10 Steps to Bring Order to Your Life

By Rabbi Brad Hirschfield

Passover begins Wednesday night (April 8, 2009) and will be observed by millions of people attending the most popular practice for American Jews, a ceremonial meal known as the seder. Seder means order. These 10 steps inspired by the steps that make up the traditional seder, can be used to bring order into your own life year round, whether you are Jewish or not. And in an increasingly chaotic world, that’s something worth sharing.

1. Live By Your Values

Begin each day by stating out loud, the one or two values that you try to live by. It can be a few more, but not many. Don’t worry if you are not always successful, these are the really big ideas that you hope guide everything you do.

2. Have a Physical Practice

Make a regular practice of doing something physical which makes you feel more capable of living in light of those values. It may be working out to build strength or endurance. And it might be a long hot bath which relaxes you.

3. Recognize Possibility

Try and find one small thing that reminds you of the fact that new possibilities are always around the corner.

4. Identify What Isn't Working

Allow yourself to identify what isn’t working in your life; what’s broken, while also holding on to the awareness that they are not the only things in your life. You might try identifying two things that are actually working for each thing that you identify as not.

5. Sharing Is Caring

Find time to talk about this stuff with someone about whom you care – someone with whom you can share your questions and even your answers.

6. Remember You Are Not Alone

Remember that you are not alone. Identify those who either already are, or could become, your partners in navigating through life. They may be family or friends, it might even be God. It could even be someone no longer physically with you, whose presence in your life is still very real.

7. Eat Well

Take time, at least once a week, to eat a really good meal – one that makes you feel special, and worthy of the success you most deeply desire. Try and share the meal with friends and make sure that you each share one thing you accomplished during the week.

8. Express Gratitude

Whether in private, to another individual, or in a group, express gratitude for what you already have, before each day ends. It can be a relationship, an experience, or even a thing.

9. Keep Your Head Up

Think about where you see evidence of things going well for others in the world, and reflect on how their success can bring you joy, and how it might inspire you to be more successful.

10. Think Good Thoughts

Before closing your eyes at the end of the day, focus on one hope that you have for tomorrow. If you can hope it, you can work toward it. And if you can work toward it, even if it never happens, it’s amazing how many good things will.

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