Intention

CHAPTER 12Don't Stop (Re)believing

“In all affairs, it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted.”

—Bertrand Russell

Picture this: you embark on a three-day hike through pristine, untouched wilderness. You have a basic map of the terrain and a plan for each day. You set off, following the map as precisely as you can, though you get a bit distracted by the beauty of the landscape. A few hours into your hike, you notice a small hill due north of you. You recognize the hill on your map, and you feel confident you're on the right path. A few hours pass, and you start to get tired. Your campsite should be just a mile or two away. As you continue forward, the sun now casting long shadows, you hear running water ahead. The noise grows louder and louder, until you finally find yourself standing at the edge of a roaring river, blocking your path. As tiny droplets spray your face, your pulse quickens and you realize something. This river is not on the map. At least not on the part of the map where you thought you were.

What would you do in this situation? Would you a) embrace the idea that you've perhaps misread the map, or b) assume that the river isn't really there and continue walking forward?

As ridiculous as this example sounds, studies on cognitive biases like confirmation bias, cognitive dissonance, and belief perseverance show that people have a surprisingly hard time revising their beliefs when faced with new evidence. ...