Reply To: Different levels of religious observance (frumkeit)

A Jew has many obligations.
You are asking about what is beyond these obligations.
What I heard and read from multiple sources is that regarding what is considered stringencies or optional is that one should do what is appropriate for his spiritual level. Over time, one can raise their spiritual level and thereby “raise the bar”, so to speak.
Doing what is beyond one’s real level at the time can do real spiritual damage.