Rabbi Simcha Bunim: The Danger of Self-Deception

THE WORST DECEPTION IS WHEN A PERSON LIES TO HIMSELF.

Attribution printed on the image: Rabbi Simcha Bunim of Peshischa

A reflection on the teaching

It is difficult to correct a pattern while explaining away everything that keeps it going. This Peshischa teaching asks for the honesty to notice our own excuses. That honesty can be quiet and specific. Instead of calling ourselves a failure, we can name the thing we are avoiding: a conversation, an apology, or a responsibility. Truth becomes useful when it shows us what to do next. What explanation have I repeated so often that I no longer examine it? Looking at that question gently may bring more change than another round of self-criticism.

Source note: The attribution above is transcribed from the image. The exact source and English wording have not been independently verified.