Shabbat and emotional Wellbeing - How one weekly day can transform our entire week

We are all aware of the big spiritual blessings that come with shabbat observance and practices. Besides for being of foremost importance in jewish tradition and rituals, shabbat has enormous benefits both for our physical and mental well-being. Taking a day off every single week where technology is not used, intense physical exercise is not done and any difficult work is avoided, allows us to tap into deeper places which are becoming increasingly inaccessible in todays technologically focused and sometimes obsessed world. These deeper places include family connections, deeeper, more heartfelt prayers and space and time for meditation.

Often however even without all the technology and work, certain activities and events on shabbat can become distracting and take us away from it's true essence and importance - recharging and reconnectio nto G-d. Too much social interaction can lead to arguments, gossip and improper conduct, too much food can make us feel less spiritually connected, which is why we must always strive to not just assess our level of  shabbat observance as halacha requires, but also our spiritual and emotional connection to it . Are we using the day to its fullest potential ? Is the shabbat we are observing and resting on, going to make the upcoming week, deeper, more spiritual, holier, healthier and more peaceful ?

Yes shabbat is one day from a week of sevenm, however it is 25 hours long and throughout these sacred hours, which as it is comes with special blessings, not least because we have an additional soul during this day, there is so much time to nurture connection, love, freedom and grow in what's most important. This growth during each and every shabbat will surely increase our spiritualirty throughout the entire week making the mundane holy and the routine exciting.

• Anxiety
• Eating disorders & disordered eating
• Emotion regulation
• Life purpose and meaning