Why Do We Deceive Ourselves?

We deceive ourselves because we want to believe things that make us feel happy or safe, even when they’re not true.

Imagine you have a favorite toy, let's say it’s a big red ball. You think it's the best toy in the world. But one day, your friend shows up with a shiny blue ball. At first, you might feel sad because your friend’s ball looks really cool. But then you tell yourself, “My red ball is still better than that blue one!” Even though both balls are just balls, you deceive yourself to keep feeling happy.

Sometimes we lie to ourselves when things don’t go as planned. Like if you tried to build a tower with blocks, and it fell over. Instead of being upset, you might say, “That was just the beginning!” You’re deceiving yourself so you can feel excited for what comes next.

It’s like wearing sunglasses on a cloudy day, you don’t need them, but they make everything look brighter and happier!