{"id":1915,"date":"2022-08-26T09:48:28","date_gmt":"2022-08-26T13:48:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.chistell.com\/africanamericanfiction\/?p=1915"},"modified":"2022-10-20T20:35:12","modified_gmt":"2022-10-21T00:35:12","slug":"how-awakening-to-self-evident-facts-could-help-build-self-esteem","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.chistell.com\/africanamericanfiction\/how-awakening-to-self-evident-facts-could-help-build-self-esteem\/","title":{"rendered":"How Escaping Self-Deception Could Build Self-Esteem"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Books Author and Novel Writer Denise Turney<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Photo by Darina Belonogova on Pexels.com<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

It’s time to face how you’re lying to yourself so you can start to build self-esteem. Why? Self-deception and self-esteem work in pairs. Engage in either and you’ll trigger the other, blinding yourself to empowering facts. But why is self-deception tempting? Well, it can appear to keep unwanted thoughts and emotions at bay. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It can serve as a defense system, allowing you to protect erroneous thoughts, even obvious facts that you need to face to recognize your innate greatness. According to Merriam-Webster, self-deception is \u201cthe act or an instance of deceiving<\/a> oneself or the state of being deceived by oneself especially concerning one’s true nature, feelings, etc.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do You Engage in Self-Deception?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each person engages in self-deception at different levels. Unfortunately, self-deception is far too familiar, even when reality if self-evident. It started at a young age for me. Examples of self-deception included smiling when I didn\u2019t feel like it and then convincing myself that I was satisfied.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One instance, in particular, stands out. It was during the second-grade. The class was going to the circus. I didn\u2019t want to go, instead preferring to spend the weekday evening with my parents and siblings. Teachers continued to announce to the entire class that all but two students had turned in their signed permission slips so that they could go to the circus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, the teachers told the class that one of the two students wasn\u2019t going to the circus because his family was going out of town. That\u2019s all that I needed to hear. Right away, I knew that the teachers were making it clear that they were waiting for my signed permission slip.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Personal Self-Deception Example<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

After speaking with my parents, I decided to go to the circus. My parents said that it was my choice, but, as my dad said, it was a rare opportunity and I might actually enjoy being at the circus. So, I went. But, I didn\u2019t enjoy the circus. If anything, I learned what I didn\u2019t like. Even more, I learned how poorly I felt ignoring myself in order<\/em> to give into someone else\u2019s wishes. Yet, that wasn\u2019t all that happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On top of going to an event that I didn\u2019t want to be at, when I spotted two teachers observing me at the circus, I smiled and \u201cpretended\u201d to be enjoying myself. Does that experience ever stand out to me. Today, it remains one (if not the first) of the earliest instances when I practiced self-deception and my self-esteem took a hit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bitterness from that first instance of practicing self-deception was directed toward the school teachers. However, the majority of self-deception that I\u2019ve engaged in since has been in effort to avoid facing facts. Thankfully, today I practice awareness<\/a>, build self-esteem and focus on awakening to steer clear of self-deception. Payoff is huge. It\u2019s a blessing to stop practicing self-deception and free up the energy to do what brings you joy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reasons to Continue Awakening to Boost Self-Esteem<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might practice self-deception for different reasons. Additionally, you might engage in self-deception in different ways. Check out these examples of self-deception:<\/p>\n\n\n\n