Unleashing Our Potential: Mindfulness & Parshat Pinchas

Susie Keinon
Jan 1, 2023
3 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

In this week’s Torah portion, Pinchas, we encounter two powerful examples of people who step forward and act with conviction: Pinchas, the grandson of Aaron, and the daughters of Tzelofhad.

Pinchas witnesses Bnei Yisrael consorting with foreign women and engaging in idol worship. One man in particular—Zimri, a prince of the tribe of Shimon—openly flaunts his behavior. In a dramatic and controversial act, Pinchas takes matters into his own hands and kills Zimri. As a result, a devastating plague is halted and the people are saved.

Our sages, however, are deeply conflicted about Pinchas’s actions. He acted zealously and without a trial. The rabbis emphasize that this was an exceptional, one-time event—not a model for us to imitate. His story raises complex questions about passion, judgment, and restraint.

Later in the parsha, we encounter a very different kind of courage.

The daughters of Tzelofhad come before Moses after their father’s death. At that time, inheritance in the Land of Israel was passed only to sons. Yet they boldly challenge this assumption:

“Let not our father’s name be lost to his tribe just because he had no son.”

They advocate not only for themselves, but for fairness and justice. Their claim is accepted, and the law is changed.

Both Pinchas and the daughters of Tzelofhad act out of conviction and passion.

In very different ways, they step forward and fulfill their potential despite risk.

We all have potential within us.The question is: how do we cultivate it?

What are you passionate about? What truly matters to you?

A meaningful place to begin is by clarifying your values.

As you explore what is important to you, here are a few guiding principles:

1. Know Yourself

Growth begins with honest self-awareness.

When you recognize your strengths and your challenges, you can begin to move in the direction you want. For example, if you want to be more effective at work, you might notice patterns such as procrastination or difficulty organizing your time. Awareness is the first step toward change.

2. Let Go of Perfectionism

Perfectionism doesn’t help us grow—it often holds us back.

Striving to improve is healthy; being overly self-critical is not. As the saying goes, “the perfect is the enemy of the good.” Real growth comes from looking at ourselves with honesty, patience, and a non-judgmental attitude.

3. Step Outside Your Comfort Zone

Growth requires us to stretch beyond what feels familiar.

This doesn’t mean overwhelming yourself, but rather gently expanding your boundaries. Over time, what once felt uncomfortable can become more natural.

As Brené Brown writes, “You can choose courage or you can choose comfort. You cannot have both.”

Where in your life do you tend to stay within your comfort zone?Where might you take a small step beyond it?

4. Reflect on What Truly Matters

What brings you joy?What gives you a sense of meaning or purpose?

This might include relationships, learning, creativity, helping others, or new experiences.

Let's explore this more with a mindfulness practice.

A Mindfulness Practice for Clarifying Values-

Begin by reflecting on what you need in your life to feel fulfilled. These are your core values—such as family, creativity, health, growth, connection, or justice.

You might ask yourself:

If I had to leave my home quickly, what would I take with me?
What values are essential to my life?
What supports my inner well-being?

Mirabai Bush offers a simple practice:

Sit quietly and bring your attention to your breath.

Gently reflect on the values that matter most to you, and imagine how they might be expressed in your life—through your work, relationships, or daily activities.

Allow images, ideas, or feelings to arise naturally.

There’s no need to force clarity or make immediate sense of what comes up. Simply observe with openness and curiosity.

Pause. Breathe.

You might try approaching this with a “beginner’s mind”—as if you are seeing your life for the first time, without assumptions or expectations.

Notice what emerges when you create space for it.

Your mind does not need to have all the answers right away.

With patience, new insights can unfold.

And if you don’t immediately feel a strong passion—this is completely natural.

Not all of us experience the same intensity as Pinchas or the daughters of Tzelofhad.

What matters is the willingness to keep asking, gently and honestly:

What is important to me?

When we listen carefully to the answers and begin to make them a part of our daily lives, we take meaningful steps toward fulfilling our potential.