Encouraging a friend or loved one is an instinctive reaction, but what if their beliefs are not reality-based? In the present age, the "delulu" (short for delusional) is also used in a lighthearted manner to refer to anyone who persists with unrealistic expectations—whether in romance, career, or personal ambitions. While support is needed, blindly backing someone's delusions might actually cause more harm than good in the long term.
Encouragement and optimism are wonderful, but they have boundaries. Encouraging someone's unrealistic expectations without challenging them can set up a false sense of security. When reality finally catches up, the emotional damage is all the greater.
1. False Hope Leads to Harder Falls
Picture this: someone is certain they will land their dream job even though they don't have the skills, qualifications, or preparation. If you continue to tell them, "You got this! No need to prepare, you're perfect for it!"—you may think you're being helpful. But when they get rejected, the hurt and disappointment will be so much worse because they weren't prepared for rejection.
2. Avoiding Reality Can Lead to Bigger Problems
Others overlook red flags in relationships, careers, or life decisions. If an individual feels that their abusive partner loves them even when they are being mistreated all the time, blindly upholding this perception only perpetuates their misery. Rather than uttering "They'll change, just give them time," a real friend would help them see the reality.
3. Emotional Impact: The Aftermath of Failure
When the delusions of someone come crashing down, they feel betrayed—not only by the circumstance, but by those who encouraged them without questioning. They may wonder, "Why didn't anyone warn me?" or feel abandoned when their encouragers suddenly pull away.
How to Support Without Encouraging Delusion
1. Be Honest with Kindness – Rather than agreeing blindly, provide realistic feedback. If a friend is pursuing an unattainable dream, recognize their enthusiasm but also talk about the obstacles. Example: "I love your confidence! Perhaps let's create a backup plan, just in case?"
2. Inspire Growth, Not Dreams – Encourage them to take actual steps towards their aspirations. If they aspire to be a well-known singer but have never had a lesson, encourage them to practice or enroll in classes.
3. Prepare Them for Every Possibility – Expect the best, but also prepare them for the chance of failure. That way, if it doesn't work out, they won't be totally lost.
4. Know When to Step Back – If someone will not listen and is going the way of self-destruction, you can't always rescue them. Occasionally, people must be allowed to fail in order to learn. Stand by them after, but do not intrude on their fantasies.
Support with Limits
Being a supportive family member or friend doesn't imply blindly applauding someone's every idea or decision. Honest, caring, and sometimes harsh truth is true support. Support in the form of encouragement is priceless, but delulu has its boundaries—and when those boundaries are crossed, the fall can hurt all the harder. Rather than supporting delulu thinking, try to guide them toward finding some balance between dreams and reality.
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