Change Happens Now :
Breaking The Patterns That Run Your Life
Positive Delusion Mindset: Powerful Reasons Being “Delusional” Can Lead to Success
February 11, 2026
Summary
Being called delusional for believing in your goals is common when your vision exceeds other people’s imagination. Psychology shows that a positive delusion mindset can increase resilience, motivation, and long term success.
In this article you will learn:
- What optimism bias really means
- How self belief affects performance
- Why being “delusional” about your goals increases action
- Modern examples of people who were dismissed before they succeeded
- How to use strong belief without disconnecting from reality
There have been times in my life where I have definitely been told that I was living in “Delulu land.” This was because I refused to accept a version of my life that felt smaller than what I knew was possible.
When you are building something unconventional, belief often looks like delusion to people who are not willing to take the same risk.
For me, I do not see my goals as optional. I see them as inevitable.
The Psychology Behind a Positive Delusion Mindset
Psychologists describe something called optimism bias, which is the tendency to overestimate the likelihood of positive outcomes. While extreme delusion can disconnect someone from reality, moderate optimism has repeatedly been shown to increase resilience, persistence, and long term performance.
Albert Bandura, a Canadian American psychologist best known for developing social cognitive theory, introduced the concept of self-efficacy. His research demonstrated that belief in your own capability directly influences how much effort you exert, how much risk you are willing to take, and how you interpret setbacks. According to Bandura, people who believe they can succeed are more likely to attempt difficult tasks, persist longer when obstacles arise, and recover faster from failure.
If you believe success is unlikely, hesitation becomes natural. If you believe success is possible, you are willing to try. If you believe success is inevitable, you begin organizing your time, energy, and identity around that assumption.
People who overestimate their abilities often perform better not because they are magically more talented, but because they engage more deeply. They practice longer and they tolerate discomfort more willingly. They interpret rejection as feedback rather than proof of inadequacy.
That confidence can often look unrealistic, but it fuels disciplined action. A positive delusion mindset is not about ignoring reality, but about choosing the interpretation that increases effort and resilience.
People Who Were Called Delusional Before They Succeeded
Issa Rae built her early audience by creating a web series called Awkward Black Girl at a time when major networks showed little interest in stories centered around her perspective. Traditional gatekeepers did not immediately validate her vision. She built it anyway. That so-called delusional commitment to her voice eventually led to HBO’s Insecure and the creation of a production company that expanded representation in mainstream media.
Sara Blakely started Spanx with no background in fashion, manufacturing, or retail. She pitched her product repeatedly and was turned down by industry insiders who did not see the market she believed existed. She continued refining her product, cold calling manufacturers, and trusting her intuition despite being dismissed. That persistence led her to become the youngest self-made female billionaire at the time.
Neither of them relied on fantasy. They paired extreme belief with disciplined execution.
Being delusional without effort is escape, but being delusional with relentless action is vision.
My Relationship With “Delulu” Thinking
When Nina and I decided to build multiple creative businesses while living internationally, we were told that it was unstable and unrealistic. Some had warned that it would be safer to choose predictability over possibility.
What may have appeared reckless, for us just felt aligned.
We did not romanticize the risk. We understood the work required and we understood that income would fluctuate. We knew that obstacles would appear, and that comfort would not be guaranteed.
What we refused to accept was the idea that the conventional path was the only viable one. That belief did not eliminate stress, but it did eliminate hesitation.
When you genuinely believe something will work, you approach it differently. You plan differently and you persist differently. You are less likely to abandon the path at the first sign of difficulty because the outcome is not viewed as optional.
The mindset was not delusion in the sense of ignoring reality. It was a refusal to internalize limitations. That distinction matters.
6 Reasons a Positive Delusion Mindset Increases Success
1. It Removes the Emotional Exit Strategy
When you see your goal as inevitable rather than hypothetical, quitting feels inconsistent with your identity. That shift alone increases long-term persistence.
2. It Increases Risk Tolerance
Confidence changes willingness to publish, pitch, create, and endure criticism. Self belief and success are linked because belief increases attempts.
3. It Reframes Failure as Data
If you assume eventual success, setbacks become temporary adjustments rather than final verdicts.
4. It Shapes Identity Before Results Appear
In Change Happens Now, identity precedes behavior. When you identify as someone who succeeds, you begin aligning your daily habits with that expectation.
5. It Reduces External Influence
Strong internal belief makes you less dependent on outside validation. Being called unrealistic has less psychological impact when your internal conviction is stronger than external doubt.
6. It Activates Visualization and Neural Rehearsal
Sports psychology research shows that visualization activates similar neural circuits as physical practice. When you repeatedly imagine yourself executing successfully, you condition your nervous system for performance.
The Difference Between Vision and Self-Deception
This is where maturity matters. A positive delusion mindset should increase preparation, not replace it. It should encourage adaptation, not denial.
Belief is powerful because it changes behavior. It becomes dangerous only when it replaces effort. The goal is not to ignore reality, but instead believe that you can shape it.
History shows that the world often labels ambition as delusion before it labels it as leadership.
How to Use “Delusion” Strategically
If you want to experiment with this mindset:
- Speak about your goals as eventual rather than hypothetical.
- Visualize success regularly, including the obstacles you will overcome.
- Limit negative self-talk immediately and aggressively.
- Align your daily habits with the identity you claim.
- Protect your environment from chronic pessimism.
Treat it as an experiment.
Operate for ninety days under the assumption that your success is inevitable. Track your effort, output, and resilience during that period. You may discover that belief increases discipline rather than diminishing realism.
Closing Reflection
There are seasons where realism protects you. There are seasons where realism limits you.
If you are building something unconventional, you will likely be called delusional before you are called successful. The question is not whether other people think your goals are realistic. The question is whether your belief increases your commitment.
If it does, continue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is having a positive delusion mindset unhealthy?
A positive delusion mindset becomes unhealthy only when belief replaces effort or ignores clear reality. When paired with disciplined action, self awareness, and skill development, strong belief increases persistence and long term performance.
What is optimism bias in psychology?
Optimism bias is the tendency to overestimate the likelihood of positive outcomes. Research shows that moderate optimism increases resilience, motivation, and the willingness to take constructive risks.
Can being “delusional” about your goals actually help you succeed?
Yes, if it increases effort. When you strongly believe in your ability to succeed, you are more likely to act consistently, recover from setbacks, and stay committed longer than someone who doubts their outcome.
What is the difference between confidence and delusion?
Confidence is belief supported by preparation and action. Delusion becomes harmful when belief replaces learning or adaptation. A positive delusion mindset strengthens discipline rather than avoiding reality.
How do I build stronger self-belief without lying to myself?
Focus on identity based habits, visualize success while acknowledging obstacles, track small wins, and limit negative self talk. Self belief grows when repeated action reinforces the identity you claim.
Is there scientific evidence that belief affects performance?
Yes. Research on self efficacy, developed by Albert Bandura, shows that belief in your capabilities directly influences effort, persistence, and resilience, all of which impact long term success.
