Being honest with yourself stings first and saves you later. Lying to yourself works the opposite way.

Comfort and accuracy sit on opposite sides in the short run. An honest read of a situation hurts immediately and then stops hurting, because once something is named you can begin doing something about it. The flattering read feels better now and charges interest, since whatever you avoided seeing keeps operating whether or not you looked at it.

Pick something you have been softening in your own head and say the blunt version once, privately. It will be unpleasant for roughly a minute. Then notice how much clearer the next decision about it becomes.