You are delusional, but so am I.

How recognizing your cognitive biases will lead to a better life.

Photo by drmakete lab on Unsplash

All human unhappiness comes from not facing reality squarely, exactly as it is.

~ Buddha

Do you want to live in a world of truth or fiction? Reality or fantasy?

The answer is obvious, isn’t it?

If we want to be happy and to achieve our goals, we need to see the world as it is.

How are we going to get that promotion if we can’t see what we need to do to get it? How are we going to find a lasting partner if we can’t see what has worked and not worked in our past relationships? How are we going to write that book if we can’t see what’s holding us back?

If we don’t see the world how it is, we’re delusional, we’re blind, and we’re hopeless. We’re going to fight the wrong fights and put too much effort into achieving the wrong ends.

But, if you think you see the world as it is, think again.

You have no idea how biased you are

A cognitive bias is a systemic error in a pattern of thinking. Biases ultimately lead to poor decisions due to an inability to see the situation rationally (see here; here).

Sure, we think we can recognize bias when we see it, like when a referee calls a…