Episode 519 - 4 Iyar (Regular Year) - Impostor Syndrome

In this episode of the It Is Taught Tanya Podcast, host Sarit Switzer explores the psychological experience of imposter syndrome through the lens of Jewish mysticism, specifically the teachings of Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi in The Tanya. Drawing from her personal experience teaching yoga in a highly experienced community, she illustrates how feelings of inadequacy can arise even among those who are well-qualified. She then connects this to the spiritual realm, explaining that the same self-doubt people feel about their abilities can manifest in their service of God—particularly when striving to cultivate an innate, childlike love for the Divine. The episode emphasizes that such feelings are not signs of fraudulence but rather evidence of authenticity, as the Tanya teaches that this love is an inherited, intrinsic part of every soul. The key message is that even if one doesn’t feel the love emotionally, one can still act on it intellectually through visualization and habituation, which God will transform into real spiritual action. The episode concludes with a powerful reassurance: revealing this inner love brings God immense joy, as it fulfills His desire for a dwelling place in the physical world.