It's easy to lose yourself in the phenomenon of a group dynamic, wherein critical thinking skills are suspended in the interest of “fitting in,” or “not making waves.” We all have an innate need to belong somewhere, that's natural. But we must be on guard against mass delusions which always linger over an excitable, passionate crowd. Remember to resist the social and emotional tendency to adopt to other people's beliefs instead of holding your own. Standing your ground requires a self-control far from surrender. A delusion is a fixated belief one keeps despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, and even completely healthy people are subject to illusory influences. Basically, a delusion involves impaired testing of realty and being compelled by nascent patterns we envisage around us. When we see a pattern of action we think is against us or our interests, we unnecessarily open ourselves to the possibility of paranoid delusions. But what's really going on? We accuse others of failing to listen to us when we state our needs and desires - but do we not return the favor? Is this just a little hypocritical and a waste of time? Remember that time = life; therefore, waste your time and waste your life. I also wish to stress the importance of avoiding the delusion of hopelessness, which sometimes is an accoutrement to inwardly held and staunchly guarded depressive episodes. Don't start off expecting little more than failure, but don't also go to the other extreme with grandiose delusions thinking the whole world is eager to cave in to every squeaky wheel. In social negotiation, when presenting ideas on stage and inviting disputation, always be prepared to find a way that works for everyone. We can all win if we work and stick together, bearing burdens and keeping hope alive, as long as our hopes are firmly grounded in reality.