Start Before You're Ready: The Secret to Real Spiritual Growth - Rabbi Yosef Farhi

Everyone wants to change. Everyone wants to grow. But there's one question that keeps coming up: Where do I start? Do I first need to quit my bad habits? Or should I just jump into doing the good things—even if I’m not perfect yet?

If you’ve ever wrestled with this question, this video message will change the way you think about personal growth, spirituality, and your relationship with God.

The Big Myth of Self-Help: You Don’t Win By Stopping

Today’s self-help culture keeps telling us: Stop scrolling. Stop snoozing. Stop sugar. But here's the truth: You don’t win by stopping. You win by starting.

If you're at war, you don't win by retreating—you win by advancing. Spiritual growth works the same way.

Why "Kadesh" Comes Before "Urchatz"

At the Passover Seder, the order begins with Kadesh (sanctify) and only later comes Urchatz (wash your hands). But shouldn’t we wash up first—like your mom always said—before we start anything holy?

This unusual order teaches a radical truth: Start with holiness—even if you're still messy. Don’t wait until you're perfect. Don’t wait until your record is clean. Just start. Begin with the spiritual act, and the cleansing will follow.

Momentum Is More Powerful Than Guilt

James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, writes that you don’t go to the gym because you’re confident. You become confident because you go to the gym.

The same rule applies to serving God: You don’t start by stopping sin—you start by doing mitzvot.

Why? Because stopping bad habits is incredibly hard. Starting good habits is easier—and builds momentum. And once the momentum starts, it pulls you out of spiritual darkness faster than any guilt trip ever could.

Light Beats Darkness—Every Time

You can’t fight darkness with a stick. You beat darkness by turning on the light.

Same with sin. The Yetzer Hara (evil inclination) doesn’t just want you to sin—he wants you to despair. He wants to make you think, “Well, I messed up once, I might as well go all the way.”

That’s the trap. The answer? Don’t look back. Start moving forward—joyfully.

Build One Holy Habit

The speaker shares his own example: He doesn't post daily videos because he’s fearless. He does it because he built a habit: It’s now easier for him to press “record” than to run away.

That’s the secret: Build one spiritual habit. One joyful mitzvah. That’s how you leave Egypt—one step forward at a time.

The Deeper Lesson of Ephraim and Menashe

When Jacob blessed Joseph’s sons, he crossed his hands—placing his right hand on Ephraim (the younger) and his left on Menashe (the elder). Joseph objected, but Jacob insisted.

Why? Because Ephraim represents fruitfulness (starting positive actions), while Menashe represents forgetting the past (leaving sin behind). Joseph thought you need to first forget the bad. But Jacob said, No—first be fruitful. Then you'll forget the past.

Don’t Wait to Feel Worthy. Just Start.

You don’t have to earn the right to serve God. You’re already worthy—because you’re a Jew. Don’t let the Yetzer Hara turn your spiritual journey into a soap opera of overthinking and guilt. Smile before the mitzvah, during it, and after it—not because you’re perfect, but because you’re privileged to serve God.

Final Call to Action: Start with one mitzvah. One moment of light. One holy habit. That’s the real escape from Egypt. That’s how spiritual growth begins.

Watch the full video above to hear this powerful message in full. Share it with someone who needs to hear: You don't have to be perfect to start—you just have to start.