Don't Trick Yourself
“It’s the truth I’m after, and the truth never harmed anyone. What harms us is to persist in self-deceit and ignorance.”
—Marcus Aurelius
Meditations
Have you ever shied away from something truthful because it made you uncomfortable? Truth, as Marcus expresses, never causes harm. Rather, it's self-deceit and ignorance which wound us.
In everyday life, this could be as simple as acknowledging a lazy habit hindering personal growth, or perhaps realizing that a certain friendship is more draining than fruitful.
We often prefer comfort over confronting harsh realities. Yet, ridding ourselves of self-deceit and acknowledging our ignorance paves the way to growth and wisdom.
So, in your daily encounters, strive for the uncomfortable truth. What conversation have you been avoiding? What learning opportunity have you neglected?
Undressing the layers of self-deceit will not harm you. Rather, it will clear the path for authentic self-improvement.