Somewhere between “he liked my story” and “the universe is clearly sending me a sign,” delusion became the modern woman’s coping mechanism and honestly, maybe that’s not a bad thing.
“Delulu,” internet slang for being delightfully delusional, has turned into an anthem of chaotic optimism. It’s the art of believing the plot twist will favor you, even when reality is giving you zero evidence. It’s manifesting a text that’s never coming, romanticizing your walk to the metro as a cinematic moment, or acting like your crush’s vague emoji reply means they’re secretly obsessed.
On the surface, it sounds unhinged. But here’s the thing, delulu isn’t about losing touch with reality. It’s about rewriting your relationship with it. After years of burnout, overthinking, and self-help advice telling us to “stay grounded,” maybe floating a little isn’t the worst idea.
Think about it. We live in a world where everything feels uncertain, relationships, careers, even our skincare serums. Reality can be exhausting. A little delusion becomes a way of softening the edges. It’s self-preservation with glitter on top.
The internet gets it. TikTok and Instagram are full of people proudly declaring, “I’m delusional, but it works.” They’re not talking about denial, they’re talking about believing in their worth before the world does. It’s confidence cosplay that, over time, becomes real.
There’s power in pretending you already have what you’re chasing. When you act like the main character, you start treating yourself like one. You walk taller, speak bolder, and suddenly, you stop settling for crumbs. That’s not delusion. That’s manifestation with personality.
Of course, there’s a line. Being “delulu” isn’t about ignoring red flags or romanticizing bad behavior. It’s not “he ghosted me because he’s shy.” It’s about holding on to the fantasy long enough to survive the reality, not replace it. It’s playfulness, not denial. The difference is self-awareness and maybe a good group chat to keep you in check.
Because the truth is, delusion is often just hope in a sparkly outfit. It’s the tiny voice that says, “You’ve got this,” even when things are falling apart. It’s how we trick our brains into believing better things are possible.
For women, especially, “delulu” feels quietly radical. We’ve been trained to be realistic, cautious, and practical. But realism can be a trap, it keeps us small. A bit of delusion lets us dream big, flirt boldly, and expect more from life.
There’s a reason the phrase “be delusional about yourself” hits differently. It means romanticizing your potential instead of your problems. It means acting like you already belong in the spaces you’re scared to enter. It’s a kind of rebellion against self-doubt.
And maybe that’s what makes delulu the new self-care. It’s not a face mask or a digital detox. It’s a mindset that says, “I’ll believe in the best-case scenario until it believes in me.” It’s laughing at your own chaos and still showing up like the universe is conspiring in your favor.
Reality will always be there, waiting patiently with its spreadsheets and consequences. But delusion gives us room to breathe. It gives us color. It reminds us that imagination isn’t childish, it’s how adults survive the mess.
So the next time someone calls you delusional for believing that your crush, your dream, or your plan will somehow work out, just smile. Maybe they’re right. But maybe you’re manifesting something they can’t see yet.
After all, every success story starts with someone who was a little bit delusional before they were right.
