TEN
STEPS TO GREATNESS
By
Rav Avigdor Miller ZTK"L
S
T E P O N E
Spend at least 30 seconds each day thinking about the WORLD TO COME -Olam Haba -
and that we are in this world only as a preperation for the world to come. This
is the purpose of life.
S
T E P T W O
Spend a few seconds each day in a private place and say to Hashem "I LOVE
YOU HASHEM." You will be fulfilling a positive commandment from the Torah.
This will kindle a fire in your heart and will have a powerful effect on your
character. Your exteriority bestirs your interiority. Hashem is listening. He
loves you much more than you love him.
S
T E P T H R E E
Every day do one act of kindness that no one knows about, in secrecy. Have
intention beforehand that you are doing this in order to fulfill your program to
greatness. The practice of doing acts of kindliness - Gemilut Hasadim - is one
of the three most important functions in the world. Examples: If you are
the first one in the Beit Hamidrash, put the books in the proper order and
place. If your wife is not in the kitchen, clean a few dishes or straighten up
for her without her knowing. If you should see something potentially dangerous
on the sidewalk, clear it off to the side so no one will get hurt.
S
T E P F O U R
Encourage someone every day. "HASHEM ENCOURAGES THE HUMBLE." Have in
mind you are doing it because of the program. Anonymous letters of kindness can
do a great deal of good to encourage people.
S
T E P F I V E
Spend one minute a day thinking about what happened yesterday. "Let us
search out our ways and investigate." Everyone should have his mind on what
he is doing - by reviewing yesterday's actions daily.
S
T E P S I X
Make all your actions for the purpose of Heaven. Say it once a day. Example:
"I am doing this in order to be more aware of Hashem."
S
T E P S E V E N
Be aware of the principle - "Man was created in the image of Hashem."
Every human face is a reflection of Hashem. Your face is like a screen and your
soul like a projector which projects on your face the glory of the human soul
which has in it the greatness of Hashem. Once a day pick a face and think
"I am seeing the image of Hashem." You will begin to understand the
endless nobility of a face.
S
T E P E I G H T
Once a day give a person a full smile. Just as Hashem shines on us, we should
smile on others. Smile because Hashem wants you to, even though you really don't
want to. When you smile have intentions that you are doing it for the purpose of
coming closer to Hashem through the Ten Steps To Greatness.
S T E P N I N E
"Hashem clothes the naked." Clothing is a testament to the nobility of
man. Man is unique - has free will, has a soul, made in the image of Hashem.
Even Angels are beneath man in greatness. To demonstrate the superiority of
mankind, we must be
