Why the Still Small Voice of Your Soul becomes Your Demon: The Saga of Self-Delusion
Escaping Magical Thinking: Why Embracing Brutal Reality is the Ultimate Tool for Sanity and Survival
“Reality is that which, when you stop believing in it, doesn’t go away.”
— Philip K. Dick
The Seduction of Magical Thinking
Are you familiar with the unease that arises when you hold onto unrealistic beliefs and the subsequent relief that washes over you when reality confirms your suspicions? It’s an intriguing phenomenon that delves into the realms of truth and falsehood.
Let’s consider a scenario. You embark on a spiritual quest and eagerly purchase a book on manifesting your dreams. The book presents enticing ideas, suggesting that you possess the power to shape your reality and attain anything your heart desires. Enthusiastic about the prospect of effortlessly materializing your wishes, you explore techniques such as visualization, letting go, goal posters, positive affirmations, claiming your dreams, and indulging in blissful meditations.
The Friction of Cognitive Dissonance
However, as time passes, you realize that manifesting your desires isn’t as simple as you once believed. The goals you diligently visualize fail to materialize, and you’re left feeling stressed and inadequate. You constantly remind yourself that your dreams are in progress as long as you maintain unwavering focus. Yet, despite your efforts, reality remains unchanged, and frustration builds, resulting in a subtle but persistent cognitive dissonance.
What you’ve unknowingly embraced is a form of irrational optimism known as magical thinking. Often instilled by books, motivational gurus, or spiritual mentors, this belief system convinces you that you can “Create Your Reality” or manifest anything simply by following your heart’s desires. Consequently, you find yourself investing substantial time and money in fulfilling your dreams. But here’s the catch: you cannot manifest everything you desire. It’s a lie that has enriched the coffers of “dream merchants” for centuries.
A Study in Contrast: Illusion vs. Truth
Let’s examine the contrast between truth and illusion:
The Illusion:
You dream of becoming the next American Idol. Your family, who have never achieved their dreams, praise your singing voice, insisting it sounds angelic. Every time you envision yourself as the American Idol, goosebumps cascade down your arms, and your practice sessions enhance the illusion of your vocal abilities. Synchronicities align as you take steps toward your goal, sign up for competitions, and connect with like-minded pilgrims. It feels like the universe is guiding you. Your family initiates a prayer vigil, and the local church rallies behind you, offering financial support on your journey to the Emerald City along the Yellow Brick Road.
The Truth:
Unfortunately, reality paints a different picture. Your tone-deaf voice resembles a broken record, and your aspirations stem from delusion. You firmly believe that a Higher Power (a trendy term for God), amidst its efforts to combat issues like child trafficking, is taking precious time to mold you into a pop star. This belief stems from the notion that you are uniquely “special.” Regrettably, those around you are equally ensnared in this delusion. No one has mustered the courage to inform you that the quality of your voice is genetically determined and that, no matter how hard you work, achieving the status of a renowned singer will forever remain elusive. You may find an audience among the inebriated patrons of your local bar.
The Solace of Validation
Now, consider the solace in the words of someone who has endured similar struggles. They validate your experiences, refusing to placate you with delusional affirmations or quotes on positive thinking and manifestation. They acknowledge the realities of the world, comforting you by saying, “Wow, that’s tough. I’ve been in a similar place where everything feels like falling apart, and a profound sense of hopelessness engulfs me.
Your feelings are valid. Life can be incredibly harsh. You’re not losing your mind; there’s a legitimate reason for feeling this way. Sometimes, we become emotionally unwell, and the first step towards healing is acknowledging and accepting it.
Such words are calming; they restore your sanity and offer a sense of happiness as you realize that this person perceives the world just as you do. You’re not being gaslighted:
The suspicions you harbor about your partner’s infidelity are legitimate.
Your struggles with alcoholism are legit.
The career you’re pursuing truly leads to a dead-end.
The guru you’ve been following is a charlatan.
No one is misleading you about the nature of the world. You can now relax, embracing the comfort of the obvious being just as it appears. You are no longer being deceived.
From the very beginning, your intuition was correct. You can trust yourself and free yourself from the treadmill of unrealistic dreams. Your experiences have been validated. Life isn’t fair, your desires may go unfulfilled, and people aren’t always kind.
A Compilation of Harsh Truths
Here’s a compilation of harsh truths that burst the bubbles of fanciful dreams:
Good fortune favors the wicked, while the virtuous face adversity around the clock.
Most individuals who embrace the teachings of these “dream merchants” ultimately fail to materialize their envisioned dreams.
Religious prayers often remain unheard and unanswered. A simple test, free of confirmation bias, reveals that prayers are frequently unanswered.
Reality manifests through action; magic thoughts don’t traverse the ether, magically altering circumstances.
Nature’s equilibrium relies on consuming itself, with one species preying on another.
This planet houses countless horrors for animals like cows, chickens, pigs, and fish. A tour of your local slaughterhouse would be a sobering experience. It’s best to stick with Disney cartoons.
The world is governed by psychopaths with a history of war and genocide.
Life is inherently unfair and unjust. Consider individuals born deformed, addicted to drugs, trapped in war-torn regions, mired in poverty, homeless, or orphaned and condemned to live in orphanages.
If a higher power exists, why hasn’t it intervened throughout history to prevent the abuse of children via sex trafficking, infanticide, or domestic violence?
The Soul Demon
While life can be harsh, dwelling within a dream realm only amplifies stress because your soul knows the truth, and that’s why “that still small voice” becomes your demon. It’s actually your best friend.
Eventually, the truth prevails, dealing a substantial blow to your perceived reality. When your delusions come crashing down, you must undergo a detoxification process, weaning yourself off the intoxicating allure of imagination. This moment can be overwhelming, often triggering an existential crisis, drug abuse, criminal behavior, unethical conduct, mental illness, or an intensified commitment to delusional beliefs. It is, without a doubt, a process of grieving. Similar to any form of loss, one must adapt to the real world, finding solace in the aspects of life that genuinely exist.
Bliss Without the Supernatural
Waking up from a dream can be an arduous experience, particularly if you’ve invested significant time and energy into its perpetuation. Nevertheless, by following your passions, you can navigate through challenging times, making the journey worthwhile.
Follow your bliss.
If you do follow your bliss,
you put yourself on a kind of track
that has been there all the while waiting for you,
and the life you ought to be living
is the one you are living.
When you can see that,
you begin to meet people
who are in the field of your bliss,
and they open the doors to you.
I say, follow your bliss, and don’t be afraid,
and doors will open
where you didn’t know they were going to be.
If you follow your bliss,
doors will open for you that wouldn’t have opened for anyone else.
— Joseph Campbell
What Campbell is referring to when he states, “If you follow your bliss, doors will open for you that wouldn’t have opened for anyone else,” he’s not referring to supernatural intervention, but an experience one has when they focus on what they want and, because of that, meet the people, places, and things that reflect their desire. In other words, you are likely to randomly meet nurses if you are studying to be a doctor or notice mountain bikes if you just bought tickets to a racing event.
Grounding Your Life in Reality
To truly embrace this philosophy, cultivate an appreciation for what you already possess and genuinely need. Reach for the stars while maintaining rationality. Invest in your life based on your direct experiences and observations of what you know to be true. Be cautious of falling into the temptation of believing in things that lack substantial evidence. If something appears too good to be true, it probably is.
Nature has inherently provided humans with everything necessary for survival. As you detach yourself from the allure of fantastical imaginings, you’ll naturally adapt to the simple pleasures that exist irrespective of your beliefs. The breath you take, the taste buds that allow you to savor flavors, the physical contact that fosters connection, the bond with nature, and the thrill of embarking on new adventures all satiate our biological needs when we embrace the innate provisions of human existence.
It’s crucial to remember that life operates on its own terms, and sometimes our dreams can become ensnaring traps. Use your imagination to achieve rational goals, but always differentiate it from reality. Take practical and rational actions to attain what you genuinely require while acknowledging that desires aren’t always fulfilled. Regardless of how fervently you believe in it, a wall remains impenetrable. Moreover, it’s essential to critically examine the source of the ideas you encounter.
Thank you for reading,
― Zzenn