The Lies I Tell Myself

We all lie to ourselves a little, right? If you say you don’t, congrats—add that to your own list of daily delulus :). In this era of “authenticity” and performative self-awareness, sometimes a little bit of well-placed self-deception is less a character flaw and more a survival tactic.

So, here’s my confession. These are the lies I tell myself, why I keep telling them, and why I’m honestly not that eager to stop.

1. “I’m an Extrovert. People Recharge Me.”

I can say this with a straight face at parties, in interviews, and—if I’ve had enough coffee—on dates. There’s just something so… respectable about being “outgoing,” right?
Reality check: Ten minutes into any social event, I’m eyeing the exits, quietly strategizing how soon I can leave without looking rude.
But here’s the twist: Pretending to be an extrovert gets me into rooms I’d never walk into if I admitted the truth. It forces me to collect new stories, stumble into new connections, and sometimes, accidentally have a good time.

Fake it till you make it? I just fake it and then go home to recover, and that’s perfectly fine.

2. “No One Gives a F*** Anyway—So I’ll Just Do Me.”

This one’s my armor, my shield against a world where every opinion is a potential landmine.
“I’m just vibing. Posting for myself. Literally no one cares.”
Reality check: I refresh my stories more times than I’d like to admit, keeping tabs on who viewed, who liked, and who’s suspiciously silent. The truth? I care. I care a lot.
But clinging to this lie is the only way I keep hitting “post” on my weird thoughts, questionable photos, and painfully vulnerable rants.

3. “I Don’t Care About Validation.”

I tell people (and myself) that I’ve “outgrown” the need for external validation.
That likes, comments, claps, and compliments are just “noise.”
Reality check: If a post tanks, I spiral. If it soars, I ride the high all week.
But by insisting I don’t care, I give myself the freedom to experiment, try, fail, and try again—without constantly feeling like I’m on display.
The lie cushions the blows and turns failures into “experiments.” That’s good enough for me.

4. “Overthinking Is My Superpower.”

Sure, some people meditate. Some journal. Me? I overthink until I’ve re-lived every awkward interaction that i had.
Reality check: Overthinking is exhausting it saps the joy out of small wins.
But I’ve also noticed something: It makes me empathetic. It makes me careful, considerate.

Why These Lies Aren’t All Bad

Here’s the thing: These aren’t just lies—they’re coping mechanisms.
Little fictions that soften the world’s rough edges and push me to keep trying, even when reality feels too heavy or embarrassing or uncertain.

Every “lie” has given me something: confidence to speak, courage to post, hope to start again, patience to overthink, and a version of calm that sometimes actually feels real. Maybe I’m just building a life out of wishful thinking and half-truths. But honestly? It works for me.

If you recognize yourself in any of these, you’re not alone.
Maybe our little self-delulus aren’t flaws—they’re just part of being human, surviving, and (occasionally) thriving in this strange, hyperconnected world.

Pulket (Pulkit Aggarwal)