Anyone with a passing familiarity with Buddhism will know that “delusion” is rarely, if ever, mentioned in a positive way. In fact, the Buddha included delusion (aka: confusion about the way things really are) on his list of “the three poisons.” The whole point of meditation, per the Buddha, is to uproot delusion -- along with greed and hatred. Only then can you be enlightened. My guest today is here to valiantly make the case that delusion -- or self-deception -- has an upside. Many upsides, in fact. While he concedes that self-deception can, of course, be massively harmful, he argues that it also plays a vital role in our success and wellbeing, and that it holds together friendships, marriages, and nations. Understanding this, he says, can make you happier, more effective, and -- crucially -- more empathetic with people with whom you disagree. Shankar Vedantam is the host of the popular podcast and radio show Hidden Brain. His latest book is called Useful Delusions: The Power and Paradox of the Self-Deceiving Brain. Learn more about the 10% Happier podcast and join Dan and his community at www.danharris.com. #tenpercenthappier #10percent #danharris #meditation #mentalhealth #mindfulness #dharma #podcast #mindfulnessteacher #adults #anxiety #buddha #buddhism #fitness #health #interview #meditate #men #mental #help #mentalhealthawareness #mentalhealthmatters #mentalhealthtips #mindfulnessmeditation #science #selfawareness #selfhelp #selfhealing #tph #tenpercenthappier #tenpercent #panicattack #panicattackrelief #anxietyrelief #anxietytips Subscribe to watch more 10% Happier videos: https://www.youtube.com/tenpercenthappier Listen to the Full Podcast https://link.chtbl.com/Y_729H6p FOLLOW DAN HARRIS ON SOCIAL: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danharris/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@danbharris Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DanHarrisABC X: https://twitter.com/danbharris LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-harris-91ba5716b/ 10% Happier Podcast with Dan Harris Tune in to the 10% Happier podcast with Dan Harris for interviews with meditators, scientists, and authors on meditating, mental health, and much more.