I think that is the big danger in keeping a diary: you exaggerate everything.
Keeping a diary is often seen as a valuable tool for self-reflection and personal growth. It allows individuals to record their thoughts, feelings, and experiences, creating a timeline of their inner life. However, as this quote suggests, there is a significant risk involved: the tendency to exaggerate. When we write about ourselves or our experiences, emotions can become amplified. Joy might seem more profound, disappointment more devastating, and successes more triumphant than they actually are. This exaggeration can distort how we perceive ourselves and our circumstances, leading to a skewed self-image. On the one hand, exaggeration might serve as a way to process intense feelings, providing a release or a heightened sense of importance to our experiences. On the other hand, it can perpetuate distortions, making us view past events with rose-colored or bleak glasses that influence our present perspective. Over time, such distortions may hinder genuine understanding or acceptance, trapping us in a narrative that is more about how we wish to see ourselves than how we truly are. Recognizing this tendency encourages us to adopt more honest and balanced journaling habits, ensuring our records reflect both the highs and lows with sincerity. Ultimately, the danger of exaggeration in keeping a diary highlights the delicate balance between self-expression and self-delusion, reminding us to approach our memories and feelings with both honesty and humility.
