Find the Fox

Find the Fox (Known in SMART Recovery as DISARM) is an imagery technique to deal with urges that can help externalize an urge.

The full abbreviation is Destructive Imagery and Self-talk Awareness and Refusal Method. The awareness aspect is hardly focused on in SMART. But it refers to being aware of your thoughts, and nipping urges in the bud.

Dr. A Thomas Horvath, former president of SMART Recovery, describes the idea as follows:

Use imagery of fighting back (personify the craving). You can imagine that the craving is some type of enemy or misleading person who has now set upon you: an attacking warrior, a slick salesperson, a lying lobbyist, the devil, an animal, a monster, or any other image that has meaning to you. In imagination, fight back using means that are appropriate in your image (if it is a warrior you similar weapons to defeat the warrior, if it a salesperson, be assertive).

Here's how it is described in the SMART Recovery Handbook:

In the same way that your addictive behavior is only a behavior and not “you,” an urge is merely a feeling or an impulse you experience, not the essence of you.

Some people find it helps to cope with their urges if they give them a name, as if the urges were another being or something outside themselves. Give your urge and its voice a name that describes what it feels like when theurge comes on. SMART participants have used names like, “The Inner Brat,” “The Lobbyist,” “The Whiner,” and simply, “The Enemy.”

(If you picture your addiction as something or someone out to get you, how would you see it? (e.g. a wild animal, a devil, a smooth talking liar, etc.)

Naming your urge may help you recognize it sooner. When you hear the first whispers of its voice, address it by name, and firmly refuse it. Tell it to get lost or that it’s no longer welcome; laugh at it. Then visualize it getting smaller and weaker, and disappearing.

Personifying your urge helps in two ways: It serves as a reminder that you are not your behavior; it defines something that, until now, may have felt amorphous and shadowy. It puts you in a power position over the urge and your addictive behavior.

SMART Recovery Handbook

The idea is that something when you have an urge it's helpful to objectify that urge, by giving it a name, and independent existence, outside of your own mind. Think of it as your urge avatar, that annoying character that gets you do do things, that you feel you shouldn't do, and that could produce bad results, or extremely bad results, instead of struggling to ignore this character, just become aware of it, and to help you do this assign him or her a character, like the brat, the clown, the lobbyist, the whining baby, the terrorist, or sleazy salesman. Whatever character you create, it's ultimately a reflection of your ego, the idea of giving your ego an objective existence or agency outside your mind is not a new concept, it's been part of many spiritual and philosophical practices for centuries, the basic idea is to become aware of the destructive image or urge avatars in your mind, and instead of ignoring them or fighting them, simply exercise your right to refuse them. The more you refuse them, the weaker they get, and the stronger your recovery becomes. Even after a lot of practice refusing them, we know that these voices won't ever go away, they're bound to popup as some uninvited guests from time to time and when the do just acknowledge them and say, "hey haven't seen you for a while, thanks for popping in, but I'm too busy living my life now, time for you to leave, and don't let the door hit you on the way out."

DISARMING the ‘Salesman’

The SMART Recovery Toolbox describes this technique as a way to "Defeat the Addiction Salesman in Your Head".

It is a game you can play with yourself, which might help you to:

• Identify the specific thoughts which, if followed, would lead to using when you have already decided that, in the long term, this choice is not for you, and

• Steadfastly refuse to go along with this thinking no matter how attractive it might seem. Instead of talking yourself into lapsing you can develop powerful countering and coping statements. To do this, it may help to invent and personify an ‘enemy’ who lives in your mind, and whose only purpose is to get you to use. The ‘salesman’ (your alter ego) knows you well, and can change form to take advantage of your weakest moments. Name your salesman (e.g. gangster, enemy, diplomat, weasel, etc.). When urges come, ask yourself, ‘What is she/he telling me now? How is she/he trying to trick me.

When thoughts are identified:

1. Without debate, ATTACK the salesman with powerful counter statements: ‘Nice try, jerk. You can’t fool me!’ You can be as aggressive or profane as your nature allows with the salesman—after all, s/he is trying to screw up your life.
2. Then quickly FOCUS on some other thoughts, images, or activities which are consistent with what you want in the long run and inconsistent with what the salesman is saying. The salesman then loses his power and fades away.

Later on, you can submit the salesman’s tricks to an ABC analysis in order to dispute them. You usually discover irrational themes and patterns in the thoughts and arguments the salesman throws at you. While coping statements alone will often work, it is important not to omit disputing. If your coping statements aren’t working, it is because you don’t believe them as strongly as you believe your salesman’s pitch. Through disputing we can develop powerful coping statements for use in the future.

In a video about DISARM of Checkup & Choices Dr. William Campbell adds that this strategy can be used anytime you start "imagining situations in which you drink or use", "seeing yourself drinking or using", "thinking about what it would feel like to use" or "anything you might say to convince yourself to drink or use or different excuses you might tell yourself why it would be alright to give in to the urge". He adds:

In DISARM, you see the urge as a person or type of person you really don’t like. It may be an annoying, pushy salesman, a spoiled 2-year old having a tantrum or some person from your past that you really didn’t get along with.

You imagine the urge as this person telling you something you really don’t want to do. You treat the urge as you would that person.

Let’s say you go with the annoying, pushy salesman. Would it help to reason or argue with this person? No. Anything you say to a pushy salesman is just going to get you deeper into his pitch. He doesn’t really care about you. He’s trying to sell you something you don’t want, don’t need and can’t afford. You just want to get away, and he just keeps pressuring. What do you do? You say no! Get away from me! I’m sick and tired of you! Then you turn your back on the urge and walk off. Maybe you’d like to imagine slamming the door on his face. Do it! You don’t want this urge to get its foot in the door.

Whatever image you choose, make sure it’s something or someone you really don’t like and practice even when you’re not feeling the urge. Imagine the detailed scenario of confronting and rejecting the person. That way you’ll be good and ready when the urge does strike.

Peter W. Soderman suggests:

You can call it [the addictive voice] anything you like; I only suggest that the name you give it should reflect the way in which it appears to you. Some call it “The Enemy,” or “The Terrorist.” Whatever name you decide upon, it should be personally meaningful. Once you name it, you can literally tell it to go to hell. Remember, it is a part of you that is trying to kill you — nothing less. A voice that tells you that you can get away with using “just once” is not trying to do you any favors, is it? Telling you that you “need it” is just plain wrong; you know better.

Similar Techniques

• Use imagery. If you feel as though you are about to be overwhelmed by urges to use, imagine scenes that portray those urges as storms that end with calmness, mountains that can be climbed, or waves that can be ridden. Everyone can find an image to maintain control until the urge peaks and then dissipates. Some people imagine being a warrior who can defeat urges as if they were an enemy or an explorer who can slice through tropical underbrush and carve out a trail. Images can be made vivid by using relaxation techniques and all the senses (e.g., seeing the thick green jungle, hearing the blade swishing through the leaves, smelling the tropical plants). Photographs of loved ones also can distract you. Steinberg et al (2005), Brief Counseling for Marijuana Dependence: A Manual for Treating Adults p. 113

• Construal interventions. A possible means to reduce the chances of giving in to temptation is to construe the incentive differently, to perform a ‘cognitive transformation’. Its appearance might then come to trigger automatic associations that are negative rather than positive. Fujita and Han (2009) investigated construal of food items with some suggestion of possible therapeutic interventions. For example, a candy bar might be construed as a ‘sinful diet-buster’ rather than as a ‘tasty holiday treat’. With the help of exercises in the imagination, a paedophile might try to construe a child as ‘jail-bait’ rather than as ‘desirable’. Toates, Frederick. How Sexual Desire Works (p. 222). Cambridge University Press. Kindle Edition.

The Beast

Rational Recovery's Addictive Voice Recognition Technique, or AVRT, has some similarities to DISARM.

The metaphor in AVRT is that of a beast:

It's like there are two of you, at cross purposes, in conflict. In mortal combat ... The Beast is a master of disguise. It seems to be you! But it is only an appetite for alcohol or drugs. You are not an appetite...

Ray Gun Imagery

"Imagine a ray gun. Visualize your craving as a robot or a monster. Then atomize it with your weapon. Imagine the robot or monster disintegrating, its pieces spraying all over the surrounding space, until it no longer has any substance. Or imagine the craving as an alien space ship that you’re shooting at in a computer game with the same result." Peele, Stanton. Recover!: Stop Thinking Like an Addict and Reclaim Your Life with The PERFECT Program

Samurai image

"Another related imagery technique is the Samurai image. The client is instructed to visualize the urge as an externalized “enemy” or threat to one’s life. As soon as the Samurai warrior (the client) recognizes the presence of the urge, it is disposed of immediately with an active response (e.g., “beheaded with the sword of awareness”). The client as Samurai is warned that urges may assume a variety of “disguises” to avoid being detected. Although some urges may be easy to detect and deal with since they are externally visible (e.g., an open pack of cigarettes on a table), others may be more subtle and disguise themselves as an internal voice or prompter that seems to come from within (e.g., having a thought such as “I could really use a drink at a time like this”). These “internalized” urges are more difficult to deal with, since the Samurai must first externalize them in order to reveal their true identity. The more “macho” clients may wish to visualize cutting a notch in their belt for each vanquished urge." Allan Marlatt, Relapse Prevention p. 241-2.

Red-X

Some people use the ‘Red X’ technique: "I totally stopped fantasizing about porn about four weeks ago. Whenever a porn flashback enters my mind I visualize a big red X over it and imagine a loud ambulance siren. If the porn image is insistent, I visualize exploding it in my head. The key is to do it immediately. The technique becomes more automatic with time. If you don’t know what else to do, wait and do nothing. Think to yourself, ‘Here are cravings. They came out of nowhere and they have no real power over me. I am not my thoughts; I did not summon them; I do not want them; and I do not have to act on them.’ Typically, the thought will vanish without a trace (for a time). All urges die down, usually within quarter of an hour.". Wilson, Gary. Your Brain on Porn: Internet Pornography and the Emerging Science of Addiction

The PIG

"Monique was particularly taken by the urge-surfing technique of seeing through the “PIG.”

The pig is a greedy, impulsive animal with a ravenous appetite; it stands for the “Problem of Immediate Gratification.” The pig shows up, grunting “I’m starving. I’m craving. Feed me now.” If you respond by giving the pig what it demands, it gets bigger and stronger. It begins to control you. When your pig says, “Give me, give me, give me now,” talk to it. Relax, observe, become mindful. Remain in control. [...] Those of you who are having difficulty with the more abstract image of surfing the urge might prefer visualizing a loud, disgusting PIG demanding to be fed. See it rummaging; hear it grunting; smell its stench. That vivid image can help you experience the urge as something external and alien, something you can observe curiously rather than fight."

John C. Norcross, Changeology

The Parasite

I try to picture the yetzer hora as a small parasite. A little fat creature sitting outside my brain clinging to me as parasites do. (It has to be a small creature not a huge overpowering monster which could feel like you're battling an overwhelming being that you have no strength for.)

Now this tiny little creature is holding the image in question and trying to push it to the forefront of my brain.

There is absolutely no need to accept his suggestion. He wants this one image to block every other thought and emotion from reaching the forefront of my brain and that is something I'm not willing to allow so easily. I value my independence and want to be able to have every thought of mine to be able to be heard.

So I have to picture Him holding this image and trying to push it to the front. Once you really see this with a completely clear mind and you have no desire to fantasize about this image, it's laughable! He's not giving up, He's still standing there, this tiny creature holding a picture much larger than himself, already blown up to magical proportion, red and sweaty, pushing the picture with all his little might while I'm watching and having a laugh!

Hannibal (a personal trainer)

Hashem gave you a partner, your own personal Defensive trainer, a.k.a. the yetzer Hara. I call him Hannibal. You should come up with your own nickname.

Hannibal Barca was a military genius who gained victory after victory against the mighty Roman Empire. He studied his adversaries and knew his enemies before engaging them. He made good use of terrain and laid ambushes. Above everything else, his strategic tactics won battles. This guy is the Einstein of military warfare.

Hannibal is the toughest trainer, custom designed for just you.

Trust me you’ll hate him at first, and give him a terrible nickname. You might!!  Once you start pick up on his style, you’ll feel he’s trying to overcome you, daily, with small action by small action, trying to get you into habits and overtake you, ultimately practically own you. Ever hear of death by a thousand paper cuts? Feels like he’s trying to crush your soul spirit?

In truth he’s working for your owner and as your personal trainer he’s tasked with making you stronger, to compete and to WIN!

• See more on this technique in Play the Yetzer Hara’s game and Win!

Blow it up

By @TheJester

I had urges - terrible urges.  Urges that affected others, as well as myself.  Even after I consciously determined to cease these activities, I found thoughts entering my mind.  My response was to visualize an explosion, blowing the thoughts up.  The reason for this is that the thoughts would invade any other "clean" thought that I could envisage.  They would violently attack the clean space that I tried to form.  I responded with violence (I am emphatically not, nor have I ever been, even mildly violent or physically aggressive) - blowing up those unclean images.

This did not always work - the images would reinvade the now vacant space left in my mind.  I then set off "cluster explosions", which would deal with all the little bits and pieces that remained.  This could go on for a while at the beginning (I can still picture myself walking down a street, stopping and closing my eyes for thirty seconds until I had blown up the fragments), but over time the "immediate reinvasion phenomenon" subsided.  This is a stratagem that I continue to use.

I believe that the effectiveness of this is due to avoidance of a common mistake - dwelling on the symptom, and ignoring the problem.  Dwelling on the symptom, in my observation, causes either guilt or fascination - this said "go away, I will not even acknowledge you other than to remove you" - I then moved on with whatever I was doing.  Each time I felt that there were no lingering particles, I would silently thank Hashem for the fortitude he had given me.  I see this as important, since it put a small positive thought in the empty space left.

• by the way, this technique of visualizing things and blowing them up is described in the first chapter of Richard Bandler's book on self-hypnosis.  it's an incredibly powerful technique if done properly.  just careful where you set the explosives. @ontheedgeman
• Summary: This is a personal favorite of mine, It's very simple. When you realize that you're thinking about these things then just blow the thought up. And if it happens again, then just blow it up again. I find it pretty fun, to "get revenge" on the thoughts and think of different ways to blow it up each time. @Inastruggle

'Pop the Bubble' Technique

by Rabbi Shaya Baumann

I’m a Rebbe in a Yeshiva Elementary School. This past week, we met with the parents of a young man with severe anxiety as we prepared to set him up for the coming school year. Meeting by Zoom, we were joined by parents, teachers, administration and the boy's psychologist. The psychologist described a number of the fascinating techniques he has been using with the student to address his anxiety, one of which is called "Pop the Bubble!"

The technique works as follows: He asks the boy to envision his escalating thoughts and fears in a cartoon-like 'thought bubble.' For example, a small sound at night leads to thoughts of a monster under the bed, which then grows to a full monster attack... etc. But he then explains to the boy that it's all just in his mind! Yes, the thoughts in the 'bubble' gets bigger and scarier... But all he needs to do is stick out his finger, and 'pop the bubble'...and poof, it's gone! This cute trick helps because it helps the youngster visualize that all those growing thoughts and fears, as real as they seem, are really only a figment of his imagination.

I thought to myself, "Hey, that's a great technique for Shemiras Einayim as well!" "Pop the Bubble!" Desire is aroused and the 'dimyonos' and the fantasies begin... They get bigger and bigger, seeming to be so real and enticing. But we've learned how it's all just in your mind... It's imagination. The fantasies are always exaggerations of the truth. As chazal teach us (Shabbos 152)... Rav Dessler and others describe how chasing desire is like chasing the elusive mirage in the desert... So here as well, all we need to do is to - "Pop the bubble!"

• See והאר עיננו פ"ב בשם הר"ר אביגדור מילר זצ"ל that the sexual attraction is like a balloon - there's nothing really to it.

Other Metaphor Ideas

• "I like using "the blind lion" as the Mr. Fox character (ie: the blind lion wants me to look there) based on the gemara in Yoma 69 that the Yetzer Hara looked like a lion cub when the Rabanan isolated it, and when they saw they could not get rid of it as they did with the yetzer for avoda zara, they blinded it before releasing it." @Sheva Yipol Tzaddik
• The Spider: Imagine the urge as a spider that just landed on you from the ceiling. Then see yourself shaking it off and flattening it with your shoe. Or how about a flying Cockroach, as Chazal say that the Yetzer Hara is both a מנוול and a זבוב. #Editor
• An ugly animal like a Naked Mole Rat, Blobfish or maybe a squirrel. נפש הבהמית #Editor
• Slimy, or "King Slimy", as it says in Seforim that the Yetzer appears to us as a manipulative friend. #Editor
• The neighborhood bully: Understanding what lust is and what it causes is the way to cut it out of your life. What you may have accepted in the past as "healthy male desire" is not just that. Healthy desire doesn't cause someone to risk marriage and relationships. Normal sexual activity isn't a custom made weapon of mass destruction, but lust most definitely is. Lust is what pushes a person to risk more than he can gain. It's what urges a person to rationalize and excuse his base animalistic behavior, and find blame with everyone else without admitting/ understanding he most likely is the problem. Porn, chat rooms, masturbation, fantasizing, eyes roaming in the streets, all come from one core driving force...you guessed it - nuclear energy- just kidding, LUST! Lust isn't a need or necessity. It may feel like it. It may overwhelm you and cause you to try to bust through the very filters you installed, but it  is only a feeling. It can completely make your body quiver with desire and anticipation, but it's still only an emotion that can be completely ignored. It's the neighborhood bully that we can learn to stand up to. Like they say around here, "No deaths were ever reported on account of not giving in to lust". This perspective is is key to changing. This will be extremely instrumental in returning you to the person/husband/father you were and can be. #grant
• משל הזונה בזוה"ק.
• אכזר ושונא שמעמיד פנים כאוהב - ראה והתקדשתם ח"ב עמ' ס מחובת הלבבות.

Key Points

• Identify - Label the urge as something (persona, type of person / creature) that you despise:
  • Annoying (or: Sleezy, Slimy) Salesman
  • Terrorist
  • Gangster
  • A Iranian Diplomat
  • Clown
  • A PIG
  • Phishing Scammer (an ACT Metaphor)
  • Nigerian Scammer
• Refuse. Do one of the following:
  • Gently refuse - Say "hey haven't seen you for a while, thanks for popping in, but I'm too busy living my life now, time for you to leave, and don't let the door hit you on the way out..."
  • Attack - Imagine that person trying to convince you to do something that you're not interesting in doing. Treat the urge the same way you would treat that person. Don't try to reason or debate. Just talk with assertive powerful language ("I didn't invite you, get out of here"), and get rid of him (or destroy it if it's an object). E.g. imagine kicking him out and slamming the door shut.
• Optional: Focus on something else. Maybe something that will give you real true satisfaction.

Notes

• Make a mi shebeirach and give him a name :)

Torah Sources

The Technique

• תלמוד בבלי מסכת קידושין דף פא עמוד א: פלימו הוה רגיל למימר כל יומא: גירא בעיניה דשטן. יומא חד מעלי יומא דכיפורי הוה, אידמי ליה כעניא, אתא קרא אבבא, אפיקו ליה ריפתא, אמר ליה: יומא כי האידנא כולי עלמא גואי, ואנא אבראי? עייליה וקריבו ליה ריפתא. אמר ליה: יומא כי האידנא כולי עלמא אתכא, ואנא לחודאי? אתיוהו אותבוהו אתכא. הוה יתיב מלא נפשיה שיחנא וכיבי עליה, והוה קעביד ביה מילי דמאיס, א"ל תיב שפיר. אמר ליה: הבו לי כסא, יהבו ליה כסא, אכמר שדא ביה כיחו, נחרו ביה, שקא ומית. שמעו דהוו קאמרי: פלימו קטל גברא! פלימו קטל גברא! ערק וטשא נפשיה בבית הכסא, אזיל בתריה נפל קמיה. כי דחזייה דהוה מצטער גלי ליה נפשיה, אמר ליה: מאי טעמא אמרת הכי? ואלא היכי אימא? אמר ליה, לימא מר: רחמנא נגער ביה בשטן.

• See Battle of the Generation p. 120-133.
• הוי מסתכל על המחשבה והבט איך חי' אכזרי' מאוסה ומטונפת זו התפרצה במוחך וברגליה המזוהמות מטנפת ודורסת את כל קודש אשר בך, ואת פיה האיום פוערת, וכל חוטי ונימי גופך נמשך ונשמתך מכרסמת. השמר והזהר שלא את המחשבה רעה תחשוב, רק אודות המחשבה, ועל חי' הרעה אשר מנפש ועד בשר מכלה אותך ח"ו. הוי מזדעזע כולך וצעוק בלבך על עצמך, האם נואף אני ח"ו, האם נרקב אני כבר בשאול תחתית השם ישמרנו [צי בין איך שוין ח"ו אזוא געמיין, צי פאהל איך שוין באמת אין שאול תחתית, זאל דער אובערשטער אבהיטען]. ואם רוצה את לשמש באמצעי זה שלא בשעת התפילה, אז גם בפיך צעוק כן על עצמך מתוך מרירת לבך. (הכשרת האברכים פ"ט עמ' נא)
• שאול נשאל רבינו זצוק"ל כיצד יעשה איש המתעסק בהצלת נפשות אולם תוך כדי התעסקותו בענין מסוים הינו נחשף לנסיונות מצד פיתויי יצה"ר והרהורי עבירה רח"ל האם בגלל כך יאסוף ידיו מלעזור לאומללים ויפקיר אותם לחלוטין? השיבו רבינו בחכמתו אין לך תריס מעולה כנגד יצה"ר מחשיפת פרצוף ולקרוא לו בשמו המפורש דע יצה"ר אוהב מאד את ההסוואה וההצטנעות המצב האהוב עליו מכל הוא שמזימתו נשארת בגדר נעלם אשר מליבא לפומא לא גליא. ואילו כשעושים פרסום למזימתו הרעה מיד הוא בורח ומסתלק ובכן בכל הזדמנות של נסיון וחשש מכשול יש להכריז במלים ברורות ובקול רם באזני המסית והמפתה שמדובר בעבירה ובחטא מפורש כי אז ימהר יצה"ר להיעלם ויניח לו. (והאיש משה להר"מ סולובייצ'יק, ח"א עמ' קעו. הובא ב"והאר עיננו" עמ' מג)
• תניא ליקוטי אמרים פרק יב: מיד בעלייתו לשם דוחהו בשתי ידים ומסיח דעתו מיד שנזכר שהוא הרהור רע ואינו מקבלו ברצון
  • This may refer to 2 steps: 1 pushing it away with both hands. Earlier in the chapter there is a metaphor of 2 kings fighting over a city. וראה קונטרס העבודה פרק ב.
  • In the סדר עבודת יום הכיפורים it says: דחפו בשתי ידיו לאחרויו והוא היה מתגלגל ויורד. I wonder if there's some imagery here in the Tanya, that the though should be pushed off the cliff like the שעיר לעזאזל.

Metaphors and language

• משלי פרק יא פסוק כב: נזם זהב באף חזיר אשה יפה וסרת טעם. וראה אלשיך שם
  • בשארית ישראל שער השובבי"ם דרוש עשירי: לית עתירא מחזירא (ע"פ שבת קנה, ב), כי החזיר הוא קליפה שאינו מרגיש בחסרון, כי אוכל הכל אפילו צואה ומכל שכן דברים אחרים, וזהו ענין פגם הברית רח"ל, כמאמר רבותינו ז"ל (באבות דרבי נתן), משחרב בית המקדש ניטלה טעם ביאה וניתנה לבעלי עבירה רח"ל, וזהו באמת אשה חמת מלא צואה מלאה דם.
• ריש לקיש אמר: אין אדם עובר עבירה אא"כ נכנס בו רוח שטות, שנא': איש איש כי תשטה אשתו, תשטה כתיב (מסכת סוטה ג, א)
• מלך זקן וכסיל - זה יצר הרע - "The old foolish king" (Koheles 4:13) refers to the Yetzer Hara (Midrash Raba on the Pasuk).
• אם פגע בך מנוול זה משכהו לבית המדרש - If this wretched one encounters you, pull it into the Beis Hamidrash. (Kiddushin 30b)
• אמר רב: יצר הרע דומה לזבוב ויושב בין שני מפתחי הלב - Rav said: The evil inclination is like a fly and it sits between the two entrances of the heart, as it is stated: “Dead flies make the ointment of the perfumer fetid and putrid” (brachos 61a). Ready to swat the fly?
  • כי המסית יושב כזבוב במפתחי הלב. מתחדש עליו בכל יום. צופה ומביט להכשילו ומשים לבו לעצה הרעה הזאת - רבינו יונה
• אמר ר"ל הוא שטן הוא יצר הרע הוא מלאך המות - Reish Lakish says: Satan, the evil inclination, and the Angel of Death are one (Baba Basra 16a).
• הנפש הבהמית היא הנפש המתאוה המאכל והמשתה והמשגל והשינה והכעס, בה ישתתף האדם עם הבהמות והחיות - The animal soul is the soul which desires food, drink, intercourse, sleep and anger. It's what a human has in common with animals. (Rabbeinu Bechayei 2:7). See also הקדמת הראב"ד לבעלי הנפש.
• תניא ליקוטי אמרים פרק כח: והוא כמשל אדם המתפלל בכוונ' ועומד לנגדו עו"ג רשע ומשיח ומדבר עמו כדי לבלבלו שזאת עצתו בודאי שלא להשיב לו מטוב ועד רע ולעשות עצמו כחרש לא ישמע - the end of the quote is more related to Defusion.
• וגם ירעים עליה בקול רעש ורוגז להשפילה כמאמר רז"ל (ברכות ה, א) לעולם ירגיז אדם יצ"ט על יצה"ר שנאמר רגזו וגו' דהיינו לרגוז על נפש הבהמית שהיא יצרו הרע בקול רעש ורוגז במחשבתו לומר לו אתה רע ורשע ומשוקץ ומתועב ומנוול וכו' ככל השמות שקראו לו חכמינו ז"ל באמת :תניא ליקוטי אמרים פרק כט (See there for the full context.)
  • אור אליעזר (שולביץ - תלמיד הגרש"ז מקלם) חלק א' עמ' קו דרכי המלחמה אמרו חז"ל כו' לעולם ירגיז אדם יצר טוב על יצר הרג, הרגזה היא במלחמה וכפיה ... היצה"ר בלתי אפשר לנצחו רק ע"י ממשלה והרגזהכ, להרגיזו ולגעור בו, כי היצה"רק בא לאדם בחוצפה ועזות, כי הוא מלך בחזקה, זקן בהרגל, וכסיל שונא חכמה. כן הוא גס בי' בהאדם שכבר נשמע להסתתו, ... לכן על האדם לעמו כנגדו ג"כ בתוקף וחוזק ובהרגזה דוקא, ולגעור בו בעזות, כמאמר ז"ל הוי עז כנמר שלא יפול רוחו נגד הניצה"ר המלך זקן, ואל יביט על גבהות היצה"ר וישיב לו לך מעלי צא טמא וכסיל, ואם אמנם עד עתה שמעתי להסתתך שהייתי שוטה, ועתה פקחתי עיני, בשום אופן לא עשמע לעצך והנני כקטן שנולד, ולהרגיזו ולגרשו בחזקה וכדרך ממשלה בעל כרחו.

The Yetzer Hara as a manipulator

• רש"י בראשית פרשת תולדות פרק כו: עשו היה נמשל לחזיר, שנאמר (תהלים פ יד) יכרסמנה חזיר מיער, החזיר הזה כשהוא שוכב פושט טלפיו לומר ראו שאני טהור, כך אלו [אלופי עשו] גוזלים וחומסים ומראים עצמם כשרים.
• שבת דף קה עמוד ב: רבי שמעון בן אלעזר אומר משום חילפא בר אגרא, שאמר משום רבי יוחנן בן נורי: המקרע בגדיו בחמתו, והמשבר כליו בחמתו, והמפזר מעותיו בחמתו - יהא בעיניך כעובד עבודה זרה; שכך אומנתו של יצר הרע, היום אומר לו עשה כך ולמחר אומר לו עשה כך. עד שאומר לו עבוד עבודה זרה והולך ועובד. ע"כ. דהיינו שהיום אומר לו יצרו שבר את כליך וקרע כסותך ולמחר הוא אומר לו לך ועבוד ע"ז (אבות דרבי נתן פ"ד). וכן הוא בנדה יג, ב: אמר רב: המקשה עצמו לדעת יהא בנדוי, ולימא אסור! דקמגרי יצה"ר אנפשיה. ורבי אמי אמר: נקרא עבריין, שכך אומנתו של יצר הרע, היום אומר לו עשה כך, ולמחר אומר לו עשה כך, ולמחר אומר לו לך עבוד עבודת כוכבים - והולך ועובד.
• המגיד מקלם ניהל כל ימיו מלחמה עזה נגד יצר הרע. הכיר את המנוול הזה ומשכהו לבית המדרש והוקיע את תחבולותיו ושקריו הוא. מבאר את המאמר התלמודי "טוב מאד זה יצר הרע" כי יצר הרע מתלבש באצטלא של ירא שמים והוא מפתה את האדם לרדוף את חברו מפני שהוא מזלזל במצוות ומסביר לו כי זוהי מצוה. היצר הרע מתחכם ללכוד ברשתו גם את הצדיק שיעשה מעשים טובים בשביל הכבוד שיגיע אליו מזה. (המגיד מקלם עמ' קעט)
  • מופת הדור הרצמן פ"ז עמ' כח מפי המשגיח רבי יחזקאל לוינשטיין זצ"ל
• לפעמים מתעטף היצה"ר באצטלא של קדושה - א זיידענע זשופיצע - סרטוק של משי. (תורת מנחם חי"ט בשם הרש"ב מליובאוויטש). ושם פתגם בשם זקני החסידים: וואס מיינסטו? עשו איז געגאנגען ארומגערינגלט מיט א הארטע שטריק? ער איז געגאנגן מיט א זיידענע זשופיצע... ואעפ"כ הולך לקראתך וארבע מאות איש עמו.
• In a reply to a yechidus query in the winter of 5635 (1874-75), my grandfather said to my father: The yetzer hara, (the evil impulse), is called "animal soul," not because it is necessarily a brute animal. At times it may be a fox, the most cunning of beasts, and great wisdom is needed to perceive its machinations. At other times it may clothe itself in the garb of an earnest, straightforward, humble tzadik, possessing fine traits of character. Hayom Yom 23 Sivan

The Yetzer Hara as a personal trainer

ראה משל הזונה בזוהר הקדוש (ח"ב קסג, א): "הואיל ורעותיה דקודשא בריך הוא בהאי, היך אתיא עבדא בישא ואשתכח מקטרגא מגו רעותיה דמאריה, ואסטי לבני נשא לארח ביש, ואדחי לון מארח טב, ועביד לון דלא יעבדון רעותא דמאריהון, ואסטי לבני נשא לארח ביש? אלא ודאי רעותיה דמאריה עביד. למלכא דהוה ליה בר יחידאי, והוה רחים ליה יתיר, ופקיד עליה ברחימו דלא יקרב גרמיה לאתתא בישא, בגין דכל מאן דיקרב לגבה לאו כדאי איהו לאעלא גו פלטרין דמלכא, אודי ליה ההוא ברא למעבד רעותיה דאבוי ברחימו. בביתא דמלכא לבר הות חדא זונה, יאה בחיזו ושפירא בריוא, ליומין אמר מלכא בעינא למחמי רעותיה דברי לגבאי, קרא לה לההיא זונה, ואמר לה זילי ותפתי לברי, למחמי רעותיה דברי לגבאי, ההיא זונה מאי עבדת, אזלת אבתריה דבריה דמלכא, שראת לחבקא ליה ולנשקא ליה ולפתי ליה בכמה פתויין, אי ההוא ברא יאות ואצית לפקודא דאבוי, גער בה ולא אצית לה ודחי לה מניה, כדין אבוי חדי בבריה, ואעיל ליה לגו פרגודא דהיכליה, ויהיב ליה מתנן ונבזבזא ויקר סגיא, מאן גרים כל האי יקר להאי ברא, הוי אימא ההיא זונה. וההיא זונה אית לה שבחא בהאי או לא, ודאי שבחא אית לה מכל סטרין, חד דעבדת פקודא דמלכא, וחד דגרמת ליה לההוא ברא לכל ההוא טיבו, לכל האי רחימו דמלכא לגביה. ועל דא כתיב (בראשית א לא) והנה טוב מאד, והנה טוב דא מלאך חיים, מאד דא מלאך המות, דאיהו ודאי טוב מאד למאן דאצית פקודין דמאריה. ותא חזי, אי לא יהא האי מקטרגא, לא ירתון צדיקיא הני גנזיא עלאין דזמינין לירתא לעלמא דאתי".

[והובאו הדברים בכתר שם טוב סי' קלד, ובתניא פ"ט: אך נפש הבהמית שמהקליפה רצונה להפך ממש, לטובת האדם שיתגבר עליה וינצחנה, כמשל הזונה שבזוהר הקדוש.]

Short term vs. Long Term

• ירושלמי שבת פרק יד ה"ג: א"ר אבון והסיר ה' ממך כל חולי זה יצר הרע שראשו מתוק וסופו מר. וראה גם פסחים לט,א למה נמשלו מצריים כמרור לומר לך מה מרור זה שתחילתו רך וסופו קשה אף מצריים כו'. ובחתם סופר מרור גי' מות הוא המלאך המות נקרא חזרת חזיר מיער שתחלתו מתוק בשעה שמפתה לאדם וממתיק לו תאות העה"ז וסופו מר עולה ומקטרג ויורד ונוטל נשמה.
• משלי ה, ג-ד: כי נפת תטפנה שפתי זרה וחלק משמן חכה. ואחריתה מרה כלענה חדה כחרב פיו. ובאלשיך שם: הנה בנמשל משל פרשה זו נגד עיננו ב' דרכים. א, ההולך קדמת איסור מועצות יועץ בליעל הוא שטן הוא יצר הרע, אשר בא יבא ברנה להבכותנו באחרונה, בנעתרות נשיקות משנאה מסותרת נופת תטופנה שפתותיו כמבקש אהבה, ולא משתבש מאן דתני ליבה, ע"כ המשילה שלמה בחכמתו לאשה זרה שאמריה החליקה, וילמדנו דעת נשמר פן ואל נפתה אחריה, כי אחריתה מרה כלענה, וגם כי תבא ברנה בעבור הרינה מרה תהיה באחרונה:
• See also Cost Benefit Analysis

See also

• Swish NLP Technique
• Dual Selves

Specs

• Learning Curve: Low / Medium
• Practice: Occasional
• Urge Strength: Weak, Medium, Strong, Very Strong
• Customization: Deciding the character that the urge is.
• Materials: Doesn't really need materials, but there might be an audio recording from GYE
• Type: Countering
• Brain Effect: Strong
• Easier with Time: Very
• Editors choice: Yes