Becoming a “Woman of Valor”: How Alacrity and Wisdom Build the Soul

In the verses of the well-known poem "A Woman of Valor” (Mishlei 31), Shlomo HaMelech praises the Jewish wife and mother, detailing her virtues and refined qualities. Beyond the simple meaning, which is beautiful and true in its own right, this chapter, written in a book composed entirely of parables, also serves as a metaphor for the human soul walking the path of truth. About such a soul, Shlomo asks, “A woman of valor, who can find?”

Not every person succeeds in properly cultivating the soul within them and building it into a model “woman of valor.” Many people live their lives without paying attention to the pure soul dwelling inside them, yearning and waiting to rise and grow.

What, then, is the key to the success of those few who merit that their soul becomes a true “woman of valor”?

Diligence and Alacrity: The Foundation of Growth

The answer lies in the trait of alacrity and diligence: active engagement and constant action, without laziness or wasted time, while keeping one goal firmly in mind, fulfilling one’s life purpose and mission in this world.

This trait is emphasized repeatedly throughout the verses of the poem. The woman of valor is not lazy. Rather, “She rises while it is still night and provides food for her household and tasks for her maidens.” She forgoes rest in order to care for her family, young and old alike.

So too with the soul. Its completeness is expressed when it activates the physical body, which is likened to the darkness of night, to do what is proper and required according to God’s will. The soul awakens the body to act with alacrity, illuminating the darkness. It remains alert and active, refusing to let the material world dull its light or slow its development. On the contrary, it labors tirelessly to drive itself forward and mobilize the physical body.

The body is the vessel through which the soul is built while it resides in this world. After the soul separates from the body, it remains in the state it reached and can no longer be refined. Therefore, the soul is eager. It rises while it is still night, making use of every moment in this world to grow and to store nourishment for the World to Come.

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Hearts Follow Actions

Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto teaches that in order to act with alacrity in doing what is right, one must generate inner enthusiasm through one of two paths. Either the inner world awakens and energizes the outer actions, or the outer actions awaken the inner world.

In Mesillat Yesharim, in the chapter on alacrity, the Ramchal explains that before performing any good deed, a person must connect their inner self, the mind and spiritual intention, with their outer self, the physical act and movement.

Sometimes a person understands intellectually why a certain action is worthwhile and immediately decides to carry it out. They approach the task with energy and perseverance until it is complete. In such cases, whether the act is spiritual, such as rising promptly to recite the Shema on time, helping others, or praying with joy and emotion, or practical, such as getting up early for work and acting creatively and efficiently, the inner motivation has awakened the body.

At other times, a person’s inner drive is dormant. They feel sluggish and lack the desire to act properly. In such moments, the solution is to begin with the body. One starts moving and performing technical actions even without inner enthusiasm. The Ramchal assures us that the dry actions themselves, when done energetically and consistently, possess the power to awaken the soul within. Here, the outer actions ignite the inner world.

This is the Ramchal’s practical advice for acquiring alacrity. In every task, one should assess which approach will work now, from the inside out or from the outside in. This reflects the well-known principle taught by the author of Sefer HaChinuch: “Hearts follow actions.”

A person who lacks motivation to study Torah can sit down with a book, begin reading aloud, with rhythm and movement. Even without desire, they will soon see the wonder: the heart awakens, and the learning becomes alive.

Learn Alacrity from the Ant

The ant, too, serves as a powerful metaphor for learning alacrity. As Shlomo HaMelech says, “Go to the ant, you lazy one; observe its ways and grow wise” (Mishlei 6).

From this verse we learn that the opposite of wisdom is laziness. At first glance, one might think the opposite of wisdom is foolishness, not laziness. Yet Shlomo teaches otherwise. True wisdom gives rise to alacrity. The wise person understands the value of life and the value of every moment. Life is measured by time, and time is life itself. How can one allow a moment to pass without purpose?

The wise person understands that small efforts accumulate, just as coins add up to a great sum. The ant teaches that while each individual effort may seem insignificant, together they produce extraordinary results.

Additionally, the ant has no supervisor or ruler urging it on. Its diligence is internal. This is the ideal: to train oneself until alacrity becomes second nature.

As Maimonides writes in Laws of Character Traits, a person acquires good traits through repeated practice until they become natural and effortless.

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Alacrity, Not Rashness

The Malbim adds a fascinating insight. The ant’s actions are not merely technical labor. It cuts the small protrusion from each grain of wheat, preventing it from sprouting. This careful preparation ensures its food supply will not spoil.

Despite its speed, the ant works patiently and thoughtfully. This is alacrity balanced with wisdom, not reckless haste.

Rashness may look like diligence, but it often leads to failure. True alacrity is thoughtful and measured. Even in Torah study, racing ahead without review can result in forgetting everything learned. Genuine progress requires balance, steady movement, and reflection.

This principle reflects the Rambam’s teaching of the “golden mean,” the balanced path between extremes. Alacrity must avoid both laziness and recklessness.

The Human Being as a “Small World”

Our sages teach that a person is a “small world.” Everything created in the universe exists, in some form, within the human being. Bones resemble mountains, hair resembles forests, bodily systems parallel rivers and seas. Even character traits mirror animals: courage like a lion, cunning like a fox, loyalty like a dog.

As the Malbim explains, animals embody a single dominant trait, but the human being contains them all. This diversity gives us the ability and responsibility to refine ourselves.

Animals act by instinct, without moral reasoning. Yet their behavior serves as instruction for us. By observing creation attentively, we learn discipline, diligence, balance, and wisdom.

Thus, by contemplating the ant and its ways, we gain insight into alacrity, balance, and purposeful living. Through thoughtful action and inner refinement, the soul itself can become a true “woman of valor.”