From Distorted Thoughts to Clarity
For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. (2 Timothy 1:7)
I was so impressed with Darshak Rana for his article “5 Cognitive Biases That Distort Your Rational Thinking.” Rana becomes vulnerable by using a personal story to share an example of distortion. He said, “I created a vicious cycle of worry and rumination.” “I distorted my perception of reality by questioning everyone’s behavior.” “I paralyzed myself. I didn’t talk with anyone with an open heart.” Rana doesn’t just leave us with a confession but helps us by describing how to work through times of struggle.
Rana asks, “Ever bought a car and then suddenly seen the same model everywhere?” Our brains receive so much information the brain focuses on what it has experienced in the past. Get a Subaru, and then everyone has one. It is just your brain concentrating on the familiar, including your new car brand. “Psychologists call it confirmation bias.” Now, think about negative thinking or behavior. Confirmation bias causes us to emphasize sightings that are less frequent than we imagine. “2. The First Thought is the Golden One,” and since confirmation bias is often our first thought, it reinforces our original preconception.
“3. If It Ain’t Broke…” or “The devil you know is the better than the devil you don’t.” Rana reminds us that our negative biases can reinforce our fears of risk, making it impossible to change our situation or attitude. Our fear of risk and remaining stuck is backed by “4. The Trap of Past Investments.” Previous mistakes or failings can hamstring our outlook on the future. It can be hard to continue taking calculated chances when our subconscious reminds us of previous missteps. Finally, Rana warns of “5. Endowment Effect-Overvaluing What You Own.” We can own not just items but also emotional attachments. Letting go of unhealthy beliefs requires us to “declutter both physically and mentally.”
Rana’s five thought biases can transform our shortcomings only with intentional work. We can overcome this by taking deliberate action that includes regular reflection and finding an honest and emotionally intelligent friend or therapist from whom we can consider thoughts. It also requires you to forgive yourself, and you do that by being reminded that God already knows you are imperfect and loves you anyway. It becomes acceptable to share your struggles because God already knows them and is asking you to learn and grow through them. Finally, once you recognize the triggers and distortions, God will lead you to a healthier, joyous place of peace and personal acceptance.