I recently came across an interview with Tech Journalist Kara Swisher.
One of her quotes stopped me dead in my tracks.
“When I’m doing an interview with blank person from blank company, I always think ‘What lie are they telling me?’ The better question is what are they lying to themselves about? What do they need to believe to get through the day? And that to me is where I get the real insight.” - Kara Swisher, Tech Journalist
Kara Swisher seems divisive, but her career spans decades, and she's known for being a hard-hitting, outspoken media figure. She has made a name for herself by holding tech billionaires accountable.
Whether a fan of her approach and values or not, it’s easy to root for someone to hold the 1% accountable. But when I heard this quote, I was immediately convicted: “What lies am I telling myself to get through the day?”
It’s often so easy to see the flaws in others. It's typically really hard to see our own flaws. Jesus would call this removing the plank out of your eye before trying to remove the speck out of someone else’s.
I think many of us think we’re immune to this type of thing. Besides, we would say that we are very aware of our flaws. Our low self-confidence and self-deprecating sense of humor could even attest to this.
I’ve learned (the hard way) that being self-critical and self-aware aren’t always the same thing. Many times, my own negativity toward myself is a defense mechanism to protect me from confronting my true flaws.
It’s not that we go around purposefully holding bad takes about ourselves and the world. Sometimes we’ve convinced ourselves of certain lies so we can live with ourselves. These are the stories we tell ourselves.
So my question for today is “What lies am I telling myself?” What are the false stories I believe? What’s the plank in my own eye?
It’s likely no one will write a scathing exposé on my shortcomings.
But maybe I can grow a bit through understanding the truth about myself and the world.
Real insight comes from unearthing the lies we believe about ourselves.