I think I finally got it – yes I have written about it – but as Chassidus teaches, there is a fundamental difference between hearing and understanding – We all know that Kabbalah and Chassidus teach there are three primary states, in which all people fall – this really is critical, as it encompasses everyone! The first would be who we are when there is security (many in America and other liberal democracies which provide both emotional and physical security) this is the state of instincts, love (loving what the instincts love – one can see this clearly in dogs, where as long as they have security they will be loving – again instincts – it isn’t rational, rather we are social creatures coupled with all other natural loves, eating, sex etc. etc.) however if life is insecure, the mind cannot be open; instead of focusing on what we want, we are now focused on what we don’t! want (for example, if someone gets a phobia of people, their mind is focused on not getting shamed, hence they can become perfectionists – the mind is making them do everything perfectly as in this way it makes the person think that they will not get shamed – if there is a fear of lack of money this will motivate a person to work etc. etc.) both these states are obviously far from ideal, for one, a person acts like a dog the other like a cat (for when our motive is self-preservation we cannot love, as we are focused on not getting hurt – the mind literally physiologically shuts down) but there is the way which is mentioned in this week’s Torah portion and that is Lech Licha let go of your desires (for ultimately, even fear is tied into desire, for it is connected to not wanting something bad – something you believe will be painful or cause shame to happen – and trust God and follow him unconditionally