The basic form of gratitude is counting your blessings-something good happens in our life we notice it and thank G-D for it.

This week's Torah Portion introduces another way to spice up our gratitude: Looking at the Before and After in life. Notice how your life was before you received the gift and after, see how much better life is.

This week we learn how the jews were counted. One of the reasons given is for the jews to reflect how far they came in such a short time. Going from a nation of 70 to over 600,000.

There was a pauper who one day struck it rich. Every year on the anniversary of the windfall he would make a huge party inviting the whole city. Besides for having the best food and drink with a band for everyone to enjoy, he had this custom where he put on the rags from the days from when he was a pauper. This was to remind him of his past and how his life changed in such an extreme way.

So the next time we have what to be grateful for, instead of just noticing the good we received, add to that reflecting on how much our life has been transformed for the better because of the gift that was given to us.

Idea based on a Ramban on Parshas Bamidbar

Restrictions don't just have to be stifling they can also be dignifying.

Most of us associate prohibitions as something which deprives us of a life of freedom. Like, why cant I just do what i want?!

If you were to observe the lifestyle of King Charles , it will appear to you as if the king has no freedom. He cant bring muddy boots into the palace, He always has to dress perfectly. Such a lifestyle seems unbreathable.

But you know that the King's life is far from a stifling life, so how do you make sense of your observation?

The answer is, royalty demands higher standards. When the Royal Family avoids junk foods its not because they're depriving themselves , its because they appreciate living a more aristocratic life

Same with our spirituality, we are choosing to live a regal life by staying away from spiritually harmful behaviors. We are a higher class and appreciate finer things. We realize who we are.

With this perspective in mind, the next time we encounter a prohibition in our life ,instead of focusing on how annoying it is that I can't engage in the behavior we can instead see it as an opportunity to recognize my inner royalty.

Idea based on Ohr HaChaim on Parshas Emor

There are 2 prohibitions in the Torah that both talk about making changes to the body yet are written differently.

When the Torah prohibits cutting your body in agony over the loss of a relative it says "you shall not make a cut in your "flesh""(Leviticus 19-28)

In the same verse when it prohibits tattooing oneself it says "a tattoo you shall not place on yourselves"" .It does not say on your "flesh"

Why the different wording ?

The Ohr HaChaim explains, the Creator in his great compassion takes into account the mourner's distress and lessens the spiritual damage that this sin causes. The word "flesh" implies the effect of the sin is only external.

Whereas by tattoo a person usually not under distress so the Torah says ,don't cause damage to "yourselves". By doing the sin with full composure one's sin is causing damage to "yourselves" - your inner essence.

2 things that I took out of this Ohr HaChaim:

#1: We see that if the Creator takes into account our pain and distress and lessens the spiritual damage that it causes , then surely if we don't give into the urge and pass the test or we do Mitzvos even when we are in distress than surely we get tremendous reward. As our Sages tell us "depending on the pain/effort that's how much reward". And "One act in pain is better than 100 acts without".

#2: If the Creator takes into consideration our full picture ,then we should do that for our friends. When our friend wrongs us instead of writing him off as an evil, insensitive person, we could look at his full picture and realize he might be going through something difficult right now.

When faced with a big challenge we are only expected to confront the obstacle that's right in front of us. Put your next foot forward.

One day we decide we no longer want to speak gossip. Inspired to become a person who only speaks positively about others, we promise to never speak negatively again.

Not realizing how ingrained the habit of gossip is within us ,we start slipping up. Feeling like a failure we give up and just go back to our old ways.

Well, what if the secret to becoming more spiritual is taking small steps and not big ones?

We are told that it's unhelpful to harp on our past. Reminding ourselves of our mistakes isn't conducive for growth.

On the other hand reminding ourselves of our past successes can give us strength to take on new challenges.

As we see in the Torah the Creator tells the Jewish people that "you" can take on a life of morality and holiness because in the past "you" lived holy and pure lives. The Creator was reminding them of their past success of a time while they were in Egypt and the jews on their own decided to lead holy and moral lives.

The Creator was telling them "I know living a clean life is an almost an impossible goal ,at the same time you have this very special strength which you attained while pursuing holiness in Egypt ". Basically, you have it in you!

If we harness our imagination properly we can become spiritualty elevated.

Idea from The Piaseczna Z''ya & the Sefer Hachinuch on Parshas Metzora

There's a silver lining in your weakness.

It's embarrassing when you're less than average in your self-control. No matter how hard you try you keep on losing to your urges. You look around and it seems as if your friends don't share the same impulses as you. You start feeling ashamed for who you are and see no good in your "weak" nature.

Well, what if this nature of yours is precisely the thing that is bringing you closer to G-D.

Moses wasn't able to donate to the tabernacle because he had no issue departing from his money, so it wouldn't be meaningful to G-D. It was only the regular Jew who struggled to give from his money that the Creator saw his sacrifice and cherished the donation.

So, in our lives when we notice that we're weaker than the rest and we struggle mightily to pass our tests, the Creator is noticing our efforts. It's more meaningful to Him.

The person to whom it comes easy to isn't sacrificing anything to pass this test, so he isn't showing as much dedication as the to one who it comes hard to

Idea from Shem M'Shmuel

Reason #1: When we share ideas of faith, it deepens our own faith.

Idea from The Lechovitcher Zy"a.

Reason #2: We each have our own perception of things and our point of view can be inspiring to others.

Idea from Beis Avrohom of Slomin Zy"a.