While wine seems to be one of G-d’s greatest gifts to humanity, it can also be its downfall. Happiness is a virtue in the worship of G-d and there is actually a food item that can help bring one to a state of happiness. Yet important decision making, prayer and most service of G-d must be done without wine in order to be considered virtuous.

In Torah literature, the human psyche is divided in two. The mind, which is the source of the great Jewish intellectual endeavor, and the heart which is the seat of emotion. The ultimate goal of the Jew is to achieve perfect coalescence of mind and spirit. This is the balance that is so difficult to achieve.

It seems that while wine "gladdens the heart" at the same time it weakens the mind. Wine, therefore throws off the balance between heart and thought, diverting us from our larger goal. So here is the difficult part, to achieve happiness of heart without sacrificing lucidity of mind. Not to pour happiness in, but rather to let it naturally flow out of our hearts.