The Privilege of Denial - by Chusana Prasertkul

Over the recent years, I’ve noticed a curious pattern among people, particularly those who society often deems as successful or highly intellectual. It seems that with material success and recognition, there’s a tendency for certain blind spots to develop — how “socially-approved” success can sometimes create a buffer that makes it easier for all of us to avoid uncomfortable truths about ourselves. I’ve seen it in family members, in friends, in colleagues, even in myself. There are times when we nest ourselves with people or systems that unintentionally reinforce these blind spots. Supposed love becomes something we tolerate because denial becomes the elephant in the room. I’ve seen denial take root, even among those who seem to have everything figured out. But why do we choose denial, and why do we let others do the same? The answer lies in how we think about ourselves, how we’re conditioned by society, and how uncomfortable it can be to face our hidden sides. If we’re honest, we’ve a

Over the recent years, I’ve noticed a curious pattern among people, particularly those who society often deems as successful or highly intellectual. It seems that with material success and recognition, there’s a tendency for certain blind spots to develop — how “socially-approved” success can sometimes create a buffer that makes it easier for all of us to avoid uncomfortable truths about ourselves. I’ve seen it in family members, in friends, in colleagues, even in myself. There are times when we nest ourselves with people or systems that unintentionally reinforce these blind spots. Supposed lo