I'm an atheist, but I enjoyed these stories. I think I understood this one, so I'll attempt to explain. God is asking him why he didn't just relax and be true

I'm an atheist, but I enjoyed these stories. I think I understood this one, so I'll attempt to explain. God is asking him why he didn't just relax and be true to himself. If the rabbi wasn't so worried about living up to the examples set by others, he could have fulfilled his own potential.