My Dissonance

Ani Star

Cognitive dissonance is a psychological term which describes the uncomfortable tension that may result from having two conflicting thoughts at the same time, or from engaging in behavior that conflicts with one’s beliefs. More precisely, it is the perception of incompatibility between any two elements of knowledge, including attitude, emotion, belief, or behavior. The theory of cognitive dissonance states that contradicting cognitions serve as a driving force that compels the mind to acquire or invent new thoughts or beliefs, or to modify existing beliefs, so as to reduce the amount of dissonance (conflict) between cognitions. In the end, beliefs often change to match behavior when beliefs and behavior are in conflict.

I reside somewhere both within and outside of reality and my life reflects a jubbled mess of gains and losses in my efforts to grow. In my life I am both cursed and blessed. But above all else I am wretchedly flawed and very human.

I will not live my life as an outer statue of myself. I refuse to freeze into my own self-imposed periphery, standing on the outside looking in. I will give way to the beauty of life, to be let out to join the rest of the world. No matter how threatening it has at times come to feel when doing so in the past.