Which Version of Denial?

Denial is a tricky thing.
You shouldn’t deny a problem
and avoid dealing with it.
You should face it squarely
and understand as best you can
what seems to be going on
and then find its counterfact,
since the reverse of error is true.
Clinging steadfastly to what is
really (absolutely and ultimately) true
instead of amplifying the difficulty
until it wildly mushrooms, is wise,
but regretfully, it is also called denial.
The difference is you’ve bravely
and intelligently handled your problem,
instead of blandly and cowardly evaded it.
Don’t get these two types of denial confused
for they have very different results.
Pretending you don’t have something
that needs to be addressed and worked out
is just as dangerous – or more–
than only focusing on the problem,
thereby watering it and making it grow.

by Polly Castor
4/20/22