#evil inclination

[storytour-blog]

Who Is in Control of Whom?

A man was charged with committing a serious crime against the king and placed in prison until his trial. When it came time for him to stand trial, one of the king’s guards took him from his cell and escorted him to the place of justice. The king’s guard, suspecting that the prisoner might try to escape, took a pair of handcuffs from his pocket. He then placed one of the cuffs around the wrist of…

[bdkinz]

How do you see your inner critic?

How do you see your inner critic?

The difference between listening to the inner critic vs. seeing the inner critic for what it really is. I came across an interesting vignette in The Five Invitations: Discovering What Death Can Teach Us about Living Fully that really struck home for me (see here for a previous post from The Five Invitations). In this story, Frank Ostaseski illustrates a principle in his discussion regarding how…

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[storytour-blog]

Pursuit of the Yetzer Hara - Evil Inclination

Pursuit of the Yetzer Hara – Evil Inclination

Many students gathered to study and learn from Tam and Chacham. One day the students asked about the Yetzer haRa – Evil Inclination, it seemed that everyone had their own understanding. Tam and Chacham entered the Beis Medresh (House of Study) and saw that the students, who had been talking busily, qieted down and looked towards their teachers. Chacham asked, “What were you talking…

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[theparadiseofdiscoveringjudaism]

Paths, Distractions, & Detours

I’ve been quite stuck in my life, in pretty much every domain, for quite a while now. This Shabbat, G_d gave me some of the most awesome wisdom on how to navigate through life when you’re just so confused as to which steps you should be taking next.

This is what I got...

א. יצר הרע Stops you from doing/remembering something you need to (do)

Blanking out/dissociation: Others’ יצר הרע not wanting us to speak the truth/do good.

ב. יצר הטוב Stops you from doing/remembering something you shouldn’t (do)

ג. So, reflect on which you’re led by most at the moment, by looking at the fruits of your thoughts, to figure out what steps you’re supposed to take next.

________________________________________________________________

א. G_d has you on an ordered path. This path varies by situation.

If you haven’t found it yet, find it. And stick to it. Distractions are from the יצר הרע.

ב. It is your job, only to take the right directions to your destination.

If you come across a detour, follow it, as G_d has a better idea.

ג. Distractions vs. Detours: Distractions cloud you with hopelessness, and detours provide you with direction and (initial) confidence.

When you need help building self-confidence: Talk to your יצר הטוב and ask him for the right answers. 

The right answers will get you on a path with (initial) confidence.

If you talk to your יצר הרע and receive guidance from him, you’ll be on a path filled with uncertainty and anxieties.

Just tell him to f*ck off.

This is why Emotional Support Animals (ESAs) are good...

G_d is in everything; even in the bad, trying to help you out of evil; you just need to notice Him in literally everything..

So, pets are good for those that need more presence of G_d in their lives. Once we reconnect with G_d through our animals, we can combat distractions with His wisdom shining from the light of our animals. 

[jewishnbeautiful]

Evil Inclination

Even though I know what's right

And I try with all my might

To stop the ongoing cycle

It reappears before my eyes

No way to get it out of sight

Oh please, just get off my mind

The desires.Those deep desires

Oh those temptations

Teasing. Haunting. Gnawing.

Do it.Don't do it.Do it

The desire takes charge. Empowering

I steer in the wrong direction