Denial...friend or foe?

Denial can be one of our best friends. It can tell us that the extra weight gain is because the scale is broken and we're retaining water that day. It convinces us that we really did not make out with that 18 year-old who works at The Gap last night at the bar. It reminds us that it is okay to go on a shopping spree, even with the lack of funds and the big red "amount owed" on our credit card bill. Yes, Denial is a supportive friend. It encourages us and is always there to tell us what we want to hear. What we WANT to hear and what we NEED to hear are two very different things, however. Think of Denial as that one friend that's always there, but not necessarily there for all the right reasons. Denial can be the one friend telling us that the one line of coke is okay to do, but skips out when you're addicted, cracked-out, and struggling with life. Denial is good to have for the moment, but fails us when we truly need it.

With Denial always ever present, how is that we would be able to learn anything. Denial cannot teach us anything. Denial cannot help us grow as people. As previously posted, stories can be a source for lessons. If we don't appreciate that these stories can provide insight and lessons, then what was the point of reading it? The same can be said about memories and realities- good or bad. If we've experienced bad memories or are facing horrible realities, what's the point? Do we experience something bad, and chalk it up to "Shit Happens"? No. We must take these experiences and learn from them. Confront them...or else that horrid experience was moot and our good friend Denial happens to show up again. We must remember that Denial can be turned away, much like a bad friend. We've had fun times with Denial, but we definitely know that it is a bad influence. Rather, we want friends in our life that can make us smarter, better human beings. Lessons and approaching challenges can be those friends. One good friend (a real, physical friend) told me once that "without challenges, we would never be able to reach our full potential." It's true...conversely, however, "with Denial we would never be able to reach our full potential."

Learn from experiences and realities. Accept challenges. Kick Denial to the curb and walk on through life.

Regards,

James