We all think we’re smart. We all think that our perspective is more complete and more insightful than those who disagree with us. And we are all, also,...
How to Know If Your Confirmation Bias Blinds You
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Making Assumptions
Men Can Meet, but Mountains Never
A beautiful saying in Jewish traditions is, “Men can meet, but mountains never.” It means if two people view themselves with humility, they will easily be...
Pay Attention to What You Don’t Notice
When I was little, my grandmother used to make hot peanut butter cookies for me. I would sit on a stool in her kitchen and watch her mix the ingredients, bake...
Comparative Beauty and Belief
If you still believe some of the same things you did when you were young, do you ever think: "Is it weird that I was born into a family and cultural tradition...
Why You Hate Others and They Hate You
Democrats hate Republicans. Republicans hate Democrats. The political hate the apolitical and vice versa. The religious hate atheists. Atheists hate the religious. Even among the religious, the opposing religions hate each other. Gang members hate members from others...
Four Jurors: When Attachment to Our Beliefs Blinds Us to the Truth
I write a lot about attachment and certainty. I’ve been fascinated throughout my career by the way we, as human beings, appear to be certain about what we know, despite research, anecdotal evidence, and personal experience telling us otherwise. I recently sat down...
Let’s Talk About Politics and Religion!
Oh no, here we go! “I know, I can scan this article really quickly to find out what side of politics this guy supports and what religion he subscribes to, and then I can determine what I really think of him!” “Don’t talk about religion or politics! You’ll lose...
How We See the World
There was once a monarch in ancient China who met and fell in love with the most beautiful woman of the land. Her beauty captivated him so much that he would overlook any of her faults. For example, there was a steep punishment for anyone who would ride in the king's...
Look for the Good in What Others Do
Once, a kind woman put a peaceful statue on the street corner to spread kindness to others. One day, a hard rain was coming down, and a poor man who was walking by thought that the statue might get ruined, and he wanted to cover it. Having only a few possessions, he...