Have you ever created your own reality? If yes, you’re just as “delulu” as we are!
Gen Z dictionary defines “delulu” as a new slang way of saying “delusional.” The colloquial term is used to describe those who have overly optimistic and idealistic, bordering on unrealistic, beliefs and fantasies. It first got its use in the K-Pop stan community and was originally associated with the “delusion” that fans can and will end up with their idols. Sounds familiar?
Delulu has since gotten traction, going beyond its K-pop roots as more and more from the younger segment consider it to be a new psychological or life hack, which encourages people to be delusional and embody that self-confidence to help them become anything they want to be. On TikTok, people use the delulu idea largely in the context of dating and relationships–thinking a person likes you just because they constantly view your stories and/or like your posts, for example. Another example is believing a person loves you so much when they take hours to reply to you, because it means they’re thinking really well about what to reply to you. To better understand the term in this context, watch this TikTok video:
@isabelunhinged he is obsessed with me
TikTok content creator ALFONSO (@_alfonsoavila) also has a playlist that can guide you in finding your own inner “delulu.” Check out his “delulu premium plan” playlist here.
The delulu concept continues to branch out, though. Interestingly, it has now reached the areas of career development, and is becoming a working principle among young careerists. Delulu, in the professional space, means thinking of working on something or attempting to achieve something, thinking you can actually do it, eventually embodying the confidence you need in getting it done or achieving the goal, then eventually realizing the plan. In a way, “delulu” is like the wacky sister of manifestation. It’s fun to go crazy coming up with life goals, but it’s even more fun actually achieving them, because you went all delulu on them.
One TikTok user mentioned that she managed to land a job at Google as a technical program manager right after college, despite having minimal industry experience, by adopting a “delulu” mindset.
@pamtagonia delulu gang rise up 💪 #delulu #layoffs #funemployed #jobsearch #tech #foryou #google
Despite its contentious origins, delulu does showcase our innate ability to navigate through life’s uncertainties and getting to where we actually want to be. The concept brings comfort to people, in that, in there is still light peeking through the end of the this dingy tunnel we call life. While we realistically can’t have everything in life, it’s still good to keep dreaming, especially if this is what pushes us to be more and do more. For as long as you do not stray too far from reality and become too fed up with society’s definition of success, then you do you.
Delulu yesterday, today, tomorrow, and every day. Who cares?
Stay delulu, friends! /VT
Other POP! stories that you might like:
Gen Z, young millennials, and women get more burned out these days, study finds
