“Adopting an intentionally optimistic mindset, often referred to as 'delulu', increases self-confidence.”

Optimism is a mental attitude that heavily influences physical and mental health... positive correlations have been found between optimism and physical/mental well-being. Optimistic subjects tend to have more frequently protective attitudes, are more resilient to stress and are inclined to use more appropriate coping strategies.

Delulu is an Internet slang term for “delusional.” In some contexts, it describes someone with an unapologetic, bold, and often joyously self-confident belief in the likelihood of realizing one's ambitions. This sentiment was playfully captured in the phrases “delulu is the solulu” (“delusion is the solution”) and “may all your delulu come trululu” (“may all your delusions come true”), with solulu and trululu modeled on delulu.

The results of this study show a correlation coefficient (r) = 0.767 with p = 0.00 which indicates that there is a very significant positive relationship between self-confidence and optimism of students who complete their thesis at the Faculty of Psychology UIN Ar-Raniry Banda Aceh. That is, the higher the self-confidence, the higher the optimism of completing thesis for students of the Faculty of Psychology UIN Ar-Raniry owned by students.

Optimism can promote adaptive behaviours and cognitive responses associated with greater flexibility, problem-solving capacity, and more positive cognition of negative events. Optimism also enhances psychological resources such as hope, resilience, and self-efficacy.

While the term delulu thinking (short for “delusional”) was once an insult, Gen Z has flipped it into a quirky life philosophy — suggesting that irrational optimism might just be the key to living your best life. Psychologists Taylor and Brown (1988) introduced the concept of positive illusions — slightly exaggerated self-beliefs that can enhance mental well-being. People who see themselves in a more favorable light than objective reality often have higher self-esteem, lower stress, and better social relationships.

Delulu culture is a form of rebellion against hopelessness. It says: “If I believe I'm that person, I can become that person.” That said, when used strategically, delulu can function as a self-affirming cognitive hack. It can rewire self-doubt, shift behavior, and build a stronger sense of possibility.

There is no peer-reviewed research to back up the effectiveness of a delulu moment. It probably isn't the best long-term life strategy. But experts say it can deliver a much-needed confidence boost. As the San Francisco therapist Alison McKleroy told Today, “Being delulu is almost like a self-efficacy tool. Being able to own your choices, take action and be fulfilled.”

We can shift our attitude in a more optimistic direction, no matter our natural inclination, with time, energy, and effort. Here are five research-based ...

Believing that success is just around the corner, even when the odds are not in their favor, can increase a person's motivation to push through setbacks. Unrealistic optimism provides the drive to keep going, even when faced with challenges. However, one of the major risks of unrealistic optimism is that it can cloud an individual's judgment and lead to poor decision-making.

Trivializing delusion normalizes harmful coping strategies: Anxiety and Depression: Suppressing emotions under a “delulu” facade leads to burnout. Reinforcement of Trauma Responses: Dissociation or hyperarousal (e.g., “crashing out”) becomes ingrained. Delayed Healing: Avoiding reality stalls therapeutic progress.

Positive thinking happens when you engage in habits that allow you to become more adaptable, leverage your strengths, face obstacles with optimism, and ...

Research, published in Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, from the University of Bath shows that excessive optimism is actually associated with lower cognitive skills such as verbal fluency, fluid reasoning, numerical reasoning, and memory. Whereas those high on cognitive ability tend to be both more realistic and pessimistic in their expectations about the future.