From Todays Tanya- Likutei Amarim, end of Chapter 6:
"However, that which does not surrender itself to G–d, but is a separate thing by itself, does not receive its vitality from the holiness of the Holy One, blessed is He, that is, from the very inner essence and substance of the holiness itself, but from “behind its back,” as it were"
"However, that which does not surrender itself to G–d, but is a separate thing by itself, does not receive its vitality from the holiness of the Holy One, blessed is He, that is, from the very inner essence and substance of the holiness itself, but from “behind its back,” as it were"
When I give into anger or lust or depression or any negative emotion, what has happened?
The formless aspect of Hashem [referred to in Bereshit 1:2 "the earth being unformed and void, with darkness over the surface of the deep and a wind from God sweeping over the water- " , which invests this world is endlessly creative. In the case of negative emotions, this same endless creative force can take a small spark of imagination and turn it into a whole small world filled with events that inspire fear, fury depression or lust. These emotions in turn flourish and grow on their own, creating a small sin that, we are told, that first crouches at the door [Bereshit 4:7] and then grows.
As we read in Midrash Beresheit Rabbah 22:6, Rabbi Akiva said: Initially it is similar to a spider web, but ultimately, it is like a ship’s rope. That is what is written: “Woe to those who pull iniquity with cords of pointlessness, and sin like the rope of a wagon” (Isaiah 5:18).
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has through the great creativity and momentum of these formless waters grown into its own world as a calf grows into an ox. This is in itself not a bad thing but the Ox needs to be sacrificed, to be elevated through surrender, mitzvot and kindness. If I instead choose to invest myself in this "small world" instead of yielding this emotion to the Divine will through emunah and bitachon it is as if I have ignored a holy opportunity to make a sacrifice to God. For this lost sacrifice I should later make Teschuvah.