Bulletproofing yourself from the usual tricks of your own brain !!!
Reversing or throttling your delusionary behaviour.
1. Our brain plays tricks on us.
Every time you make a quick decision, you're using something called heuristics.
Here's how to avoid falling into a heuristics trap:
2. Heuristics is a fancy word for mental shortcuts.
When you don’t think too hard about a choice, you’re using heuristics.
It’s an unconscious process that allows us to act quickly, and usually, it gets good results.
3. Heuristics usually pop up when we're in a new situation. Our brain simply applies what has worked in a similar situation to deal with this one.
Often times that works.
But sometimes your heuristics will lead you into a trap.
The traps and how to avoid them:
4. Here are three traps you may find yourself in:
a. The Expert Halo Trap
b. The Familiarity Trap
c. The Commitment Trap
Let's chat about each of these...
5. Expert Halo Trap
You trust someone with your safety or your life because you think they're a professional.
For example, one afternoon you go boating with your friends. A friend's friend is at the wheel. You assume they have experience because they're behind the wheel.
6. You don't ask any questions, you simply trust that this person will drive safely, and take care of your life.
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7. Familiarity Trap
When you lower your guard because you're familiar with a place, experience, or thing. You expect the same experience you had before.
For example: you regularly go swimming with friends at the same watering hole.
8. Your friends and you take turn doing fun tricks jumping into the water.
Because you "know this place", you never check the bottom of the river to see if rocks have shifted which could create danger.
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9. One more note on Familiarty Trap.
Did you know 65%+ of all car accidents happen within 10 miles of home?
Progressive reports that "this is because drivers have a false sense of security near their home, and some will even drive without a seatbelt.”
10. Commitment Trap
Refusing to change course when circumstances indicate a revision to your plan.
This happens often due to false narratives we create for ourselves. It may be a ding to our ego to change plans or we may not want others to question our integrity...etc
11. I've seen this Trap when a group of men gets together.
example: you go on a hike with a few buddies. All of a sudden it starts raining and lighting hits. A group of men may push each other to not look "wimpy" and continue on the hike despite the danger.
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12. How to avoid Heuristic Traps.
a. Name it
b. Introduce optionality early
c. Ask questions
d. Celebrate vulnerability in your group
13. How to avoid Heuristic Traps.
a. Name it
b. Introduce optionality early
c. Ask questions
d. Celebrate vulnerability in your group
14. Introduce Optionality Early.
If you go on a hike with your buddies and the weather app predicts rain.
Give the group some options before you leave the house:
15. "We can do a 6-mile hike here, or if it starts raining we can bail, grab pizzas and watch a movie at home."
You're giving people a door they can walk through if the situation gets dangerous or uncomfortable.
Ask Questions.
16. You and only you are responsible for your health.
Don't be shy about taking control, and asking questions to make yourself feel better.
Do this with people in uniform (doctors, firefighters...etc), or in our example with the boat captain above.
17. Question authority. You can do it in a polite way.
Say this if you don't know the person driving the boat:
"Hey captain, how often do you go boating? Are you usually the captain when you go?"
You should feel comfortable they know what they're doing before you go.
18. Celebrate Vulnerability In Your Group
Encourage your friends to speak up when they're uncomfortable.
If rain and thunder starts on a hike, tell your friends "hey guys I'm scared of lighting, I think we should go home".
19. Make sure you support your friends when they express discomfort or fear.
Do this a few times, and your group will start to normalize supporting each other's vulnerability.
You'll break down social pressure, and avoid the dangers that come with making a commitment.
20. Quick Summary
You can become a better decision maker and overcome the tricks your brain plays on you by:
a. Naming the trap
b. Introducing optionality early
c. Asking questions
d. Celebrating vulnerability
21. Heuristics are dangerous to your life, they're equally dangerous in the board room.
Don't let your mind trick you into bad decisions.
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