The Torah states, “I am black and beautiful” (Songs of Songs 1:5). Black is one of the most majestic of colors. It portrays simplicity while radiating depth. It bespeaks inner beauty while presenting an aura of mystery and suspense. Black is unique in that, whereas it absorbs all colors and therefore has the positive energy of all the colors, essentially it represents the absence of color. For black represents pure negation, the ability to set oneself aside and to be able to receive from others without feeling degraded.

As such, black is the pathway to true acceptance. The highest level of connection to which a human being can aspire is the level of true acceptance. Moses was the greatest of all prophets because he was God’s faithful servant. His sole desire was to do the will of God. The ability to accept what life sends our way, without feeling angry, depressed or out of balance, is the sign of true spiritual perfection. The ability to accept our family members and friends just as they are, without being judgmental or negative, without focusing on their faults, is the source of truly harmonious relationships, as Solomon, wisest of all men, wrote, “Just as water reflects the face one shows it, so too one’s heart reflects the feelings of one’s friend” (Proverbs 27:19). The ability to accept ourselves, to be totally open to ourselves and to the good within us, to flow with all our talents and capabilities while remaining responsible, refreshed and aware of our infinite potential, is the zenith of personal self-development.

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Perhaps one of the most important states an individual can achieve is one in which he or she is able to be stable, consistent and totally focused in all area of life and learning experiences. The need for focus and clarity is universal, whether it be for a child who needs to stay focused in class, for someone praying before his Creator, who wishes to truly express himself, or for a speaker who wants to present his message with clarity. When we are focused we can be totally present, with all our talents and abilities, utilizing them to the utmost to create fulfillment and prosperity. When we are focused on the good, both in life and in others, we can accept whatever negativity comes our way without losing our inner balance, thereby enjoying an energetic state of inner peace and quiet. We can give to others without fear that we will lose out or that others will take advantage of us. And we can risk success without undue fear.

The way to achieve focus and reliability is to connect to earth-energy. Every day we pray to G-d, “May my soul be like earth before you!” The earth is a total giver, with no hidden agendas. Though people plow her, mine her, pollute her and step on her without a second thought, the earth continues to provide her inhabitants with fruits and grains, metals and woods, places to live and to do business. The earth is totally humble, yet it is through the earth that God dispenses all the good that man enjoys.

The color brown is ideal for connecting to balanced earth-energy. Brown is warm, deep, rich and inviting. Connecting to brown allows us to become truly humble and leads us to true forgiveness – of ourselves and of others – allowing us to let go of negative episodes from our past without constant recrimination, and to move on and flow with harmony to enjoy all the good that God bestows on us constantly.

The following visualization is designed to help you create balance and focus in your life.

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Possessions are an extremely important part of our lives; in fact, we spend the greater part of our lives trying to obtain them. We run after money in order to have food, clothing, housing, transportation and anything else we need. If we are spiritually oriented, we want to pursue the study of Torah and fulfillment of the commandments, and we want to balance our relationships with others. We seek a spouse, children and a fine reputation. Even the Talmud teaches that a beautiful wife, a beautiful home and beautiful possessions expand the consciousness of man (Brachot 57b).

God gives us possessions to help us actualize ourselves and to fulfill our mission in life. We have both physical possessions (such as a house and car) and spiritual possessions (the Torah we have studied and integrated within ourselves); we have emotional possessions (our openness to feel the next person), cognitive possessions (our mental ability to absorb concepts) and potential possessions (our ability to tune into and draw from our infinite positive potential).

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A positive perception of ourselves, our family members and every individual we encounter throughout our lives is one of the most important perspectives we need to obtain. We are taught that the way we perceive others is also the way they will perceive us. If we cannot see the good in ourselves, there is no question that we won’t see the good in others. The Torah’s injunction to love your friend as you love yourself (Leviticus 19:18) implies that the extent to which you love and appreciate yourself is the extent to which you are able to love your friend.

A positive self-perception lets us enjoy the position life hands us without getting hung up on what’s happening with our neighbor. With positive self-perception we can appreciate what we have achieved in life, so we can do the best we can and be grateful for every small kindness we receive from others. The color pink is ideal for helping us create a positive self-image. Pink is gentle, inculcating in us positive feelings of self-encouragement and satisfaction. It helps us stay healthy and in the pink by enabling us to maintain a positive perspective that attunes us to the sweetness of life.

The following visualization is designed to help you create a positive self-image.

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