Delulu is the New Trululu

Delulu is the New Trululu

We've all heard "fake it till you make it," but Gen Z took it to the extreme with what they refer to as the "delulu" strategy. It seems ridiculous on the surface - who would assume it's not strange to use a word that literally means "delusional" to describe something? But examine further, and you'll find that there's some actual psychology at work here about why this tactic is working for young adults these days.

Delulu phenomenon started among K-pop fan groups. Delulu defined fans with extremely unrealistic delusions about their beloved idols. Gen Z has redefined the term a great deal, however. Being delulu now has nothing to do with losing touch with reality. It's about creating your own reality by believing so intensely in something. It is the ultimate display of self-confidence, where you pretend what you desire is yours until it becomes so.

Take job hunting, for example. The traditional method is to read a job ad, determine if you meet the qualifications, and possibly decide not to apply if you don't have all of them. The delulu method? Apply anyway. Go into the interview as though you already work there. Define your skills with complete confidence, even if you're still learning. This isn't about dishonesty - it's about giving yourself permission to learn into the role instead of waiting until you're "perfect" to apply.

Why this method of thinking is so powerful is known as "self-fulfilling prophecy" by psychologists. When you truly believe something about yourself, you act in a manner that causes the belief to occur. If you think that you belong in the room, people will act as if you do. If you act like a master, people will start to treat you like one. This isn't magic - this is human psychology.

Social media has been responsible for making delulu thinking go mainstream. If you check out TikTok pages, you will find numerous success stories with titles such as "I faked being rich until I was rich" or "I faked being confident until I was." Such trending stories make the idea sound quasi-mystical, but there is some truth to the trend. When you act like you are confident (though you may have to fake it initially), you are likely to receive more opportunities. People like to be around individuals who have confidence in themselves.

For Gen Z, who grew up during a recession, a pandemic, and perpetual social media presence, delulu thinking is a survival tactic. When life is too much and ruthless, this kind of thinking allows them to transcend self-doubt and take action anyway. Instead of being mired in "what if I fail?" thinking, delulu thinkers imagine "what if I succeed?"

Consider Maya, who was 24 when she landed her dream fashion job without ever receiving any formal education. "I created the entire portfolio of things I wanted to make," she says. "Then I learned how to actually make them while I was going on the job hunt. If I'd waited until I was 'ready,' I'd still be waiting." This is a healthy attitude - the willingness to develop into your dream rather than waiting for approval.

There is a major difference between healthy hopeful thinking and true delusion. These people are not just sitting around waiting for success - they are using their confidence to push themselves. They are networking, practicing, and moving ahead while firmly believing that things will come together. It is this balance of effort and courage that makes the technique so successful.

It's in the workplace that we're witnessing some of the most fascinating uses of delulu thinking. Gen Z workers are notoriously confident at applying for jobs they're not 100% suited for, requesting raises early in their careers, and drawing strict boundaries around work-life balance. Some label it entitlement; others label it savvy career strategy. Either way, it's succeeding - many young professionals are speeding up their careers by refusing to obey traditional timelines for promotion.

In creative pursuits, delulu thinking is paying off. Artists who act like they already are successful have galleries and customers take them seriously. Musicians who play like they already are stars get larger crowds. There's something about playing with confidence that makes others have confidence in you too.

But career achievement isn't the only payoff. Delulu thinking actually improves mental health. Most young people affirm that this thinking helped them conquer social anxiety, imposter syndrome, and fear of failure. By being "as if" assertive, they gradually become more assertive in life. It's cognitive behavioral therapy minus the seriousness.

There are a couple of things to be careful of. Some individuals have too unrealistic an attitude to be successful without effort or to disregard severe warnings in relationships or finance. The best individuals who employ this attitude are encouraged to work harder and do not employ it as an excuse for not facing facts. They combine great ideas with practical actions to make it happen.

What is unique about delulu thinking now is the way it battles perfectionism. In a world where everybody's posting their best ever at every second, it's not hard to feel as though you need to be perfect first before you can begin. Delulu thinking flips this on its head - it lets you be a work in progress and still aim for what you desire.

Scientific evidence to back this up is overwhelming. Experiments in "embodied cognition" demonstrate that our external condition influences our state of mind. Standing up straight, speaking confidently, and dressing smart aren't subtle tricks - they actually alter the way our brain functions. If you act successful, your brain starts to believe you're successful, and that influences the way you perform.

One of the largest deviations from delulu thinking is that it makes confidence a universal thing. Previously, all of us would think that you were confident or not. But this line of thinking conceptualizes confidence as something that can be practiced and cultivated. Even if you are not confident to begin with, you can "act as if" until you become confident.

• If you're interested in trying delulu thinking, here's how to do it successfully:

• Start with little challenges that you can manage to build your confidence.

• Create a vision board or a journal to establish your goals.

• Be with people who help you reach your goals.

• Celebrate small victories along the way to remind you of the attitude.

Always balance your confidence with concrete action steps. As we move through a more complicated world, delulu thinking gives us another choice instead of getting mired in overthinking. It's not a question of ignoring reality, but not letting current situations stop you from being your best. When you allow yourself to dream big and be fearless, you open doors that might not have otherwise opened. Next time you want to say "I'm not ready yet," think differently instead. Ask yourself: "What would I do if I knew I couldn't fail?" Then take one teeny-tiny step towards that dream. You'd be amazed at how quickly this new thinking becomes a reality for you. After all, every monumental achievement in history began as someone's "unrealistic" dream. Why can't yours be next?