How to Battle Bad Feelings

his fall, Rabbi Shalom Ber Prus of Beth Menachem Chabad in will offer Worrier to Warrior, a new six-session course by the acclaimed Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI), to help people deal with life challenges by accepting themselves and finding meaning in adversity.

Beginning Tuesday, November 12th, participants in the course will take on life’s challenges by examining factors that prevent us from achieving a more positive outlook—guilt, shame, and fear of in-authenticity—in light of the notion that a purposeful life provides the key to well-being.

“We all face challenges in life, whether physical, professional, familial, social or otherwise,” said Rabbi Shalom Ber Prus of Beth Menachem Chabad, “How we deal with these issues is crucial for our ability to achieve lasting satisfaction in life. By finding meaning in personal troubles—seeing them as opportunities—we come to accept ourselves and are emboldened in finding the path forward.”

Worrier to Warrior combines positive psychology with Jewish wisdom to explore questions such as: Is there a meaning to life that makes even our difficulties meaningful? Am I just what happens to me or do I have a deeper core? How can I get off the “Hedonic Treadmill,” the sense that even life’s successes ring hollow?

Professor Steven M. Southwick (MD) of the Department of Psychiatry at the Yale University School of Medicine has endorsed the course: “It is well-known that positive emotions rest at the heart of overall well-being and happiness. But how to effectively enhance positive emotion remains challenging. Worrier to Warrior approaches this challenge from an insightful perspective grounded in contemporary psychology and Jewish literature. …this is an exciting and very impressive course unlike any I have seen.”

Worrier to Warrior is accredited in Massachusetts for mental health professionals seeking to fulfill their continuting education requirements (CEU). Like all JLI programs, this course is designed to appeal to people at all levels of knowledge, including those without any prior experience or background in Jewish learning. All JLI courses are open to the public, and attendees need not be affiliated with a particular synagogue, temple, or other house of worship.

Interested students may call 617-244-1200 or visit www.jewishnewton.com/JLI for registration and for other course-related information.