Cognition determines its own direction
In this ever-changing world, everyone aspires to be in control of their own destiny. However, success and failure are often just a matter of thought. Our destiny is not entirely determined by the external environment, but more often depends on our inner cognitive state.
Brain science research has found that there are certain cognitive biases in the human brain, which will inadvertently affect our judgment of things, and then affect our behavioral choices and destiny. By mastering the following 4 methods, you will be able to control your cognitive biases to a certain extent, so that you can better control your destiny.
First, cultivate critical thinking and look at things rationallyWe tend to have one-sided perceptions because of preconceived notions or emotional biases. For example, when things don't go our way, we may look too negatively at the whole picture, fall into a whirlpool of negative thinking, and make unreasonable judgments. At this point, pause, look at the whole thing from a third-party perspective, get rid of the emotional influence, and you will see the future. Cognitive biases can be avoided by rational analysis and critical thinking.
Once, Kevin excitedly shared an idea for starting a business with a friend. But my friend's response was lukewarm, asking all sorts of questions. Kevin's momentary loss left only his dissatisfaction with his friend in his mind. But he told himself not to be driven by emotions. So, he revisited his friend's feedback and found that some of the problems did need to be considered in advance and could be resolved. So Kevin adjusted his plan, stepped out of the limitations of cognition, and finally started his own business.
Second, put yourself in the shoes of others and gain multiple perspectives. It's easy for our brains to get caught up in a self-centered mindset and ignore the feelings of others. This can lead to biases in the handling of interpersonal relationships. When you put yourself in the other person's shoes, you can think outside the box, understand different positions, and make more informed choices.
Jessica was faced with the difficult decision of promotion, and she had to choose one of two colleagues with similar qualifications. At first, it was difficult for her to choose, and both sides had advantages and disadvantages. That's when she told herself not to rest on her laurels and try to think from the perspective of each colleague. Jessica suddenly saw their anxiety and anticipation of the outcome. This made her choices clear and helped her better handle subsequent relationships.
Third, stay curious and learn a wide range of knowledge in different fields. We tend to base our judgments on limited information, which in many cases creates cognitive biases. If you expand your horizons and take the initiative to obtain information from all parties, you can form a three-dimensional cognition and make more accurate decisions.
John is a business manager who has noticed that he sometimes has a one-sided view when judging the market situation. So he decided to browse more information in other fields, not only focusing on business news, but also browsing information on technology and culture. This not only enriches his knowledge structure, but also helps him to think more comprehensively when judging the market. John found his decision-making skills improved.
Fourth, stay humble and accept feedback. We tend to overestimate our own abilities and judgments and ignore the wisdom hidden in feedback. By being humble and listening to others, you will gain valuable cognitive corrections and make more rational choices.
One day, John proudly showed his business plan to a friend. But my friend gave a lot of constructive revisions. John was a little resistant at first, but she reminded herself to keep a humble mind. John listened carefully and found her to benefit greatly from her friend's advice. Eventually, she adopted some of the advice and perfected her business plan.
Raise awareness and make up for deficiencies
In summary, by cultivating critical thinking, putting yourself in the shoes of others, and being curious and humble, you will be able to control cognitive biases to a certain extent and make more informed choices.
We can't completely avoid cognitive deficits in the brain, but we can gain a clearer and more comprehensive perspective through these 4 methods, so that we can better control our own destiny. Let's work together to create an ideal life on the basis of cognition!