Community Member Response | Letting go of self-doubt means listening to my spirit. My neshama has always guided me; I am at my most authentic when I let it express itself through me. If I need to rest, I will not push myself. If I need to cry, I will not judge myself. Body and soul are my parents; they know what’s best for me. I’d like to replace judgment with curiosity moving forward. I am often a mystery to myself, and a lot of the time I don’t understand the way I behave. If a friend responded the way I did, with tears or indecisions, to a major life event or quandary, I wouldn’t judge them the way I judge myself. So why can’t I be more of a friend to myself? I am my own worst enemy, but I want to be my own best friend. Trusting my intuition, approaching myself with tenderness and curiosity – that’s how I need to be to become my truest self. I am not a faulty machine, but rather a glorious human being. If I can quiet my mind and let my neshama do its work, I know I will be in good hands. To be curious means, in a sense, to cede control, to no longer be attached to any fixed outcome. I am ready to let life surprise me. - Ariella C.

Community Member Response | If money wasn’t necessary I would continue to walk the path that my recovery has shown me. I am truly awarded with clarity through my healing process. This has allowed me to show up to the world in direct relationship to what I have defined as my intrinsic value - Integrity, Love, and Compassion.

This exercise is a reminder of the necessary reflection to stay accountable to my dreams. I feel it is impossible to stay accountable without reflection. Reflection leads to the steps necessary to make my dreams a reality. - Jeremy

Community Member Response | My dream for this year is to live a balanced life where I feel healthy, steady, and connected to the people around me. Just saying it out loud helps me stay focused on the little things, like working out, eating right, and taking care of my mental health. It keeps me grounded and reminds me to spend my time and energy on what actually matters, instead of getting caught up in distractions. By being clear about this, I feel more in sync with my goals for peace and happiness. It also pushes me to be more mindful and intentional in my everyday choices.

Community Member Response | During the days of judgement, we notice many people speaking publicly speaking about taking personal inventory and making amends on a personal level.

I was taught when speaking to others there are 2 points that help the message get through.

A) to speak to yourselves character traits  

b) to speak to a person because you care about them.

I care about other people so much that it gets in the way of my own spiritual path of getting closer to G-d. Because I stray and think about what people think about me, I forget that what other people think about me is none of my business.  

G-D is our father, we are His children, all He wants is for his children to love each other and care for each other- that is our responsibility. Once all the kids play nicely together then He will shower us with the gift of a beautiful year.

My goal is to teach by example, use the tools of recovery to teach by example. 1529 days- one day at a time.

- Moshe

Community Member Response | Honesty can often feel like a wonderful virtue in theory, but incredibly uncomfortable to practice.

If I’m being totally honest, I feel really heartbroken all the time. Heartbroken at the state of the world, heartbroken at how people treat each other, heartbroken that I’m not sure how things are going to turn out. I’ve been avoiding these feelings because they feel too heavy, and admitting them makes me feel vulnerable—like I’m holding too much to handle.

I’ve also been avoiding admitting that I sometimes feel powerless. I want to believe that I have control over my life and that I can make a difference, but there are days when I’m overwhelmed by doubt.

Facing these truths have actually been a relief. It’s like I’m finally allowing myself to exhale. By acknowledging my heartbreak and my fears, I’m not pretending anymore. I’m letting myself feel what I need to feel, without trying to bury it or push it away.

This kind of self-honesty has been the first step toward healing for me. It’s like shining a light on those dark corners of my mind, where I’ve hidden away all the emotions I didn’t want to face. I’m beginning to understand that I don’t have to have everything figured out to start feeling better. Just by being truthful with myself, I can start to let go of some of the weight I’ve been carrying. It’s not an instant fix, but it’s a step towards finding some peace and resilience amidst the uncertainty. Every day, a little bit freer.

Community Member Response | I recognize the actions I have to take to not spoil a good intention. It is one thing to think and write about truthful conversations and then another to actually have them. It takes putting away what I think ‘needs’ to be said and actually listening. Recovery has taught me repair is made through this process as well.

As I think about what it means to be in the middle of the 10 days of teshuva, I realize that true repair goes beyond just reflecting on what needs to be said—it requires the courage to take action. It’s about embracing humility, letting go of my ego, and being fully present in the conversation. This process of listening, learning, and growing through honest communication is where real transformation happens. I commit to having these truthful conversations, not just in thought, but through genuine connection and meaningful dialogue.

Community Member Response | In my teshuva process, I've been learning that owning my mistakes and seeking forgiveness not only allows the person I’ve hurt to heal, but it also grants me the possibility of being truly seen by another person, which can be deeply healing. Most of us tend to show others only the parts of ourselves we think will be accepted. The problem with that is that it gives us a superficial sense of approval that isn't actually nourishing, since it's not true acceptance of our entire selves. When I take responsibility for my actions and strive to make amends, I am giving someone the opportunity to see me in my vulnerability, not just in my strength, and when I am still met with connection and acceptance in those vulnerable moments, profound healing is possible. -Jordyn

Selah Team Response | We love this Values Clarifications Worksheet. It’s one of our favorite ways to really get in touch with our core values and set intentions moving forward.

Consider printing out the worksheet and taking 15 minutes to sit with it. We suggest holding a cup of tea and sitting in a comfortable seat.

Community Member Response | This year I am manifesting an abundance of self growth and learning. The practice of remaining teachable, as a student in life, is something that can escape me at times. This will be shown by setting time aside daily for learning.  Whether it’s honing a new skill or acquiring knowledge in areas I’m unfamiliar with.  

Accountability will come by offering a daily reflection on what I’ve learned or tried, and sharing it with someone I’ve identified to be my accountability partner. This year, I am committed to growth and knowledge.  I will fulfill this intention with a daily practice over the course of the new year. - Ben

Community Member Response | To keep my intentions front and center this year, I’m going to strengthen my daily practice of morning prayer (tefilah). For accountability, I’m going to share my intentions with a close friend and ask if they’ll check in with me once a month. I know that having someone else to talk things through with will help keep me motivated and on track.

Perhaps most importantly, I’m going to make sure to be in community with people who care about me once per week. At the end of a long day, when I can feel like I just want to watch TV and zone out, I will make the choice to be with community that pushes me to pursue my dreams.

-Arielle