JOY
A Bedrock of Joy
We sometimes have to step away from thoughts of holiness and repentance, if those thoughts cause us to be depressed.
There is a bedrock of joy connected to the depth of holiness, which far outranks any other holiness and repentance.
Therefore, if awe of God and repentance are depressing us, we must set aside those thoughts until our mind grows stronger. We should be opening ourselves to holiness and the fear of heaven with a joy and gladness that are appropriate for good-hearted people whose service of God is genuine.
Orot Hateshuvah 14:11
The Holy Mixture of Pleasure and Joy
When humility and awe are revealed, they bring forth pleasantness and joy. Refined pleasure comes from the foundation of humility, and pure joy from the foundation of awe. And the revelation of the countenances of these illuminated visions results from the influence of their lights upon each other: "I call to them to stand together." From the holy mixture of these branches comes a supernal might, extremely powerful, which motivates all aspects of life with a holy grandeur.
Orot Hakodesh III, p. 187
Delight And Joy
Delight and joy must accompany your every spiritual endeavor.
Only when you delight and rejoice in each fine and positive deed will you have the enthusiasm to act in the most ideal manner and add to your deeds every day.
Only when the delight and joy in your heart are bound to your fine and positive actions will they be anchored in you.
Eder Hayakar, p. 117
A Great Stream
There are various causes of depression. They must all be overcome by the joy of performing a mitzvah. This is a constant joy that suits Israel, because of the spiritual light that always rests upon the Jews.
One cause of depression is the surrender to a desire for coarse pleasure. When one does so, one's soul is drawn to a place of darkness, where it grieves over its descent. It is only right that this great woe be turned to joy, for when the soul rises from the yoke of exile that had burdened it, a great stream of joy rises up from below, and the refined, pure content grows ever richer in its spirituality.
Arpelei Tohar
