Rationalisation for Dummies

Rationalisation is a word that we often hear in our everyday lives. It's one of those words that can sound a little complex, but it's actually quite simple once we break it down. You know how sometimes when we make a decision or do something, we try to come up with reasons to justify our actions? Well, that's exactly what rationalisation means. It's when we use explanations or reasons to make ourselves feel better about something, especially when we know deep down that what we did might not have been the best choice.

Let me give you an example to help you understand it even better. Imagine you have a big test coming up, but you haven't really studied as much as you should have. On the day of the test, instead of studying a little more, you decide to go hang out with your friends because you think it's more fun. Later, when you don't do as well as you wanted on the test, you might start to make excuses like, "Oh, the test was too hard anyway" or "I didn't have enough time to study properly." These excuses are examples of rationalisation.

Rationalisation can also happen when we try to make sense of other people's actions or behaviors. Have you ever wondered why someone did something that didn't make much sense to you? It could be that they are rationalising their actions to themselves. For example, if someone eats a lot of junk food but knows it's not healthy, they might say things like, "I had a tough day, and junk food makes me feel better" or "I'll start eating healthier tomorrow."

Think of rationalisation as a shield or defense mechanism that our brains use to protect our feelings and emotions. It helps us to make sense of things that may not always make logical sense. Sometimes, rationalisation can be helpful because it allows us to cope with difficult or challenging situations. However, it's essential to be aware of when we are rationalising and why we are doing it. It's important to be honest with ourselves and take responsibility for our actions instead of justifying them with excuses.

So, in a nutshell, rationalisation means coming up with reasons or explanations to make ourselves feel better about something we did or to understand someone else's actions. It's a way our brains try to protect us from feeling guilty or making us feel better about choices that may not have been the best. But remember, it's always important to reflect on our actions and be accountable for our choices rather than always relying on rationalisation.