Are you a little Delulu?

I am committed to walking 10,000 steps per day.

You may have heard that walking 10,000 steps a day is considered the gold standard for fitness, but the recommendation is not rooted in science. Nope. According to The National University of Health Sciences, the idea originated as part of a marketing campaign in the 1960s when Tokyo hosted the Olympic Games. A Japanese company called Yamasa introduced a pedometer known as the “manpo-kei,” which translates to “10,000-step meter.”

Research suggests that walking 5,000 to 7,000 steps per day is associated with a significant reduction in mortality and chronic disease risk compared with extremely low activity levels.

So, with this knowledge, why do I continue to walk 10,000 steps every day?

Because I have a guilty pleasure. I call it....Walk and Tok. 🫢

Whenever I commit to taking an extra walk after work to hit my step goal, I get to scroll on TikTok.

Could I be using that time more productively? Absolutely. But, as previously stated, it’s my guilty pleasure. And in my defense, my algorithm is pretty well optimized, so I like to think my scrolling is at least somewhat educational.

During one of my evening walk and Tok scrolls, I was exposed to the concept of being "Delulu" and that being "delulu is the solulu." Stick with me.

In a TikTok, @by_sydney states that "being ridiculously delusional (delulu) is one of the most effective ways that I found to making sure that you have an extraordinary life." She goes on to say that being “delusional” is a skill that can be learned, offering advice and even promoting a four-week “Delusion Bootcamp” where participants come together to expand their sense of what is possible in life.

So, how exactly is being "delulu the solulu?" That question led me to other creators who said things like:

"The law of attraction means that you're still trying to attract it, you don't have it. The law of assumption means you're trying to assume it. How about the law of absolute truth? Be delusional and know that it's done." @adonisbjornson

"So when you put your blinders on and stop paying attention to how life has been, you stop focusing on the circumstances that you don't want, you start feeling into, speaking about, and thinking about your reality exactly how you want it to be. That is when your reality changes." @alexraesmith

Is this starting to sound like the classic concept of manifestation to you? That's what I started to think.

This led me to further investigate, where I found a Today article that made the concept of being delulu less delulu to me.

I learned that the term delulu originated through the K-pop community in 2023 to describe obsessive fans, and has since been adopted by Generation Z as a mindset that can lead to positive outcomes. The article goes on to describe the debate among TikTokers about whether being too delulu is toxic or if being delulu is the key to becoming more confident. And just as I expected, being dululu is a new way to promote manifestation, or one's ability to intentionally attract what they want in life.

My favorite part of the article was the commentary from psychotherapist Alison McKleroy, who said, “The spirit of it, and even the humor and playfulness in it, is kind of what we’re needing right now.” She goes on to explain that being “delulu” can actually help people become more resilient. Didn’t work out? That’s okay. You were just being delusional. Try again!

So, what does this have to do with my favorite topics: personal and professional development and fulfillment? Honestly, not all that much. But I do think it serves as a much-needed reminder to have a little fun while we’re figuring it all out. I’m a lover of peer-reviewed articles and evidence-based research, but I’m also a fan of jumping on a trend and being a little delulu every now and then.

So, maybe being delulu is the solulu.

Let's have a little fun and find out.

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Find one thing that brings you joy today.