“The human brain is a complex organ with the wonderful power of enabling man to find reasons for continuing to believe whatever it is that he wants to believe.” – Voltaire
A couple of months back, I penned a piece entitled, “Speak Truth to Power.” Rightly, it was a call for us to embody an intrepid heart, challenge the status quo and never shy away from rubbing shoulders with perceived demigods in all walks of life. Gladly, our country has witnessed this spirit in action over the past two weeks. And though our hearts are heavy as we grieve and mourn the needless loss of those young patriots, I’ve never felt more patriotic than I am right now.
But how did we get there? Why do we seem to speak at cross purposes with our ‘leaders?’ Why do they seemingly live in their own hypothetical world which is out of tandem with the realities on the ground? Why do they exude baseless and shameless self-aggrandizement? For one simple reason: They are deluded. And this is not just a mere leadership shortcoming but a gross human problem. O how blatantly and markedly self-delusion persists in the modern human frame!
Self-delusion is remarkably insatiable – always palatable to the excitable ego. Self-delusion is injuriously scandalous – capable of the downfall of monarchs and oligarchs. Self-delusion is ultimately untenable – just like a house of cards or a ticking bomb, the end must come.
Self delusion is capable of making one indifferent in the face of injustice, feeling unbothered or caring less about the happenings in our environment. Notably, it pushes many to overlook the log in their own backyard but to swiftly point out the speck in a neighbor’s eye. It can make one so naive and self-confident thinking they are exempt from any repercussions due to their actions, only to end up falling flat as easily as anyone else. Equally, self-delusion also implores some to assume the role of a judge and lord over other people’s lives, turning it into a preferred sport. After all, naturally we all presume to possess a sense of untampered superiority and unfettered grandiosity.
As a result, we find justification for our deplorable egos and are quick to lash out at any backlash received on account of our mishaps. Any misdoings on our end are indisputably warranted. Anyone who dares challenge, question or critique the validity and legality of our life choices or desires is labelled by the mind as public enemy numero uno. Self-delusion makes us believe that we are only accountable to ourselves. Isn’t it interesting that the byword in the streets is, “Delulu is the only solulu”, which simply means being delusional is the only solution?
Hence begs the question: Why are we often afraid to face our frailties, admit to our inadequacies and make peace with the bare condition of who we really are? Why do we shy away from the truth as if it were some malignant pathogen emanating from the underworld? Could it be that such avoidance is an inherent trait passed down by our ancestors or maybe due to some sort of social conditioning which has made such evasion fashionable and acceptable? Probably. Quite possible.
Undoubtedly, truth is overwhelmingly exposing – laying bare the crevices of our cherished ignorance and deep-seated arrogance. Truth is relentlessly unforgiving – acting like a voice of reason, ever searing the deadened consciousness until it is given an audience. Yet, truth is unassumingly rewarding – it’s aim not to harm but to disarm, only seeking to dislodge the prideful self from its convoluted cubicle into an open field of clarity. Truth is assuredly edifying – flooding one’s life with humility and tranquility.
So, how does speaking an uncomfortable but certainly indispensable fact to yourself practically look like? It simply means accepting accountability for your life’s actions. It is easily convenient to blame and shame others when things go awry but it’s more exigent to shape up and take due responsibility. This is the trademark of refined and mature self-leadership.
You can’t repeatedly keep blaming your high school teacher for lacking mastery in the languages; an ex for your brokenness and incapacity to find love again; your predecessors for the woes encountered during your tenure; your background for absence of economic means in life. Sooner or later, someone has to break the cycle and do things differently. The earlier you recognize this, the better.
Speaking truth to self is a daily and lifelong exercise because the human mind is easily deceived and constantly forgetful hence the need to regularly keep yourself in check. This is the best reward you can ever give to yourself. Fyodor Dostoevsky punctuates this conversation best, “Above all, do not lie to yourself. A man who lies to himself and listens to his own lie comes to a point where he does not discern any truth either in himself or anywhere around him, and thus falls into disrespect towards himself and others.”
The Cleaver 