So, him trying to rationalize his decision against the reality of home--is that creating the cognitive dissonance that Ali was talking about?
The is the exact term to use here - cognitive dissonance.
Stay patient.
M22,H45,W45 S21/18D12 Retain faith that you will prevail in the end, regardless of the difficulties and at the same time confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be.
