#155: How to be delusional

Even though all these big stories are fictions generated by our own minds, there is no reason for despair. Reality still exists. You cannot play a part in any make-believe drama, but why would you want to do that in the first place? The big question facing humans isn’t “what is the meaning of life?” but rather “how do we stop suffering?” When you g

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Positive illusions, described as “pervasive, enduring, and systematic,” come, Taylor writes, in three types: (1) unrealistically positive views of the self; (2) exaggerated perceptions of personal control; and (3) unrealistic optimism. All of these illusions can, managed the right way, supposedly improve our lives. Illusions are good for people, sh

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For me, it became crucial to notice what is in fact "illusory" about the self. It's not an illusion in the sense of being a completely useless, even malignant, deception. It's a complex of narratives, judgments, and strategies that developed to help me maintain some relatively reliable social-emotional standing. It served, and serves, a purpose.