Me, Myself and My Yetzer Hara

I have found the following exercise to be very helpful in developing a healthy self-image and remaining focused on my Tafkid. It revolves around differentiating between the real "Me" and the Yetzer Hara part of me.

The true "Me" wants Torah, Mitzvos, Hashem, and Shalom. The part of me that wants anything that clashes with the above is not "Me". It's my Yetzer Hara.

Once I acknowledge that, it is a lot easier to veer away from the tricks of the Yetzer Hara. 

Instead of saying “I want to play games on my phone...”, I make the distinction “My Yetzer Hara wants me to waste time, the real "Me" wants to serve Hashem now.” 

Instead of feeling, "I am anxious." I acknowledge, "My Yetzer Hara wants to scare me so I won't be able to serve Hashem properly." 

Instead of "I must speak up about this matter, otherwise..." Rather, "My Yetzer Hara wants me to become angry about this matter, the real me does not get angry."

Here are three benefits to this approach:

1. It is truly accurate.

2. It allows me to tap into the fact that the real "I" is all about Kedushah. My essence is pure goodness and is untouchably sacred. 

3. It busts the Yetzer Hara's trick of convincing me that these desires are "mine". While I still take responsibility for my choices, this thought process helps me disown the habits, feelings and thoughts that come in the way of true Avodas Hashem. They are not “me” or my true desires.

Because if the Yetzer Hara can convince me that they are "mine" then I think that I need them and I will go to great lengths to satisfy them. However, if they are not mine, it is remarkably easier to let go of them and refocus myself on serving Hashem and accessing true happiness inherent in being my true self.

Simple?

The next time I think that I "need" something, or I am experiencing a negative emotion that I think I need to experience, I will ask myself, "Does this bring me closer to Torah, Mitzvos, Hashem, or Shalom?" If any one of those is being compromised, I can be sure that the Yetzer Hara has temporarily convinced me that the real "I" needs this.

I must separate the real "me" from these desires, and Daven to Hashem to help me refocus and center myself around the above principles: Torah, Mitzvos, Hashem and Shalom.

Please feel free to share examples in the comments below of areas where you have been able to differentiate between the real, precious, and G-dly "Me" that is the true you, and the sneaky invader called the Yetzer Hara. Let's converse about the challenges that come up when we try to circumvent this trick.