Guest Blogger Chana Rachel Schusterman: Deep Thinkers...

The Power of Using Our G-d Given Talents (and Helping Our Children Recognize Theirs)


There are twelve months in the Jewish calendar. The talent of THOUGHT  is the second, beginning with the month of Iyar (April-May).  

People who have this talent think about what they experience and see the big picture. They have overview.  They are naturally conceptual thinkers.  They have  sense of how to plan and they know the right time to share their insights.  People who have the talent of thought are particularly good at giving advice. They are people who think big.

We can be role models for our children by using this quality to be optimistic and by helping them to plan.  It is good to encourage your child’s talent when you see it.  When they share an idea or their understanding of how things work, you can support them by saying,  “I love the way you figured that out,” or “You really thought about that.  Good job,” or “Good thinking!”  

We can encourage our children (and ourselves) to be creative in their thinking, and to think big.

Tools for Developing Your Talent of Thought:
1.  Develop optimism about the future.  Let yourself think big.
2.  Don’t worry (not the talent of thought).  Give yourself some daily time to think deeply.
3.  When the time is right, share your insight with an understanding friend.

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 The Kabalah of Thought:
  The month of Iyar links Passover (in Nissan)  to Shavuot (in Sivan), the time of the Giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai.  This time is a time of working on ourselves day by day to become ready for receiving the Torah.

  For the 49 days between Passover and Shavuout, which is on the 50th day, we Count the Omer. (See chabad.org for more information.  My videos on this subject can also be found there.) Each day has its own specific way to work on our own personality traits.  In this way we overcome our old habits (which enslave us) and integrate freedom.
  
  The tribe which corresponds to the month of Iyar is Issachar.  He was a great Torah sage, even more than his brothers.  He calculated the Jewish calendar that has been used for
thousands of years to this very time.


Chana Rachel Schusterman is a Jewish spiritual counselor and coach. If you would like to contact her, please email me at Jewishmontessori18@gmail.com.