1. You think you’re not capable of being a monster. You’re not nearly as far removed from many of the people in prison as you might think. History has proven that “normal” people are very capable of monstrous behavior under the right circumstances.

2. You’re not as wise as you think you are. Everyone thinks they have more insight, wisdom, and experience than they really do. Unless you’ve been working very hard in a particular field for several years, you may not know as much as you think.

3. You don’t know how others view you. This is the most common delusion of all. You believe that you’ve successfully hidden your negative character traits, bad habits, and weaknesses from others. However, most people know more about you than you think.

4. You don’t make your decisions based on logic. We all like to believe that we use our intellect to make good decisions, but that’s rarely the case. Most decisions are based on emotion. The intellect is only used to create justification for making a less than ideal decision.

5. You care what other people think. You’ve told yourself that you don’t care what anyone thinks, but that’s almost certainly a delusion. You consider the opinion of others in nearly every decision you make.

6. You’re terrible at estimating how long something will take. Whether it’s how long it will take to drive across town, complete your taxes, change a flat tire, or lose 20 pounds, you’re far too optimistic more often than not.

7. You believe that you have no other options. Many people feel stuck in life. When you feel that you’re out of options, that’s not true. You just might not like the options available to you. You might even not see the options, though in reality you probably do. You have choices.

8. You think you know all of your weaknesses. You don’t know all of your weaknesses or your strengths for that matter. There are several things holding you back that you don’t realize. Ask a trusted friend what your weaknesses are and see for yourself.

9. Many of the problems in your current and past relationships are your fault. No one is perfect in a relationship. It certainly wasn’t all your fault, but you’re nowhere near 100% innocent either. Go ask all your exes what you did wrong in your relationships, and you’ll hear the same answers over and over.

There’s someone in your circle that you view as delusional. Unfortunately, there are plenty of people that think you’re delusional, and they’re correct!

Everyone has an inaccurate view of themselves and the world in which they live. It’s a part of human nature, but that doesn’t mean you can’t reach the point that your views are much more realistic.

Take the time to examine yourself and your life. Consider the list of common self-delusions above. Self-reflection is one of the best ways to stop deluding yourself.