Hi there. Since I was a kid I struggled mightily with these sins up until recently, about 25 years in total. As of the last 2 years of so, I bh was privileged to have my eyes opened to the following, via having the merit of acquiring certain mentors who taught me some of the path of what it means to be a jew, which in turn has turned my life around for the better in all areas, including this one. It has diminished the struggle tremendously.
I was taught, that what we experience in our lives, in all circumstances, is not a battle, or struggle, or anything that has ANY negative connotatation, ever. It is rather pure love from god which manifests itslef into the form of the so called struggle etc. The "struggle" is in its deeper form- the softest of caresses and loving pats on our cheeks from our dad -as its there to help us achieve and acquire the best feeling in the world, being close to our sanity, our true selves, our soul, and the source of our soul, our dad.
So instead of thinking - how am I going to beat this thing(which is how lots of people think including myself), which of course is an extremely hard and at times quite painful road to travel on, one that is fraught with "failure"-
instead, turns into the exact opposite sort of thought - i.e.- I am so freaking lucky that I have this wonderful oppurtunity to be selfless,cleave to my creator, feel the very best of closeness to my truest self,etc. and only the very best of thoughts that we can conjure up, and multiply that infinitely.
This thought turns us from fighting mode - to one of an embracing mode. From worry mode - to a calm and loving mode. The struggle ceases to be felt as a struggle, but rather feels like what it really truly is underneath the visible exterior. A lovely and heart warming gift from our dad to us.This shatters the intensity of the so called battle.As its all a masquerade. A sham, for our benefit. It now turns into something that is not trying to tear us down, but lifts us up, and thats how we manuever much more effortlessly and successfully. We are not swimming upstream anymore(which is exhausting - and is not that successful at times), but with the currents and one of a pleasant sensation.
The baal shem tov was the emissary from our loving father to reveal to us this most vital and crucial foundation of what our tools will be , with which hashem knew that we will be empowered to fulfill our mission. That tool is - ahava, reciproval love to the highest levels that we can humanly attain. The only tool that we need to accomplish it all.That is the only thought we need to think. Nothing else. Its as simple as can be. This secret method, is the method that works, because it was prescribed by the best psychologist/psychiatrist/therapist/Dr./Rabbi and most experienced. The one that created the "struggle" with its remedy - our dad.
He told this secret to the Baal shem, and this is the tool that for the past 200 plus years or so, has saved hundreds of thousands of jews in all their "struggles", including lusting etc.
Hashem via the baal shem tov, doesnt need our proving it to ourselves or others that the method works.That being said, if I would hypothetically need to reassure myself or others that it actually is effective, I would have my own experience to relay. If and when we encounter any jew, we are to share with him this most precious and life saving Torah. If chas vsholom a yid still feels like its not working for him, we know that that too is for his benefit, that he should feel like hes still struggling for whatever time span, because our dad has dictated it so.Simultaneously, of coures we are to try all methods at our disposal into helping out. Its simultaneous at all times.
Warning: Spoiler!
