Are We Hypocrites?

Have you ever caught yourself preaching one thing yet doing the complete opposite? It’s a jarring feeling and can knock your confidence. I wondered if this flip-flop was especially common for dyslexics. During the episode above, I dive into what hypocrisy really means for those of us who think outside the box and how we can handle it.

I speak about personal experiences where I felt like I’d said all the right words, only to realise my actions weren’t lining up at all. It made me question if being dyslexic was creating more of these moments than usual or if it just felt that way. Join me as I untangle the clues around hypocrisy and come out with a fresh perspective on how to catch yourself in those moments of contradiction.

What Does “Hypocrisy” Even Mean?

Many of us define hypocrisy as saying one thing and doing another. It can feel like a moral shortcoming, like we’re intentionally misleading everyone. But is that always true? I’ve realised it can happen through innocent mistakes. You can genuinely believe something is right, then fail to act accordingly when the moment arises.

I explored whether dyslexia might trigger more of these moments, because of challenges with memory, overwhelm, or simply getting our wires crossed. It’s easy to speak with passion and conviction, then get so flooded by life that we forget our words. For me, that’s what happened most often. I’d promise myself I’d stay calm under stress. Then stress would arrive, and I’d suddenly be stomping around in frustration.

“I always thought hypocrisy meant you were fake. But there’s a difference between being intentionally deceptive and realising your brain just didn’t line up your actions.”

The Role Dyslexia Plays

Being dyslexic can bring challenges like poor short-term memory and difficulty translating thoughts into consistent actions. I’ve noticed that what I said on Monday might be forgotten by Tuesday. It’s not because I’m trying to duck my responsibilities. My mind just jumps to another fascinating idea, so I lose track.

On the podcast, I share stories of juggling commitments. I’d set up a perfect plan in my head, certain I’d follow through, then forget important bits. This gave off a hypocritical vibe, even though I wasn’t intending to mislead anyone. When I dug deeper, I found that owning our slips and forgiving ourselves is key.

Recognising Your Own Patterns

Step one is to catch these moments quickly. How can you spot them? Pay attention to where you experience the largest gaps between your words and your actions. It could be related to:

• Health goals (like promising to exercise and then never putting on your trainers)
• Family or friend commitments
• Work or professional projects
• Personal growth habits (like journaling or meditating)

Noticing the gaps is an important part of the work. You can’t fix what you can’t see. When I opened my eyes and saw the pattern, I realised my intentions were usually good. I just needed a better system to ensure I stayed on track.

Bringing Self-Awareness into the Picture

Self-awareness can start with a simple note system or a short reflection at the end of each day. If you wrote down one or two things you aimed to do, did you follow through? If not, why? Sometimes, it might be fatigue or the demands of the day. Other times, it’s just classic dyslexia forgetfulness.

Try these steps to stay aligned:

1. Keep a clear list of commitments or promises you’ve made.
2. Use smartphone reminders or calendar notifications.
3. Share your goals with another person for accountability.
4. Practise self-forgiveness if you slip.

Don’t expect perfection. Even neurotypical people slip, so cut yourself some slack. The main difference is that dyslexia can magnify these slips. Awareness and tools will help you close that gap between words and deeds.

Why Compassion Matters

Feeling like a hypocrite can trigger shame and self-criticism. But don’t forget that a harsh voice in your head doesn’t help. It’s better to be kind to yourself first, then sort out the mismatch. If you’re too hard on yourself, you can fall into a doom spiral where you convince yourself you’re never consistent.

I’ve found compassion to be an immensely powerful tool. Remind yourself that this is a learning process. If you treat each slip as an opportunity to improve, you’ll naturally make better choices next time. It’s also helpful if you talk openly about this topic with people in your life. They might be facing the same challenge. A bit of mutual support can go a long way.

• Accept your humanness.
• Do a quick check-in with yourself when you spot a gap.
• Forgive yourself and make a plan to course-correct.
• Celebrate small improvements.

Key Takeaways

• Hypocrisy can sometimes be more about forgetfulness or overwhelm than intentional deceit.
• Dyslexia can widen the gap between words and actions, but simple systems can help.
• Self-awareness grows when you track your promises and reflect on missed targets.
• Compassion keeps you from falling into shame and helps you bounce back quickly.
• Talking about it helps normalise this experience and leads to mutual support.

If you want to hear more details about my journey and learn practical ways to stay aligned with what you say, check out the full episode. The podcast player is right at the top of the page, so press play and dive deeper into this heartfelt topic.