There is a beast inside. It awaits a human soul to tame it.

Start with meditation and prayer, because that beast inside needs to experience something beyond itself.

But in prayer and meditation you have not yet met that beast on its own ground.

So next, eat your breakfast like a human being is meant to eat—a step higher than the food you consume, raising it up rather than letting it pull you down.

Then, yes, you have met your human beast on its own ground. But not on its own terms. You are still fighting against its desire to be pulled down into its food.

So then go out into the world and provide goods and services of value, and do that with integrity. At this point, the beast says, “You're on my territory now, and on my terms, Mr. Soul. I'm the one who knows this game.”

Now you can no longer fight against the human beast. You have to work from within it, with all the talents and skills it has. Because if you don't, you won't be providing the value for which others are paying. And that is not integrity.

That is why the very first question asked of the soul when it returns from its mission in this world is not “Did you pray?” but “Did you do business with integrity?”

For that is when you truly made your dent in this vicious world.

Adapted from Rabbi Tzvi Freeman, Chabad.org

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