Self-Awareness vs. Self-Deception

I sat there staring at the weights.

I knew that, at one point in my life, I could lift that much weight.

Now, not so much.

Was I being delusional that I could still do this?

Turns out, yes, I was delusional.

How do I know that?

My back hurt for quite a while after attempting to overcome my awareness with self-deception that I was in the same physical shape I had been in many years ago.

These types of lessons can be very painful to endure for us.

When was the last time you contemplated something that you knew was outside of your realm of possibility at that moment?

Self-awareness and self-deception play a part in your everyday lives.

Self-awareness is the ability to recognize and comprehend one’s thoughts, emotions, behaviors, strengths, weaknesses, and motivations.?

It involves having a clear understanding of who you are, your beliefs, values, and how you are perceived by others.?

Self-awareness is crucial for personal growth, emotional intelligence, and making informed decisions.

Self-deception refers to the process of fooling oneself or distorting reality to believe something that is not true.?

It can involve the denial of negative traits or actions, justifying harmful behaviors, or creating a false sense of competence or superiority.?

Self-deception can be harmful as it prevents individuals from addressing their weaknesses, taking responsibility for their actions, or making necessary changes.

What are some types of self-deception that you can trick yourself into?

- Denial: Refusing to acknowledge unpleasant truths or realities.

- Rationalization: Justifying one’s actions or beliefs with flawed or biased reasoning.

- Projection: Attributing one’s negative qualities to others instead of recognizing them in oneself.

- Cognitive dissonance: Holding contradictory beliefs or values and reducing the discomfort by ignoring or distorting evidence.

In cannabis, this can show up in many ways and this is not an exhaustive list:

- Product Claims: Some individuals or companies within the cannabis industry might make exaggerated or unfounded claims about the benefits of their products (ads seem to stray in this territory if you’re not using a pro with great experience in the industry like Nick A. ).

- Regulatory Compliance: Self-deception can occur when businesses deceive themselves into believing they fully comply with all regulations when, in reality, they might be cutting corners or engaging in questionable practices ( Chris Fontes has been advocating for standards to be adopted and enforced across the board).

- Safety and Quality: Companies may deceive themselves into thinking their products are safe and of high quality when, in fact, they may not have adequately tested their products or followed proper quality control measures ( Trent Hancock has been banging the drum about the questionability of some labs and their results).

- Long-Term Sustainability: Some individuals or companies might deceive themselves into believing that the current growth and profitability in the cannabis industry will continue without considering potential challenges and market shifts (this is a tough one to examine with the shifting regulatory climate and the ongoing crippling taxation that surrounds cannabis).

What are some ways you can stay out of the self-deception zone?

- Be open to feedback from others: Don’t just dismiss feedback that you don’t like.

- Be aware of your own biases: We all have biases that can cloud our judgment. Be aware of your own biases so that you can try to overcome them.

- Challenge your own beliefs: Don’t just accept your beliefs at face value. Challenge them and see if they’re really true.

Self-awareness and self-deception are not all or nothing.

You will have thoughts about both and that’s okay.

Developing a better awareness when you’re feeling yourself falling into the self-deception mode is a great place to be.

I failed in my estimation of the weight that I could lift and it hurt my body (and ego) for quite a while after that.

I learned to be more measured when I’m assessing things.

You don’t have to be perfect and, oftentimes, the best way to learn is to fail.

The trick is to become aware of what happened and to stand up 1 more time.

Slow down

Be curious

Be interested