Spiritual Strategies for Conquering Intrusive Thoughts

1. The Baal HaTanya offers a method for pushing away intrusive thoughts. He writes: "Let one become angry at his evil inclination and go against it with strength, saying: ‘You wicked one! How dare you obscure from me the radiance of G-d’s presence, which fills all the earth with His glory, and who created and formed everything? I myself was hewn from the Throne of Glory- deeper and holier even than the source of angels- so how dare you try to cause me to sin?’”

In Shomer Emunim, a story is told of a righteous man who struggled with intrusive thoughts, and the Baal Shem Tov gave him this advice, which helped him greatly.

2. The Midrash Pinchas offers a spiritual remedy: recite the verse “Shema Yisrael” followed by “Baruch Shem Kevod Malchuto Le’olam Va’ed” with deep intention.

3. The Bnei Yissaschar recommends that when a person is plagued by heretical thoughts, they should recite the Torah portion of Ha’azinu.

4. In Shomer Emunim, it is told that the Baal Shem Tov, through divine inspiration, saw that a certain tzaddik (righteous person) was suffering from confusion in faith. Knowing this tzaddik’s spiritual potential, the Baal Shem Tov traveled to him and said, “You must pray to G-d even for this- that He grant you pure faith and firm trust in Him.” That is, one should pray to be granted unwavering faith.

5. A person must believe that even weakening or foreign thoughts come through Divine Providence- as a form of spiritual trial or affliction sent by G-d. Therefore, one should not blame themselves or view themselves as sinful, but rather see it as a test: Will they break in their service, or remain strong?

Because of this, someone struggling with intrusive thoughts should act indifferently: do not engage with the thoughts, do not respond to them, and treat them as nonsense from a separate entity. If one consistently ignores these thoughts, they will eventually fade.

6. In Degel Machaneh Ephraim it is taught: when beset by foreign thoughts, a person should visualize the letters of G-d’s Name- Yud, Heh, Vav, Heh – the Tetragrammaton. This is based on the verse in Psalms: “G-d knows the thoughts of man, that they are but vanity.” The word “knows” here implies breaking, meaning that vain thoughts are broken by meditating on G-d’s Name.

7. Shomer Emunim explains that G-d Himself is hidden within all foreign thoughts. The purpose is to test whether a person will attach themselves to the distraction, or to God, who enlivens all things. Since nothing in the world, not even impure forces, has power without G-d’s will. Therefore, when a person visualizes the Tetragrammaton and binds themselves to G-d’s presence within everything, the vain thoughts are automatically broken and removed.

8. The Noam Elimelech offers this practice as a spiritual remedy: share your confusing thoughts with your spiritual mentor. By externalizing your inner turmoil and speaking it aloud, you weaken the grip of the evil inclination, making it harder for it to dominate you.