Unlearning Fiction

 I’ve been reflecting on this idea that’s been lingering in my mind for quite a while now: the notion of unlearning fiction. At first glance, it might sound strange. Why would anyone need to unlearn fiction? Isn't fiction meant to expand our horizons, to immerse us in different worlds, and to offer an escape from the mundane reality we live in? But here’s the thing: I've started to see fiction, especially the kind of polished, neatly wrapped fiction sold by Disney and other entertainment giants, as something that can distort our understanding of the real world.

How did I come to this realization?

It wasn't an overnight epiphany. It took years of consuming countless stories, movies, and TV shows that promised happy endings and neatly resolved conflicts. Then I started noticing a gap—a chasm—between the world I saw on screen and the world I lived in. My real-life experiences were often messy, unresolved, and, quite frankly, disappointing. I began questioning why I felt a certain sense of unease after watching these films. Why did reality seem so inadequate compared to the fictional worlds crafted for me?

Could it be that fiction was feeding me bullshit?

That’s a strong word—bullshit—but in many ways, it captures my sentiment. I don’t mean that fiction is inherently bad. Stories have their place. But the problem arises when these stories become our primary lens for viewing the world. When we consume too much fiction, we can start internalizing its patterns and expecting real life to follow suit. We start waiting for our own happy endings, our grand epiphanies, and our moments of redemption as if they’re just around the corner. But life doesn’t work like that, does it? The more I indulged in these fantasies, the more I found myself feeling dissatisfied with my own reality.

What was the impact of this on my thinking?

I realized that my real-world insights were being clouded. My thinking, especially my analytical mind (what I like to refer to as my 'Ti' or Thinking introverted function), was being fed a steady diet of unrealistic expectations. It became harder to separate fantasy from reality. Meanwhile, I noticed something else: a friend of mine, who was less invested in fiction, seemed more grounded. He had a better grasp of real-world issues, practical knowledge, and an understanding of human nature that I felt was beyond me. I couldn’t help but wonder—was his clearer vision because he wasn’t consuming as much fiction? Was he not being fed the same bullshit?

What did I start to do about it?

The first step was acknowledgment. I had to admit that I was consuming too much fiction and that it was shaping my worldview in ways that weren’t beneficial. This wasn’t easy. Fiction was my comfort zone; it was a way to escape from reality. But I started to pull back, to immerse myself more in non-fiction, to read about real people, real events, and real problems. I sought out content that didn’t offer easy solutions or happy endings but instead presented the world in all its complexity.

Did this change my perspective?

Absolutely. As I began to unlearn the patterns of fiction, my perspective shifted. I started to see life not as a series of scenes leading to a climactic resolution but as a continuous flow of experiences, each with its own value, even if it didn’t fit into a neat narrative. I began to appreciate the messy, the unresolved, the ambiguous. I learned that life’s real lessons often come from moments of uncertainty and discomfort, not from neatly scripted events.

Does this mean fiction is bad?

Not at all. Fiction has its place. It can inspire, teach, and provoke thought. But like anything, it needs to be consumed in moderation. When we allow it to dominate our understanding of the world, we risk losing touch with reality. We risk becoming disillusioned, always comparing our lives to the polished, scripted versions we see on screen. I’ve come to see that it’s not about rejecting fiction altogether but about balancing it with a healthy dose of reality.

What’s the takeaway from all this?

Maybe it’s this: unlearning fiction is about recalibrating our expectations. It’s about recognizing that life is not a movie, and real growth often happens in the messiness, not in the neatly resolved. It's about being present, facing life head-on, and appreciating the realness of our experiences, without constantly wishing they were something else. By unlearning the unrealistic patterns fiction instills in us, we can start to see life as it truly is, with all its imperfections and uncertainties. And perhaps, in doing so, we find a deeper sense of contentment and a more genuine understanding of ourselves and the world around us.