5516 —עצה על התגברות על מחשבות שליליות

B"H, 15 Sivan, 5717. Brooklyn.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In response to your letter in which you ask for advice on how to escape undesirable matters. It is known that first of all one must divert one's mind from the entire matter, even from its correction (see also Tzemach Tzedek Responsa, Shaar HaMiluim, Siman 62), and 'diverting the mind' means, as explained in many places in the Talmud, not to fight against it directly—which is also contrary to the idea of diverting the mind—but rather to turn one's attention to something else entirely. Since thought is always wandering, diversion is achieved by shifting one's thoughts completely elsewhere; how much better if it is toward the light of Torah, for even a little light dispels much darkness.

And since everything requires help from Heaven, then in addition to certainly being careful with Ezra's immersion, it is appropriate that every weekday before morning prayers you set aside some coins for charity—as our Sages said: "Rabbi Eliezer gave a coin to a poor person and then prayed"—and keep the three daily study sessions established by my revered father-in-law the Rebbe of blessed memory in Chumash, Tehillim, and Tanya, which are known as remedies for many matters.

It is understood that all of the above should be done without making a vow, as is customary among Jews today; this is clear from what is written in Likkutei Torah Parshas Matos on the discourses about vows and in Sefer HaMitzvos by Tzemach Tzedek regarding the mitzvah of vows.

With blessing,
In the name of my revered father-in-law the Rebbe shlita,
Secretary

Summary

The Rebbe teaches that overcoming negative thoughts requires redirecting one's focus—ideally toward Torah—and taking practical steps like daily charity and study routines. This approach should be adopted without making vows.