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How to Overcome Your Brain's Fixation on Bad Things
Compensate for negative things
It is good to take a moment to stop and consider the positive side of whatever happens to you. Life is really good in many ways, despite the constant predictions of doom. Go for a five-to-one ratio of good things to bad things to bring a bit of a correction on the negativity bias.
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Key Ideas
Cognitive biases
...are common thinking errors that harm our rational decision-making.
We don't always see things as they are. We don't simply glean information through the senses and act on it; inste...
Optimism Bias
Is our tendency to overestimate the odds of our own success compared to other people's.
Overly optimistic predictions can be dangerous, leading us to waste time and resources pursuing unrealistic goals. In the real world of business, things don't always work out for the best, and it serves us well to know when conditions are not on our side.
How to control the optimism bias
- Be skeptical of your own rosy expectations for your work.
- Assume projects will be more difficult and more expensive than you initially think they will.
- Don't trust your good ideas to manifest through positive thinking - be ready to fight for them.
- Trust the numbers. Numbers are firm but fair, and getting intimate with your business's cash flow can help you make more rational decisions.
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Key Ideas
Negativity bias and feedback
And we remember criticism strongly but inaccurately. But although criticism is more lik...
Criteria for effective feedback
- The feedback provider is credible in the eyes of the feedback recipient;
- The feedback provider is trusted by the feedback recipient;
- The feedback is conveyed with good intentions;
- The timing and circumstances of giving the feedback are appropriate;
- The feedback is given in an interactive manner;
- The feedback message is clear;
- The feedback is helpful to recipient.
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Key Ideas
The negativity bias
The negativity bias happens when a person dwells on a negative event for a long period of time.
We tend to register negative stimuli every time we go through displeasing si...
Signs of the negativity bias
- Negative experiences constantly cross your mind more than positive ones.
- You tend to relive insults more than praise.
- You're able to recall traumatic situations better than positive events.
What evolution shows about the negativity bias
Paying attention to your surroundings is a typical human behavior exhibiting the will to survive. Being wary about the environment that you are in will make you more likely to survive and pass on your genes.
However, in the current era having negativity bias actually inhibits us to think rationally and make the right decisions.