The Power Of Self-Deception
How It Can Destroy Your Life
Ever heard the saying “sleep deprivation will make you crazy”? Self-deception is a clever tool that the human brain uses to reconcile conflicting thoughts and beliefs. It is also a very powerful trick, one that can be used to manipulate others as well as yourself.
Self-deception is a type of cognitive bias in which individuals deceive themselves about their own thoughts, feelings, and behaviour. Self-deception can be a helpful tool in some situations, but when it becomes habitual it can lead to negative consequences.
The self-deceptive mind is preoccupied with assumptions, not facts. It skims over information and favours interpretations that support the individual’s ego and worldview. The self-deceptive person often fails to recognize his or her own biases and mistakes.
There are several types of self-deception:
Illusory superiority involves believing that we are better than others or that our abilities are greater than they really are.
False optimism involves overestimating our ability to control events or ourselves.
Denialism involves refusing to accept evidence that conflicts with one’s beliefs.
Rationalization occurs when we make excuses for our behaviours or beliefs, while inflectional distortion occurs when our emotions change the way we perceive reality.
The consequences of self-deception can be damaging both emotionally and physically. Emotional self- deception can lead to feelings of insecurity and inferiority, while physical self- deception can lead to poor health choices, addictions and other harmful behaviours.
The best way to overcome self- deception is to become aware of its effects and identify ways to counteract them.
Don’t Hide Your Feelings
The majority of people live their lives in a state of self-deception. The term “self-deception” is used to describe the act of deceiving ourselves about our own thoughts, feelings, and actions. We deceive ourselves because it’s easier than admitting that we might be wrong.
Why do we self-deceive?
First, it’s easier than admitting that we might be wrong. It feels more comfortable to believe what we want to believe rather than face the reality of the situation.
Second, self- deception gives us a sense of control over our life and allows us to avoid unpleasant truths. Third, self- deception makes it harder for others to understand us and hurt our feelings.
Finally, hiding our true feelings protects us from being hurt or rejected by others.
But self-deception isn’t always negative. Sometimes it can protect us from pain or embarrassment. And sometimes it can help us achieve our goals or improve our performance in situations where accuracy would be difficult or impossible.. But overall, self- deception is harmful because it keeps us from growing and developing as individuals.”
Life’s Most Important Lessons
You are not in control
One of the key ways self-deception works is by making us believe that we are in control. But in reality, this isn’t always true. We may think we’re making choices, but often times these decisions are made for us by our unconscious mind or past experiences. As much as we might want to, we don’t always have control over our own lives.
2. You can’t change everything
Even if you try your best, sometimes you won’t be able to change everything about your life. This includes things like relationships, job situations and events that happen outside of your control. Accepting this fact will help you feel less frustrated and more in control overall.
3. Be realistic about your expectations
It’s important to be realistic about what you can and cannot do in life. If you set unrealistic goals for yourself, then you’ll likely end up feeling disappointed and frustrated when events don’t go as planned. Instead of focusing on what you don’t have control over, focus on what you can do to
Self-deception can be a powerful tool, but it’s also one that can be dangerous if used incorrectly. Too often, people use self-deception to justify bad actions or to avoid difficult truths.
It’s important to be aware of the dangers of self-deception and to use it only as a last resort, when all other options have been exhausted. If you’re ever feeling trapped by your own lies, remember that there is always another way out. Keep your head down and stay focused on what’s truly important — you’ll eventually make it through whatever challenges lie ahead.
© Kabinga Charline Mazaba. All rights reserved.
About the Creator
Kabinga Charline Mazaba
- Blogger & Content Writer
- Founder of the clothing brand "Lifemotiva": a mission to inspire people to live their best lives.
- I help people who have experienced trauma in their lives to heal and move forward.
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