Breaking the Bias: 2 Ways To Challenge Your Beliefs at Any Age
Breaking the Bias: 2 Ways To Challenge Your Beliefs at Any Age
Have you ever found yourself trapped in a thought bubble, wondering if there's more beyond what you've always believed? How about that moment when you realize your opinions might just be echoes of past versions of yourself that you have attached to, not the 'you' of today.
What if those echoes turn into chains, keeping you from exploring new horizons?
What if they're stopping you from truly understanding the world around you?
Recognizing And Questioning Your Biases
Ever caught yourself nodding along to a tune or watching a terrible TV series only because it’s popular, not because you genuinely love it? That’s cognitive biases at work and everyone has them.
Cognitive biases are like invisible backpacks we carry, stuffed with preconceived notions and unexamined beliefs. They shape our views and lead us along to the tune of the crowd without us even realizing it.
For the longest time, I never had any red clothes, despite supporting Nottingham Forest (yes, you reds!) for a long period of time.
My mother had told me when I was young “red is not your color” and that was that. My refusal of red was proof that I do occasionally listen to her, at least.
When I moved to DC Metro area in 2015 the double red Nationals/Capitals sports team combo became too much and I beat my old bias and merrily adorned myself in red in their support. Go, me! That will show her!
I had never had any green clothes either. This is also rooted from childhood, thanks to growing up near Glasgow and the inescapable vortex of sectarian-driven soccer culture. People would regularly suffer violence for wearing green (or blue) so perhaps the deep roots of that bias are understandable.
Fast-forward to 2022 when a style consultant (story for another newsletter) showed me, with scientific basis, that green really suited my skin tone.
A whole new world opened up to me and I now really enjoy my green clothes. The green clothes that had not actually been a threat to me since 1989.
For those wondering, it turns out red actually is one of the worst colors for my complexion. Sorry mum, you were right. Again. :)
Your 3-Minute Action: Pick one belief you’ve never questioned. Reflect on a recent decision, one you made without thinking too much (or even at all) about it. Could a hidden bias be lurking behind it? You might just find a new perspective peeping through. Also maybe you don’t…and that’s OK…there’s still value in checking yourself!
Embracing Contradictory Information
Now, this is a tough one. Embracing information that goes against our grain is like scraping your own nails on a blackboard.
Maybe you could shed that bias to become better informed, less prone to misinformation, and hey, maybe even a bit wiser?
I was a devout Android user for the longest time. I cheerily reveled in my edgy contradictory lifestyle choice, smugly touting the obviously superior benefits of my endlessly customizable multi-megapixel phone. I had 2 phones - a personal one and a corporate device - both proudly Android.
Then, my boss observed to me that she didn’t like that she couldn’t emoji reply to my texts or that she had to confirm whether I’d read certain messages due to the lack of native iPhone read notifications. Eek.
So with heavy heart I clicked the Apple option on the biennial upgrade and waited with dread for my corporate mobile tracking device to drop from its shiny tree in Cupertino. (Fun fact this was pre-2022 so I brazenly ordered it in red).
It arrived on a snowy day and I grabbed it to video some snowball action with my kids and…it was incredible. Not only did I tell my boss about this, but I did so via the medium of a cartoon emoji unicorn, moving its lips in sync with my voice note.
I still keep one of each device - they are both pretty awesome and I’m lucky to have them. Of course, I now dive into headfirst into any Apple/Android debate - there are now very few around who are as experientially well-informed (cellphone bilingual?) as I am.
Your 3-Minute Action: Find a credible source or experience that disagrees with one of your beliefs. Spend three minutes giving it a try and work really hard to block out the really strong confirmation bias you’re going to have screaming at you to dismiss it as terrible. It’s like trying a new flavor of ice cream – you might not love it, but it’s worth a try!
Remember: questioning your biases isn’t about proving yourself wrong; it’s about giving your brain the chance to grow and explore. You may well not change your mind but the journey of affirmation will have been worthwhile. Stay curious!
Cheers,
Graeme