What Does It Mean to be Human?

Prisha Mantha

Jan 30

Human psychology is a topic that greatly interests me, so I knew I would take AP Psychology my junior year without a doubt. An instance from that class that really stuck with me was when my teacher introduced us to cognitive dissonance: that uneasy feeling when our beliefs and actions conflict. He explained how humans instinctively try to reduce this discomfort, either by changing their behavior or rationalizing their thoughts. Most of my classmates nodded along, but I was stuck on a deeper question: if humans are naturally full of contradictions, as humans are imperfect beings, why does this discomfort exist at all? Isn’t contradiction an intrinsic part of being human?

I thought back to moments of internal conflict – times when I wanted two opposing things at once, like wishing to be more healthy but not putting in the work for it, or feeling regret after buying an expensive item. These contradictions felt like things that everyone had faced at least once in their lives. So why did cognitive dissonance make me feel like I had to choose between them?

Later that day, I couldn’t shake a conversation I had earlier with my friends. One of them had confided in me, expressing frustration about feeling “not enough”. Without hesitation, I began offering advice, encouraging her to put herself first, so that she could stop allowing others’ opinions to define her worth. I spoke with such conviction telling her that she needed to set boundaries and embrace her values. But as the words left my mouth, an unsettling realization settled in. I was giving out advice I didn’t even follow myself. I constantly sacrificed my own needs, letting my fears of rejection and failure take over. I had been putting others’ problems ahead of my own, neglecting my own emotional well-being, caught in a cycle of self-doubt. It hit me like a wave; the difference between the advice I was giving and the way I was living was impossible to ignore. I had been too afraid to take my own advice, to step into the space I encouraged others to claim. How could I tell someone to live authentically when I had avoided doing the same?

Looking back, I realize that the contradiction wasn’t something to fix; it was an integral part of who I am. The desire to help others recognize their worth while simultaneously neglecting my own was not a flaw; it was a reflection of the internal tension I often face. On one hand, I deeply value self-empowerment and growth, but on the other, I struggle to apply those same principles to my own life. This realization helped me understand that cognitive dissonance isn’t about eradicating contradictions. It’s about learning to coexist with them. It’s the dissonance between what we believe and how we behave that challenges us to evolve.

Being human is about thriving in this tension of contradiction – the space between our ideals and actions, like the encouragement we give others and the advice we fail to follow ourselves. Humans are innately contradictory, and this paradox is what makes us uniquely complex. We don’t need to resolve every internal conflict or choose one belief over the other. Instead, we learn to navigate this push and pull, finding balance where we can and embrace the rest as part of our human nature. That understanding has reshaped how I view the world. Our contradictions aren’t flaws to be eradicated; they’re chances to deepen our understanding of ourselves and improve.