The instances in which people choose to lie to themselves due to the presence of social conditioning and pressure typically slip under the radar. However, considering these situations closer is important in order to discover the ways of self-improvement and, ultimately, a path to a better and happier life. In her Ted Talk, Dr. Cortney Warren (2014) discusses an important point about the situations that could be improved by trusting oneself with personal vulnerabilities and that are mismanaged due to the fear of facing these vulnerabilities directly.
However, the specified speculation raises the question of whether being completely honest with oneself is enough to be enthusiastic about the prospects of change, and, if it is not, whether one actually needs personal honesty. Indeed, suppose a person is not ready to confront the psychological barriers that he or she has constructed over the years as a part of the daily routine. In that case, the revelation of the underlying issues may turn out to be too much to handle (Norcross & Wampold, 2018). As a result, psychological distress that may further progress and evolve into depression or another mental health issue may become possible.
Therefore, the willingness to make a personal transformation must be fostered along with the readiness to accept the truth and stop lying to oneself. Otherwise, the presence of constant reminders of one’s unfulfilling environment and life may send one down the spiral of perpetual discontent and, eventually, depression (Hannon et al., 2017). To avoid the specified outcome, it is vital to foster and actively promote the development of skills needed for critical analysis, as well as the notion of self-acceptance and the ability to change (Rajaei & Jensen, 2020). As a result, one will be prepared for accepting the truth no matter how unappealing and difficult to digest it might be. Moreover, one will be capable of working toward self-improvement.
References
Hannon, J., Eunson, L., & Munro, C. (2017). The patient experience of illness, treatment, and change, during intensive community treatment for severe anorexia nervosa. Eating Disorders, 25(4), 279-296. Web.
Norcross, J. C., & Wampold, B. E. (2018). A new therapy for each patient: Evidence‐based relationships and responsiveness. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 74(11), 1889-1906. Web.
Rajaei, A., & Jensen, J. F. (2020). Empowering patients in integrated behavioral health-care settings: A narrative approach to medical family therapy. The Family Journal, 28(1), 48-55. Web.
Warren, C. (2014). Honest liars – The psychology of self-deception: Cortney Warren at TEDxUNLV [Video]. YouTube. Web.