Don’t Grab the Socks

Welcome back to the Living the Dream newsletter!

If you’re not subscribed yet, what are you waiting for?

If you’ve been following, you know that last August, I made a shift.

After years in the business world, I stepped into something new — creating content rooted in Torah, growth, and real life.

The plan was simple: document the journey, share what I’m learning, and help others grow through the same challenges I’ve faced — and still face.

Like many of you, I’ve been through a lot.

But I believe every struggle had a purpose. Hashem put me through it so I could become someone who gets it. Someone who can help. Who can feel other people’s pain. Who can offer ideas, solutions, perspective — or just be the guy who says, “You’re not crazy. You’re not alone. Hashem’s got you.”

That’s what drives this newsletter. That’s what fuels the videos, courses, daily programs, and weekly Torah I share.

It’s been an incredible journey — but it’s also been messy, unpredictable, and humbling.

Because the truth is, building a mission is like jumping out of a plane and trying to build a parachute on the way down. You start with a vision… and then reality pushes you to grow in ways you never planned.

I started with a blog. Then came this newsletter. Then came videos. Then daily prompts. Then weekly series. Then courses. Then challenges.

And with my ADHD, having regular deadlines actually helps. It gives me structure. It forces movement.

But some weeks, I catch myself.

I realize I’m spending more time keeping up… than building forward.

I’m creating — but not always growing.

And that’s why I’m writing this today.

Because I don’t want to just do good work — I want to grow this into something that reaches and helps tens of thousands of Jews around the world.

And to do that, I need your help.

If this newsletter inspires you…
If you’ve gained from any of the courses or content…
If you believe in the mission of spreading Torah, clarity, Bitachon, and purpose…

Please share it.
Invite someone to sign up.
Forward it to a friend.
Like, comment, repost.

You never know who’s waiting for exactly this kind of message. And the ripple effect of one person sharing Torah?

Unmeasurable.

All the best,
Amir

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Now, let’s jump into this week’s message.

Don’t Grab the Socks: Waking Up to What Really Matters

A man walks into Macy’s and wins a 10-minute shopping spree.

The doors open, the countdown starts… and he takes off running.

But instead of heading for the jewelry or electronics, he wastes time and gets distracted picking things up along the way like grabbing socks, gum, and cheap T-shirts.

By the time his 10 minutes are up, he’s holding a basket full of nothing.

He could’ve left with treasures. Instead, he left with clutter.

This is based on a story told by Rabbi Benzion Klatzko, and I’ve never forgotten the punchline:

Life is your shopping spree. Are you chasing what matters… or just reacting to what’s in front of you?

The Silent Danger: Living on Autopilot

We all say we want to live intentionally.

But most of us are running. Fast. Through days, weeks, months, even years… on autopilot.

We wake up, check our phones, deal with tasks, handle what’s urgent.

We live in survival mode and call it productivity.

Maybe we plan a month or two ahead. If we’re really organized, we plan our year.

But here’s the scary truth:

You can build a beautiful life… and completely miss the point.

The Torah’s Definition of Wisdom

What does the Torah call wisdom?

“Chacham einav b’rosho” — A wise man’s eyes are in his head.

“Eizehu chacham? Ha’roeh et hanolad”.  Who is wise? One who sees what is born of their actions.

Not just what’s happening now, but where it leads.

Wisdom means zooming out.

It means stepping outside your own life to ask:

• What am I really building?

• What’s this all leading to?

• Am I aligned with my true mission… or just busy?

If today repeated every day for the next year, would I like where I ended up?

Autopilot Trap #1: Busy… But Not Building

When I first started this journey last August, I didn’t have a roadmap.

I was experimenting — figuring out what would resonate, what would help, what would stick.

I started blogging.
Then came the newsletter.
Then Parsha videos, Mashal Monday, Geula Corner.
4-Minute Gratitude. Habitachon.
Courses. Challenges. Content, content, content.

And Baruch Hashem — people responded.
They shared how much it helped them. They looked forward to it. They came back for more.

But then something hit me:

I could keep doing all of this — and still end the year in the exact same place.

If I only focus on creating and posting my regulars, I’ll be productive… but I won’t be progressing.

I’ll have helped people — which is real and meaningful.

But my mission isn’t just to help some people.
It’s to grow. To scale. To reach and uplift many more lives.

And that requires more than content — it requires clarity, vision, and strategic action.

It’s not enough to work hard.
You have to work aligned.

The daily and weekly content matters. But if I lose sight of my long-term goals… I’ll end up with 365 pieces of content and no real movement.

So now, every week, I ask:

Am I doing what’s urgent… or what moves the mission forward?

Because clarity doesn’t come from motion.
It comes from intention.

Autopilot Trap #2: Settling for “Almost There”

I see it all the time — people taking selfies on Har Habayit, smiling in front of the golden dome.

And there’s something inside me that stirs… a quiet voice saying, “This isn’t it. We’re not there yet.”

It’s incredible that after 2,000 years, we’ve made it this far.
That we can stand so close to the holiest place on Earth.
That we can daven within reach of the greatest kedusha.
That’s a gift — and we should never take it for granted.

But we also can’t get used to it.

We can’t convince ourselves that we’ve arrived… when the journey isn’t over.

Because the goal was never just to get close.

The goal is the Beit Hamikdash. Bringing back the Shechina.

The Kotel is beautiful. Holy. Powerful.

But it’s not the destination.

We weren’t meant to settle for “almost there.”
We were meant to rebuild everything.

We’ve Mastered Survival. But Forgotten the Dream.

Throughout history, we’ve been exiled again and again.

And every time, we rebuild:

Shuls. Yeshivas. Mikvas. Communities.

We adapt. We thrive. We survive with strength.

But then… we get comfortable.

And here’s the danger:

In halacha, l’chatchila means the ideal: what we’re supposed to aim for.
Bedieved means after the fact, what we settle for when the ideal didn’t happen.

Spiritually, we’ve done the same thing.

We take our bedieved life, exile, separation, second-best…
And we start treating it like it’s l’chatchila. Like this was the goal all along.

And when the real l’chatchila finally shows up, geula, the true redemption…
We might not even recognize it.

What’s worse than missing the dream? Forgetting you ever had one.

Autopilot Trap #3: Hoping When We Should Be Planning

Recently, in New York City, a socialist antisemite won the Democratic primary for mayor.

Many Jews are shocked. People are launching counter-campaigns. Investigations. Appeals.

But they’re missing the real wake-up call:

Even if this guy loses — millions voted for him.

The culture has shifted.

The values are gone.

The city isn’t what it was, and it’s not going back.

And yet, so many people are still clinging to comfort.

Still hoping it’ll all blow over.

Still asleep.

It’s All the Same Pattern

Whether it’s your schedule, your spirituality, or your safety…

Autopilot living is the same trap everywhere.

We get caught in the day-to-day.
We settle for comfort.
We ignore the signs.

Until one day, Hashem sends us a wake-up call.

And then another.

And then another.

But if we’re not looking, if we’re not ready… we miss them.

Or worse, we pretend we didn’t see.

The Wake-Up Tool: Bitachon

When you live with Bitachon, you stop reacting.

You stop panicking.

You stop clinging to false comfort.

You zoom out. You align. You build.

Bitachon keeps your feet grounded and your eyes forward.

It’s not just for emergencies. It’s a way of life.

“Bitachon isn’t just for breakdowns — it’s for builders.”

That’s why I created the 7 Days to Unshakable Bitachon course.

And here’s what one person said just days in:

“Thank you! I’m really enjoying and learning so much so far! I think this was the missing link for me — not knowing where and how to start.”

If you’ve ever felt stuck, unsure, or spiritually scattered…

This is your first step back to clarity.

Final Questions

• Am I living with vision or just reacting?
  

• Am I aligning my days with my destiny or just checking boxes?
  

• Have I confused survival with success?
  

• If Moshiach came tomorrow… would I even notice?
  

Because life is your shopping spree.

And every day, you’re running.

Just make sure you’re not grabbing socks while the diamonds wait in the back.

🛠️ Practical Tips: How to Snap Out of Autopilot and Start Living Aligned

1. Ask yourself every morning:
   “If today repeated for a year — where would I end up?”
   This keeps your daily actions aligned with your ultimate goals.

2. Keep a “Macro Goals” list visible.
   Write down your big spiritual, personal, and business goals. Post them where you can see them. Don’t let the daily noise drown out your real direction.

3. Schedule one weekly “builder block.”
   Reserve at least 1 hour each week for actions that grow your future — not maintain your present. No maintenance mode here.

4. Stop treating your exile like redemption.
   Whether it’s your mindset, your habits, or your surroundings — don’t get too comfortable in the “almost there.” Keep your soul pointed toward the real geula.

5. Practice Bitachon intentionally.
   Bitachon is what lets you zoom out without fear. Say it aloud:
   “Hashem is guiding me. I can build with calm, not chaos.”

🧱 This Week’s Challenge:

Step outside your life. Literally.

Take 20 minutes this week — phone off, no distractions — and go somewhere quiet. A park, a bench, a walk.

Look at your life like an outsider.

Ask yourself:

• What am I really building?

• What’s been guiding my choices — vision or survival?

• Am I chasing socks at the front of the store… or running toward the diamonds?

Then write down one shift you will make this week to align with your true goal.

🌟 Join the Mission — Let’s Grow Together

If my content has sparked something in you — a new perspective, a deeper connection, a desire to grow — then let’s take the next step together.

This isn’t just about consuming inspiration. It’s about living it. And helping others do the same.

Here’s how you can be part of it:

✅ Start Your Growth Journey

Simple, soul-centered tools to help you grow closer to Hashem, build stronger habits, and become the person you were created to be:

Thank you for being on this journey with me.
Every week, every message, every step forward. We’re building something bigger than ourselves.
Let’s keep growing, keep trusting, and keep running toward what really matters.

With appreciation and Bitachon,
-Amir