Rebbe Nachman on the Mystical Experience (by R' Dovid Sears). R' Zev Ballen also has some wonderful columns about relaxation techniques. In my experience, even a minute or so of such meditation can be produce a very nice joyful and spiritual feeling, and if it is repeated throughout the day (or in short prayers before mitzvot, as I've heard of R' Arush doing) this can have a big impact on one's day. However, I think a big obstacle to feeling joy (on my part and on the part of my people) is lack of enough sleep. It is very hard to feel happy about anything without enough sleep, but today with all the responsibilities and distractions people have, getting enough sleep seems to be rarer and rarer.