There is a fellow in my neighborhood who is super gung ho about the Ari Hakadosh [who, by the way, was born on the street I lived on for 18 years in the Rova]. After davening today he excitedly came up to me to show me how wrong I was in saying "קץ" in Kaddish [ויצמח פורקניה וקריב "קץ" משיחיה] with a detailed explanation as to why the Arizal omitted it.
Everyone tells themselves lots of stories - about themselves, about others, about the world, about life, about Hashem etc. etc.
His story includes that if the Arizal said something, then I follow it. The reality is that I [and the vast, vast, vast majority of Jews on the planet] don't follow *everything* the Arizal said.
I am quite sure that he doesn't either.
Mussar Haskel: Explore what your stories are and if they are really accurate and if they are helping you achieve your goals.
