Can we change our habits and improve our natural inclinations? While there may be a range of opinions, Hakham Yoseph Hayyim 'a"h answers the debate with the following story:
There was a Torah scholar who had a profound knowledge in the art of reading palm and forehead lines. It happened, that a foreigner visited his city, who claimed to be an expert in the very same "art". The Torah scholar sent his students to the man to test his expertise. He asked them to show the visitor their palms, and sent an imprint of his own forehead and palms. To their amazement, the visitor unfolded past events and appeared to be an expert in the field. When they showed him their Rabbi's imprints he told them that this man has a bad temper, and that he is a liar and a cheat. This completely changed their opinion of the visitor! They all knew their Hakham to be an righteous, upright individual.
The students told their Hakham what had transpired. To their amazement and total disbelief, the scholar told them that the visitor was indeed correct! His palm lines revealed his true nature. However, with intense work, he was able to overcome his inclination and break through his desires.
The Ben Ish Hai gives us priceless advice. Yes! - if one wants, he can change his bad habits. But the secret to a smooth and easy change is to start at a young age. The earlier we start, the easier it is. Change at a later stage in life requires hard and intense work.
The Ben Ish Hai adds that as mothers and future mothers, we must invest in the upbringing of our children from a young age. We must be aware of their strengths and their shortcomings and take an active approach. We should guide and teach them to adopt good habits and pleasantly work on their character traits.
