When Does the Evil Inclination Disguise as Our Inner Voice?

Our inner voice is one of the hardest things to decipher. Sometimes it encourages us to do good, but at other times it pulls us towards evil. Unfortunately the evil inclination doesn't arrive with a warning, but disguises itself as a wise, rational, and even moral internal voice. How can you tell when it's deceiving you?

Below are 7 tips to organize your thoughts:

1. When it offers you procrastination disguised as "prudence"

* "Don't do it now – do it tomorrow when you have more energy."

* "First understand everything completely, then start keeping mitzvot."

* "You don't have enough knowledge on this subject – wait until you learn more."

Howto identify?

If your thoughts always delay action, even in small matters, it's a classic tactic of the evil inclination.

How to defeat it?

* Ask yourself: "Does this thought make me delay doing good?" If so, don't listen to it.

* Take a small step right now! Even if it's not perfect, and even if it means learning for only five minutes instead of an hour, or doing a small mitzvah instead of a big one. Every small step weakens the evil inclination and causes it to lose its grip.

2. When it makes you feel righteous – but leads you to isolation from others

* "Don't talk to him – he's not on your level at all!"

* "You deserve to be angry at him, don't give in! He really hurt you!"

* "You have no reason to apologize. He should realize on his own that he was wrong."

How to identify?

If your thoughts lead you to distance from people, to anger, to arrogance – instead of to love and growth, it's likely the evil inclination in disguise.

How to defeat it?

* Ask yourself: "Does this thought make me distant from good people?"

* Do the opposite! If this voice pushes you to anger, choose reconciliation instead. If it tells you to cut ties, initiate a conversation.

3. When it uses "correct" arguments – to make you do nothing

* "If you can't pray with complete intention, it's better not to pray at all."

* "If you don't have time to study for a whole hour, there's no point in opening the book now."

* "If you can't perform the mitzvah perfectly, it's better not to do it at all."

How to identify?

If your inner voice tells you it's better to do nothing instead of a little, it's almost always the evil inclination.

How to defeat it?

* Remember: "A little is also good!" Half a prayer is better than no prayer at all. Five minutes of study is better than not studying at all.

* Don't let perfection stop you! Do the most you can now, and don't wait for "ideal conditions" that will never come.

4. When it encourages you to do "good" – but not what really needs to be done

* "Help everyone, do kindness all day – even if it means forgoing your prayers!"

* "If you strengthen your faith, Hashem will take care of everything – so there's no need to work hard."

How to identify?

If the "good" it offers you comes at the expense of truly important things, rather than integrating with them – that's a sign to be suspicious.

How to defeat it?

* Balance is key. Perform acts of kindness, but not at the expense of your obligations to Hashem or your family.

* Ask yourself: "Does this good come at the expense of another important thing?" If so, set a limit.

5. When it makes you feel not good enough – so why try at all?

* "You're not righteous enough, so why try at all?"

* "It's too late for you to change."

* "You have no hope. Maybe others can get closer to Hashem, but not you."

How to identify?

The evil inclination will always try to convince you that you're not good enough. If your inner voice weakens you instead of strengthening you – it's not a voice of truth.

How to defeat it?

* Remember: All the righteous started this way. There's no such thing as "too late" in the service of Hashem.

* Talk to someone who knows you well – sometimes people on the outside can remind you of your strengths.

6. When it makes you feel like you're alone and have no one to talk to

* "No one will understand you, so it's better not to share."

* "What you're going through is unique – you have no one to consult."

* "If you ask for help, they'll think you're weak."

How to identify?

The evil inclination thrives on loneliness. It wants to convince you that you're alone – because then it's easier for it to control your thoughts.

How to defeat it?

Share with someone wise whom you trust. Often, merely talking to another person will dismantle the power of the negative thought.

7. When it makes you think one mitzvah can replace another

* "You do enough acts of kindness, so no need to study Torah."

* "You put on tefillin every day – so it doesn't matter if you speak lashon hara sometimes."

* "Intention is all that matters – it doesn't matter if you keep Shabbat or not."

How to identify?

If your inner voice suggests you "compromise" one mitzvah for another, suspect that it's the evil inclination in disguise.

How to defeat it?

Remember, no mitzvah replaces another. Every part of serving Hashem is important, and none of them cancels out the others.

In conclusion, how to recognize the disguises of the evil inclination?

* Ask yourself, does this voice bring me closer to good, or pull me away?

* If in doubt – consult someone you trust.

* Don't let the evil inclination convince you to do "nothing" – even a small step forward is a victory.

Sometimes it's hardest to recognize the evil inclination when it sounds like your inner voice. But once you learn to spot it, you are already on the way to defeating it.