Good vs. Evil Inclination: How to Recognize Which Voice Is Guiding You

Lior asks: “How can I tell the difference between the good inclination (yetzer tov) and the evil inclination (yetzer hara)? Sometimes I want to strengthen myself spiritually but end up failing, or I fail and then feel too ashamed to pray. I can’t always tell whether what I’m feeling and thinking comes from the yetzer tov or from the yetzer hara trying to deceive me. I would appreciate some guidance.”

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Shalom, Lior.

The best approach is to find a rabbi who can get to know you personally and discuss your doubts in depth. However, even if you haven’t yet found your rabbi, you can still turn to our sacred books for guidance. The Torah and works of mussar (ethical teachings) offer two main ways to test which inclination is speaking to you, so you can recognize when the yetzer hara is disguising itself as the yetzer tov.

1. The Outcome Test

This is a very simple self-check:

• If your thoughts lead you to distance yourself from God, from Torah, and from mitzvot, then they are definitely coming from the yetzer hara.

For example, if after a sin you feel ashamed to pray or keep mitzvot, or you start thinking you are unworthy of life itself, those thoughts are not humility, but they are the yetzer hara trying to push you away. As the Talmudic Sages taught (Yoma 29b), “Thoughts of sin are worse than the sin itself,” because while the act is over, the negative thoughts keep going and drive you further from God.

• If your thoughts instead lead you to draw closer, to pray with more intention, to strengthen your observance — without pushing you into anxiety or depression, then that is the voice of the yetzer tov.

Examine the result. Does this thought bring you closer to God, or further away?

2. The Expectation Test

Pay attention to what is being demanded of you:

• The yetzer hara often demands perfection, knowing full well that perfection is impossible in this world. Its tactic is to overwhelm you with unrealistic goals so that you eventually give up entirely.

• The yetzer tov, however, is realistic and strategic. Like a wise general, it tells you to take only the territory you can truly conquer — step by step, gradually increasing your strength.

For example, let’s consider the prohibition of lashon hara (harmful speech).

• The yetzer hara might say: “From now on, take a vow of silence, fast for your past sins, punish yourself, and live in constant fear — only this way will you guard your tongue perfectly.” This extreme approach is a guaranteed setup for failure.

• The yetzer tov would suggest: “Commit to something small but achievable, such as learning two short laws about lashon hara each day after prayer for a month. You can do this, and it will naturally improve your speech.”

The yetzer hara is focused only on the present, urging you to “be a complete tzaddik right now!” The yetzer tov is focused on the long-term, guiding you toward steady, sustainable growth.