What is the meaning of 'Cancel your will before His will so that He may cancel His will before your will'?

Shalom,

The precise phrase is "Do His will as your will, so that He will do your will as His will. Cancel your will before His will, so that He will cancel others' will before your will," as it appears in Pirkei Avot (Chapter 2, Mishnah 4).

The Tiferet Yisrael explains there: Do His will as your will — meaning when you engage in Torah study, which is Hashem's will, do so with diligence and joy, without distraction by other thoughts, just as you would focus all your attention on your livelihood.

So that He will do your will as His will — your livelihood will come swiftly and without difficulty, for when Israel fulfill Hashem's will, their work is undertaken by others (Berachot 35b).

Cancel your will before His will — when your physical desires contend against your obligations to heed Hashem's voice.

So that He will cancel others' will before your will — the will of those who oppose or wish ill upon you will be nullified for your benefit and success. Even the natural order itself will be suspended for your good.

Blessings,

Hillel Meirs