The third plan into battling our Yetzer Hara (evil inclination) is to grind it down like you would do with a stone. This means taking small, even baby steps to fulfill positive mitzvots in the same way you would grind glass, little by little. When we try to do everything we could get overwhelmed and at the end we will end up doing nothing.
By going slowly the Yetzer Hara is lulled into thinking that you have no possibility of victory and it won’t bother you.
Such small steps eventually will lead to the courage and the will to act.
Let’s take an example. It is a very big Mitzvah to have guests for Shabbat. But maybe you don’t have the help and all that work might discourage you. The battle plan the Maharal of Prague offers is to invite one or two guests. You know you can handle it perfectly. Little by little it will become easier so now you can invite one more.
This is an effective strategy in grinding the yetzer hara of stone that doesn’t want you to take positive actions.
Taken from “Battle Plans” by Rebbetzin Tzipora Heller and Sarah Yoheved Rigler
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