Do You Lie to Yourself Too?

Text by: Ensad Miljković RE&CBT Psychotherapist & Supervisor

The past is part of who you are, but it does not define you. Do not let it stop you from living in the present and creating a better future. The past matters only to the extent that it gets in the way of the present. Learning to let the past stay in the past is a sign of strength, maturity and growth.

Allow the past to visit now and then, but for every guest, two hours is enough.

Accept the lessons you have learned and use them to move forward.

People often lie to themselves for several reasons, including:

1. Fear of failure: People may lie to themselves about their abilities or the difficulty of a task in order to avoid the fear of failure.

2. Fear of change: Change can be frightening, and people may lie to themselves about their desire for change in order to keep the status quo.

3. Protecting self-esteem: People may lie to themselves about their actions or decisions in order to avoid feelings of guilt or shame and to keep a positive image of themselves.

4. Denial: People may use self-deception to avoid an unpleasant reality or situations they do not want to face.

5. Social pressure: People may conform to social norms and expectations by lying to themselves about their beliefs and values.

Whatever the reason, lying to yourself can prevent personal growth and lead to a sense of dissatisfaction and unhappiness in life.

We can lie to other people as much as we want, with more or fewer consequences. But lying to yourself leads down a very dark street. The truth is the light that can help us find the way out.