Bridget Jones’s Diary was a book (and series of movies) about a young British woman who was constantly writing down resolutions in her diary…and then breaking them. I can relate.

I’m almost 40-years-old and since high school I have been writing out pages of resolutions to live by. Sometimes I stick with them longer, other times I break quickly. But eventually procrastination and/or laziness get me every time. This feeling of being undisciplined is poisonous to my self-esteem and I constantly feel like I’m not living up to my potential.

Judaism offers a secret weapon that is CRUCIAL for the search for simcha (Jewish joy)…

The Ways of the Tzaddikim, a classic book on Jewish ethics that was first published approximately 500 years ago, singles out one character trait as being the foundation of all other traits.

This trait is “zerizut.”

“Zerizut” is a Hebrew word that can be translated as “zeal,” “alacrity” or “promptness.” Zerizut is the spark that catalyzes us to quickly and effectively do the things that need to be done, even if we don’t feel like doing them.

The reason it is the foundation of all other traits is because without zerizut, one will not work on and improve his/her other traits. Zerizut is the get-up-and-go that enables us to pray, perform mitzvot, learn Torah and do good deeds. As fun as a life of lounging and relaxation can look from the outside, a life without purpose, goals and meaning is usually an unhappy one.

Rabbi Zelig Pliskin, a living master of Jewish happiness and a person I hope to write much more about on this blog, wrote a great book called Taking Action: Learn the Joyful Art of Zerizus that details the importance of internalizing the trait of zerizut (and gives many practical steps for doing so).

Mastering the art of taking action with joyful willpower and (zerizut) will make a major difference in many areas, especially in one’s spiritual, professional, and educational domains; in one’s interaction with family and friends; and in one’s emotional quality of life (pages 11-12).

Zerizut is vital for becoming a better person (which increases happiness):

The trait of zeal is an ornament to all the other traits and it perfects all of them. And now you should remember those things which men commonly tend to be lax about…If a poor man comes to your house to ask for bread, do not say, “I cannot go to bring bread,” but go with zeal to bring it. –The Ways of the Tzaddikim (page 287).

I understand that zerizut is vital in my search for greater simcha and I have much work to do. Master of the Universe, please bless me with an abundance of zerizut so I can work on the trait of zerizut (and then all other traits)!

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