Elul is meant to awaken us—not overwhelm us. Yet for many people, the sound of the shofar and the approach of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur can trigger anxiety, perfectionism, and the crushing feeling that we must change our entire lives overnight.

In this rebroadcast, we sit down with licensed psychotherapist and clinical social worker Mordechai Weiss to explore a healthier, Torah-centered approach to Elul and teshuvah. How can we distinguish genuine yirat Shamayim—awe of Heaven—from unhealthy fear? Mordechai explains that authentic yirah should help us grow and function better. When religious intensity leaves us frozen, overwhelmed, or trapped in a cycle of short-lived inspiration and burnout, it may be time to reconsider our approach.

We also confront the dangers of perfectionism in avodas Hashem. When spiritual growth becomes focused only on performance and results, we may push ourselves beyond our limits—or become discouraged and give up entirely. Real teshuvah is not a frantic one-month transformation. It is patient, honest growth that can endure long after the High Holidays are over.

You’ll learn how to choose a realistic kabbalah, understand what has prevented change in the past, discover a personal reason to keep going, and make one meaningful commitment that can survive real life. We also discuss anxiety, OCD, kedusha struggles, and compulsive or addictive patterns—offering a practical path that replaces shame and despair with clarity, hope, and a workable plan.

In this episode:

• How to distinguish yirat Shamayim from anxiety
• Why Elul inspiration often leads to burnout
• Overcoming perfectionism in avodas Hashem
• How to make a realistic and lasting kabbalah
• Approaching OCD, addiction, and kedusha struggles without shame
• Building a serious, hopeful, and emotionally healthy path to teshuvah

If Elul pressure has ever made you feel anxious, overwhelmed, or spiritually stuck, this conversation is for you.

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Questions or Comments? Please email me @ michaelbrooke97@gmail.com