The Art of Self-Deception: Why We Lie to Ourselves (and How to Stop)
The Art of Self-Deception: Why We Lie to Ourselves (and How to Stop) We all tell ourselves little white lies. "I'll start that diet tomorrow," "I'm not procrastinating, I'm just prioritizing," "I'm a good listener." These minor self-deceptions might seem harmless, but they can have a surprisingly significant impact on our lives. Why Do We Deceive Ourselves? * To protect our ego: Self-deception allows us to maintain a positive self-image. We might downplay our failures, exaggerate our successes, or avoid acknowledging our shortcomings to avoid feeling bad about ourselves. * To cope with anxiety: Facing uncomfortable truths can be overwhelming. Self-deception provides a way to avoid the anxiety and stress that come with acknowledging difficult realities. * To maintain social harmony: We might deceive ourselves about our opinions or feelings to avoid conflict with others. * To simplify our lives: The world is complex. Self-deception can si...