We all know the sinking feeling of defeat too well. We tried our best, strove to overcome, and we STILL lost the fight. Then the internal editor kicks in and starts to alter our perceptions of the past—did we REALLY lose, or suffer a temprorary setback? Was it our doing, or did we fall victim to another’s machinations?
When we begin this process, we are attempting to heal the rifts in reality that our carelessness created. We must cautiously move forward while taking what we can from the debacle we left in the dirt. We must discern what is from what was while bravely recreating success from failure.
A bit of self-deception is definitely in order here. We messed up, but we need not beat ourselves up for our error. Why did we do or say what we did? Were we under the influence of a substance, a person, or other outsider?
We can snatch a victory from defeat. We must, for it is our solemn duty to persevere. Some of us are already accused of being delusional, so the road is easier to see, others only wish they were, and the rest wallow in self-delusion already, so they are not reliable judges of our state of delusion.
We live under self-deception, filled with the belief that we are the only ones who know how to do what we do. We labor in delusion, wreaking havoc on our fellows with our vanities. We sleep with the enemy when we ignore the kind advice our friends and families give us.
Mastering the art of self-deception is a life-long ambition that few realize and even fewer enjoy. It is possible, but requires the utmost devotion and dedication to achieve. The cousin to self-deception is disillusionment and not a visitor we welcome into our lives.
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