Keeping a Short Leash on Dissonance

I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting lately and I find that there’s a great deal of dissonance in my thinking. As I reflect on the things I like about my reality, I notice how quickly I take credit. “That’s it! Hard work pays off, doesn’t it?”

When I think through the areas of my life that I don’t love, it seems suspiciously easy to explain them into someone else’s responsibility. It’s this cognitive dissonance that worries me, frankly. 

If I’m not careful, I’m going to believe my own bullshit. 

The phrase that I keep coming back to is simple and stings just as hard each time I consider it. Here it is: I have designed the system that delivers me the results (or lack thereof) in my life.

I’ve got myself to thank for everything that elates me and everything that frustrates me. This fact weighs heavy on me, but it puts me back in the drivers’ seat.