- Savlanut, in the Mussar tradition, is not merely patience as commonly understood—waiting quietly or passively. Instead, it embodies active endurance and forbearance, the capacity to remain calm and composed amidst challenge, tension, or delay. This trait involves an ability to hold emotional and spiritual tension without immediate resolution, fostering growth and wisdom.
- The nuanced perspectives of Rollo May and Paul Tillich on anxiety illuminate how it impacts the skillful practice of savlanut. Both thinkers treat anxiety not simply as a pathological state but as an existential reality, a core feature of being human. They explore how anxiety can either destabilize or deepen an individual’s capacity to endure and transcend difficulties.
- Rollo May’s Perspective on Anxiety
- Anxiety as a Driver of Growth
- May views anxiety as a reaction to the threat of disintegration—when a person’s sense of identity, purpose, or coherence is challenged. While anxiety can be destructive, it can also propel self-reflection and creative engagement with life’s difficulties.
- In the context of savlanut, anxiety arises in situations requiring endurance:
- Constructive Role: Anxiety highlights an internal conflict, signaling the need for greater integration or realignment with one’s values. For instance, a person may feel the tension of wanting immediate resolution but recognize that enduring discomfort allows for deeper insights and relationships.
- Destructive Role: Anxiety can overwhelm, triggering impulsive actions or avoidance behaviors that short-circuit the process of endurance.
- Courage to Face Anxiety
- May emphasizes that facing anxiety requires courage. Savlanut, too, requires courage to endure unresolved tension without succumbing to the need for immediate relief. For example:
- In a family conflict, savlanut means sitting with emotional discomfort while avoiding reactive responses. Anxiety may tempt someone to either lash out or withdraw, but practicing savlanut involves courageously enduring the discomfort while seeking thoughtful resolution.
- May emphasizes that facing anxiety requires courage. Savlanut, too, requires courage to endure unresolved tension without succumbing to the need for immediate relief. For example:
- Anxiety as the Awareness of Finitude
- Tillich describes anxiety as arising from the human awareness of finitude—our limitations, mortality, and vulnerability. This awareness often becomes acute when one encounters uncertainty or delay.
- For savlanut, this translates to the capacity to hold the tension of limitation:
- Constructive Role: Anxiety about finitude can deepen humility and reliance on something greater than oneself. Recognizing limits fosters the wisdom to wait and endure rather than force a resolution.
- Destructive Role: Anxiety about limitations can lead to a sense of powerlessness, undermining savlanut by fostering either paralysis or rash decisions to regain control.
- The Courage to Be
- Tillich’s concept of the courage to be involves affirming oneself in the face of non-being—fear, failure, or impermanence. In practicing savlanut, this means maintaining composure and engagement, even when enduring discomfort or delay that threatens one’s sense of stability.
- Example: A person waiting for the outcome of a significant job interview must grapple with existential uncertainty. Tillich’s framework suggests that savlanut involves affirming oneself amidst this uncertainty, resisting despair or the impulse to abandon hope.
- Tillich’s concept of the courage to be involves affirming oneself in the face of non-being—fear, failure, or impermanence. In practicing savlanut, this means maintaining composure and engagement, even when enduring discomfort or delay that threatens one’s sense of stability.
- Anxiety can prompt greater awareness of internal conflicts, offering opportunities to build resilience and deepen savlanut.
- May’s Contribution: Anxiety invites creative responses, encouraging individuals to embrace the unknown and grow in their capacity to endure.
- Tillich’s Contribution: Anxiety fosters humility and reliance on the divine or transcendent, strengthening the spiritual foundation for enduring hardship.
- Anxiety can lead to impulsive reactions, avoidance, or a sense of helplessness that disrupts savlanut.
- May’s Contribution: Destructive anxiety erodes patience by intensifying the need for immediate resolution, undermining the capacity for thoughtful endurance.
- Tillich’s Contribution: Anxiety about finitude may foster despair, causing one to give up on enduring situations that seem insurmountable.
- Recognize anxiety as a natural part of enduring tension, neither denying nor being consumed by it.
- Reflect on May’s idea that anxiety signals a growth opportunity and Tillich’s view of courage to affirm oneself despite limitations.
- Use anxiety as a cue to deepen reliance on spiritual or ethical principles rather than seeking control or quick fixes.
- Reflect on Tillich’s perspective that limitations reveal the necessity of trust in something beyond oneself.
- Practice savlanut by holding space for unresolved issues while taking small, deliberate actions. Avoid reactive behaviors driven by anxiety.
- Observation:
- “When I notice unresolved conflict in my relationship, I find myself feeling restless and wanting to resolve it immediately.”
- Feeling:
- “I feel anxious and unsettled because my need for harmony and stability is unmet.”
- Need:
- “I need to cultivate trust that this process will unfold in the right time, and I need to honor my values of thoughtful engagement over impulsive reaction.”
- Request:
- “I request that I take five deep breaths whenever I feel this restlessness, journal my emotions, and allow myself 24 hours before making any decisions about the situation.”
Specific: Practice sitting with discomfort in challenging situations for 10 minutes daily without seeking immediate resolution.
- Measurable: Use a journal to track the duration and insights gained from these periods for 30 days.
- Achievable: Begin with minor tensions (e.g., waiting in line) and gradually apply to larger challenges.
- Relevant: Builds tolerance for anxiety as a growth catalyst.
- Time-bound: Commit to daily practice for one month.
Specific: Incorporate a daily meditation reflecting on a meaningful text (e.g., Psalms 27:14: “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord”).
- Measurable: Track completion of meditations for 21 days and note any shifts in the ability to endure tension.
- Achievable: Spend 5–10 minutes in focused meditation each morning.
- Relevant: Fosters reliance on transcendent values to counteract anxiety about limitations.
- Time-bound: Implement over three weeks with weekly reflections.
Specific: Identify one situation each week that triggers anxiety and approach it with intentional pauses and self-affirmation.
- Measurable: Use a reflection log to assess how often you resisted reactive behavior.
- Achievable: Begin with one scenario weekly and expand to more frequent applications.
- Relevant: Encourages courageous engagement despite uncertainty, aligning with Tillich’s “courage to be.”
- Time-bound: Practice weekly for six weeks, reviewing progress biweekly.
- Impulsivity and Avoidance
- Anxiety can prompt reactive behaviors, seeking immediate resolution or escape from discomfort.
- Example: Becoming irritable or withdrawing in the face of prolonged uncertainty, disrupting savlanut.
- Self-Centered Fear
- Anxiety rooted in fear of personal failure or loss of control can cause the individual to prioritize their comfort over enduring tension.
- Example: Interrupting a difficult conversation prematurely out of fear of appearing weak or incompetent.
- Overwhelming Focus on Finitude
- Tillich’s notion of anxiety as the awareness of finitude can manifest as despair, fostering paralysis or a sense of powerlessness.
- Example: Believing that the inability to immediately fix a situation signals ultimate failure, leading to inaction or frustration.
- Reflection and Growth
- Anxiety signals an internal misalignment or unresolved tension, encouraging deeper self-awareness.
- Example: Feeling unsettled about a delay in achieving a goal might inspire introspection and new strategies for growth.
- Courage to Endure
- May’s concept of constructive anxiety aligns with the yetzer tov, fostering courage to face unresolved challenges with patience.
- Example: In a tense workplace situation, enduring discomfort while holding space for understanding strengthens savlanut.
- Spiritual Reliance
- Anxiety can remind individuals of their limitations, prompting reliance on higher values or divine trust.
- Example: Recognizing that ultimate outcomes are beyond one’s control can lead to a calm, faith-based endurance.
- Awareness of Yetzer Hara Dynamics
- Recognize how anxiety manifests as impulsivity, avoidance, or despair. This awareness is the first step in integrating these tendencies.
- Engaging Yetzer Tov Responses
- Actively seek to reframe anxiety as an opportunity for growth, courage, and reliance on spiritual values.
- Active Movement Toward Savlanut
- Take deliberate steps to embody savlanut, transforming anxiety into a source of resilience and composure.
- Yetzer Hara Manifestation
- Anxiety triggers impatience, leading to defensive remarks or withdrawal from the conversation.
- Teshuva: Step Toward Integration
- Pause to notice the impulse to react defensively (awareness of yetzer hara).
- Breathe deeply and reflect on the shared value of the relationship, inviting courage to endure discomfort (engaging yetzer tov).
- Commit to listening fully before responding, even if the tension remains unresolved (active movement toward savlanut).
- Outcome
- Anxiety becomes a signal to deepen understanding and preserve the connection, strengthening savlanut.
- “When I notice anxiety arising during unresolved tension, I tend to feel restless and react impulsively.”
- “I feel unsettled because my need for calm, clarity, and connection is unmet.”
- “I need to integrate this feeling of anxiety into a constructive process that aligns with my values of endurance and trust.”
- “I request that I pause for five breaths, reflect on how this tension is a growth opportunity, and choose one action that demonstrates patience.”
- Internal: Transform the anxiety into curiosity or trust, reframing the tension as an opportunity for growth.
- External: Engage in a deliberate action (listening, waiting, or reflecting) that embodies savlanut.
- Specific: Journal daily about moments when anxiety led to reactive behavior and identify one potential yetzer tov response.
- Measurable: Log at least three moments weekly where anxiety was reframed as a growth opportunity.
- Achievable: Spend 5 minutes journaling at the end of the day.
- Relevant: Builds awareness of yetzer hara tendencies and fosters integration into yetzer tov responses.
- Time-bound: Practice for 30 days, reviewing weekly for progress.
- Specific: Practice pausing for 10 breaths before reacting to any tension-inducing situation.
- Measurable: Track successful pauses daily for one month, noting shifts in composure.
- Achievable: Start with minor tensions (e.g., waiting in line) and progress to more complex situations.
- Relevant: Reinforces active movement toward savlanut by transforming anxiety into a source of calm.
- Time-bound: Implement daily for four weeks.
- Specific: Meditate on a meaningful text about trust (e.g., Psalms 27:14) for 5 minutes daily, reflecting on anxiety as a call to rely on higher values.
- Measurable: Note daily completion and its impact on emotional endurance.
- Achievable: Use a timer to ensure consistency.
- Relevant: Fosters reliance on transcendent values, counteracting the yetzer hara’s focus on control.
- Time-bound: Commit to this practice for six weeks.
- The Apollonian embodies order, rationality, structure, and clarity—qualities often associated with the yetzer tov. It is the inclination toward control, discipline, and striving for ideal forms, mirroring the aspiration to align oneself with divine will and moral order.
- Expression in Savlanut (Patience in Endurance):
- Positive: Apollonian savlanut manifests as self-restraint, measured responses, and a composed demeanor. It seeks to create harmony by maintaining boundaries and upholding balance.
- Negative (Overreach): When overly rigid, the Apollonian suppresses instinctual vitality, resulting in brittle patience that may snap under pressure, veering into passivity or perfectionism.
- The Dionysian represents chaos, instinct, passion, and surrender—qualities often linked to the yetzer hara. However, like the yetzer hara, the Dionysian is not inherently “evil” but instead an unrefined, raw force requiring integration.
- Expression in Savlanut:
- Positive: Dionysian energy brings passion, vitality, and the courage to endure chaos. It fuels resilience by embracing the messiness of human experience and finding meaning in suffering.
- Negative (Overreach): When untamed, Dionysian impulses lead to impulsivity, impatience, and a reactive resistance to structure or delay.
- Anxiety as the Disruption of Order (Apollonian)
- Anxiety emerges when the Apollonian drive for structure is threatened by the Dionysian chaos of life. The resulting tension demands a creative response rather than rigid suppression or chaotic collapse.
- Example: A leader in a crisis may feel anxiety as their structured plans unravel (Apollonian disruption). Savlanut, in this context, would require integrating that anxiety to adapt constructively.
- Anxiety as a Call to Integrate Chaos (Dionysian)
- May sees anxiety as an opportunity to confront the wildness of life and incorporate it into one’s identity, fostering growth. The Dionysian energy, when harnessed, invigorates the Apollonian order with vitality and adaptability.
- Anxiety as the Awareness of Finitude
- For Tillich, anxiety arises when the individual confronts their limits—of control (Apollonian) and freedom (Dionysian). Anxiety becomes the fertile ground for spiritual and existential courage, bridging these polarities.
- Example: Waiting for a life-changing diagnosis, one must endure the Apollonian demand for composure alongside the Dionysian urge to collapse into raw emotion.
- Courage to Be
- Tillich’s notion of “the courage to be” is the act of integrating Apollonian clarity with Dionysian surrender. Savlanut becomes the skillful practice of balancing rational control with emotional authenticity, holding the tension between these forces.
- Apollonian Teshuva (Integration of Order):
- Teshuva in this mode involves refining and channeling raw Dionysian impulses into disciplined, constructive expressions. Anxiety about chaos is resolved by bringing clarity and form to the formless.
- Example: A musician practicing savlanut integrates their creative chaos (Dionysian) into disciplined rehearsals (Apollonian), producing transcendent art.
- Dionysian Teshuva (Integration of Vitality):
- Teshuva here involves softening rigid Apollonian structures to allow for spontaneity, creativity, and emotional expression. Anxiety about control is resolved by embracing imperfection and uncertainty.
- Example: In a tense family argument, savlanut might mean letting go of the need for immediate resolution (Apollonian rigidity) and allowing authentic emotions (Dionysian vitality) to surface constructively.
- Anxiety signals an imbalance between Apollonian control and Dionysian chaos.
- Practice: Notice whether anxiety stems from a need for more structure (Apollonian) or more freedom (Dionysian).
- Apollonian Integration: Create small rituals or routines to bring order to chaos.
- Dionysian Integration: Allow space for creative expression or emotional release when order feels oppressive.
- Reflect on moments when anxiety disrupted savlanut. Was the disruption due to overreliance on Apollonian rigidity or Dionysian impulsivity? What could balance look like in those moments?
- Observation:
- “When I notice myself becoming anxious as the meeting becomes chaotic…”
- Feeling:
- “I feel torn between my need for structure (Apollonian) and my urge to express frustration (Dionysian).”
- Need:
- “I need to integrate both order and vitality—to stay composed while allowing authentic engagement.”
- Request:
- “I request that I pause, take three deep breaths to center myself, and then respond with one clear and intentional statement.”
- Specific: Develop a morning mindfulness practice to bring clarity to daily anxieties.
- Measurable: Spend 10 minutes journaling daily about sources of tension and possible resolutions.
- Achievable: Begin with 5 minutes and gradually increase to 10.
- Relevant: Fosters rational reflection, calming the Dionysian impulse for immediate action.
- Time-bound: Commit to 21 days of practice.
- Specific: Allow one unstructured hour weekly for creative or emotional expression (e.g., painting, dancing, or freewriting).
- Measurable: Track completion and reflect on its impact on anxiety levels.
- Achievable: Start with 30 minutes and increase as comfort grows.
- Relevant: Cultivates the courage to engage with chaos constructively.
- Time-bound: Implement over 4 weeks.
- Specific: When anxiety arises, pause for five breaths and ask: “What does this anxiety want me to notice about balance?”
- Measurable: Log at least three such reflections weekly.
- Achievable: Use a mindfulness timer or reminder app to establish consistency.
- Relevant: Enhances awareness of Apollonian-Dionysian tension in real-time.
- Time-bound: Practice for 30 days, with weekly reviews.
- The Tao and Savlanut
- Savlanut in Taoist terms is akin to wu wei—the effortless action that arises from alignment with the Tao. It is the capacity to endure challenges and delays without resistance, flowing with life’s rhythms instead of forcing or fleeing.
- Anxiety disrupts this alignment, creating tension between the natural flow (the Tao) and the individual’s reactive impulses.
- Yin and Yang as Yetzer Tov and Yetzer Hara
- Taoism avoids labeling one force as inherently “good” or “evil.” Instead, yin and yang are interdependent aspects of a greater whole, continually cycling and transforming.
- Yang (Yetzer Tov): The structured, proactive, expansive aspect of savlanut. It represents the deliberate cultivation of endurance through intention and action.
- Yin (Yetzer Hara): The receptive, instinctual, chaotic aspect of savlanut. It represents the raw energy of endurance that, when unbalanced, can lead to impatience or avoidance.
- Taoism avoids labeling one force as inherently “good” or “evil.” Instead, yin and yang are interdependent aspects of a greater whole, continually cycling and transforming.
- Te (Virtue as Integration)
- Te (virtue or power) arises from aligning yin and yang harmoniously within the Tao. In the practice of savlanut, te emerges when anxiety is integrated rather than suppressed or indulged, transforming it into a force for growth and wisdom.
- May sees anxiety as a natural response to the disintegration of meaning. In Taoist terms, it occurs when one’s internal state (microcosm) becomes misaligned with the Tao (macrocosm). This tension disrupts the natural flow, creating blockages in the practice of savlanut.
- Tillich’s existential anxiety stems from confronting limitations and uncertainty. From a Taoist lens, this reflects the struggle to accept wu ji (emptiness or the boundless potential before form). The Tao teaches that surrendering to this uncertainty allows one to move through it with grace.
- When yin dominates, anxiety manifests as passivity, withdrawal, or overthinking. This stagnation prevents the active expression of savlanut, trapping the individual in rumination or despair.
- Example: A person facing a delay becomes immobilized by fear of failure, unable to take constructive steps forward.
- When yang dominates, anxiety manifests as impulsivity, overcontrol, or resistance to delay. This overexertion disrupts savlanut, causing reactive or aggressive behaviors.
- Example: A person waiting for an important outcome lashes out or forces premature decisions, undermining the situation.
- Observation Without Judgment
- Anxiety is not an enemy but a teacher, revealing areas of misalignment. Recognize its presence without labeling it as “bad” or “wrong.”
- Embracing Paradox
- Savlanut arises not by eliminating anxiety but by holding its tension with calm receptivity, allowing it to inform action.
- Returning to the Center
- The Taoist practice of centering—returning to one’s grounded state—aligns with the Mussar practice of teshuva, which involves realignment with one’s higher self.
- When faced with anxiety, resist the urge to control or flee. Instead, observe its energy and let it flow through you like water around a rock.
- Practice: In moments of tension, visualize anxiety as a river current. Instead of fighting it, imagine yourself floating with it, observing where it takes you.
- Yin Practices:
- Cultivate quiet reflection through meditation or stillness to embrace receptivity.
- Yang Practices:
- Take small, deliberate actions to maintain structure and forward momentum.
- Practice: Alternate between moments of silence (yin) and intentional steps (yang) to balance stillness and activity.
- Breath is central to Taoist practice, symbolizing the flow of qi (life energy). Use breathwork to recenter and integrate anxiety into a calm, flowing state.
- Practice: In moments of anxiety, breathe deeply into your lower abdomen, imagining the inhale as yin (receptivity) and the exhale as yang (release).
- Observation:
- “When I notice tension in my chest and racing thoughts about what might happen…”
- Feeling:
- “I feel restless and unsettled because I sense a disruption in the flow of events.”
- Need:
- “I need to restore balance by aligning my inner state with the unfolding moment.”
- Request:
- “I request that I pause, take three deep breaths, and focus on what the delay is teaching me about patience and trust.”
- Specific: Meditate for 10 minutes daily on the imagery of a flowing river, visualizing anxiety as part of the current.
- Measurable: Log daily meditation sessions and note changes in anxiety perception over 30 days.
- Achievable: Start with 5 minutes and increase as comfort grows.
- Relevant: Helps align internal state with external flow, fostering savlanut.
- Time-bound: Commit to this practice for one month.
- Specific: Alternate between reflective pauses (yin) and deliberate actions (yang) when anxiety arises.
- Measurable: Track three instances weekly where this balance was applied successfully.
- Achievable: Begin with small challenges and progress to more complex situations.
- Relevant: Builds dynamic flexibility in practicing savlanut.
- Time-bound: Implement for six weeks, reviewing progress biweekly.
- Specific: When anxiety arises, practice visualizing it as a natural force (e.g., wind, water) and allow it to move through without resistance.
- Measurable: Record reflections on three such moments weekly, noting shifts in emotional response.
- Achievable: Use a mindfulness timer or reminder to prompt practice.
- Relevant: Fosters non-resistance and alignment with the Tao.
- Time-bound: Commit to this practice for 21 days.