monsey23 – Actually, although that is the most popular thing to do nowadays, the Torah prohibits making a kabalah or taking on something in the time of Tzara. I have heard this from many renown speakers, if someone could find me the exact quote and where it says so, please post.
This is forbidden since when the feelings of wanting to do something so badly and sadness fade (which they will, be it a week or a month) so will your kabala. Okay you say, “I’ll take on a kabalah for a week, so that I won’t be mechayev” NO! If you are doing that then you are justy trying to rid yourself of guilty feelings. After a week, where have you gotten? Any closer to Hashem?
The RIGHT way, is to look at what we are already doing and try to do harder in their memories. Let’s say we already daven shemoneh esrie, try to have more kavanah in a certain bracha. Let’s say you lost the lust to do a certain mitzvah, you are just doing it with the motions at this point. Go, try to get those feelings back.
Once we enjoy doing what we are ALREADY doing, we will be happy, and in a better place. Once we are in that place we can take on more since we will WANT to take on more.