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Everyone knows that Elul is a special month to attempt to do good deeds and fortify one's relationship with Hashem.  But what is the focus of the month, if it is to do teshuva, then Chazal should use the expression of the מ' ימי תשובה, not the י' ימי תשובה?  If it is a time to adapt stringincies, that is also only expressed in the poskim during the 10 days of repentance? Rav Chayim Kamil says the 10 days of repentance is the time of embarking on the journey to become closer to Hashem.  However, before embarking on a journey you have to know where you are going!  That is the time of Elul.  Elul is the time to look at the map, see where you are, where the x marking the treasure is and determine the best path to get there.  He says אלול means to observe, to look into, as the Targum in Shelach (14:6) translates התרים as אללי.  It is time for a person to look into their souls and determine the best road to coming close to Hashem.