You know your brain makes mistakes without you even realizing it, don’t you? In fact, it’s probably making a few mistakes as you’re reading these words. Yep, you read that right. Your mind is full of biases based on your past experiences. And it’s not just you. That holds true for every one of us. It’s like we’re all inmates looking through the bars of a prison cell who have long forgotten that the bars even exist.

See, your beliefs imprison you, and your biases skew your perception. These biases are causing you make errors in judgment — all the time. And the worst part? You’re barely aware of it.

Have you ever tried to recall something that happened years ago and were certain of the details, only to find out later that your memory was completely wrong? This is a perfect example of how biases can manipulate your perception of reality.

But how does this happen? How is it possible that our own brain can trick us into believing false information? The answer lies in the way our brain processes and stores information.

Our brain receives millions of bits of information every day. Trying to process and store all of that information would be overwhelming, so our brain has developed a few tricks to help us out. One of those tricks is to simplify information by categorizing and generalizing it.

When we encounter a new piece of information, our brain automatically compares it to what we already know. If the new information is similar to what we already know, our brain puts it into the same category. If the new information is different, our brain creates a new category. This helps us process information quickly and efficiently.

However, this system has a downside. When we categorize information, we make generalizations about it. For example, if we categorize all dogs as friendly, we may assume that every dog we encounter is friendly, even if it’s an aggressive one.

This is where biases come in. Biases are preconceived notions or prejudices that we hold about certain people, things or situations. These biases can affect our perception of reality and cause us to make errors in judgment.

But how can we overcome these biases? The answer lies in mindfulness.

Mindfulness is the practice of being present in the moment and aware of your thoughts and feelings. By practicing mindfulness, you can become aware of your biases as they happen. Here are 7 common biases that you can overcome using mindfulness:

1. Prioritizing avoiding discomfort over achieving your dreams.

Most of us would rather suffer through an awful movie rather than do something more enjoyable with our time. Why? Because we want to get our money’s worth. This is an example of loss minimization, which is hardwired into our brains as a survival instinct.

To overcome this bias, ask yourself what you want most out of life. What are your dreams? Focus on those things and make them a priority. You’ll naturally gravitate towards the things that matter most and give yourself the best chance of realizing your dreams.

2. Incorrectly predicting odds.

The gambler’s fallacy is a common bias that causes us to expect irrational outcomes based on past results. To overcome this bias, use a mindfulness-based approach. Pause, take a deep breath, and connect with your rational self. This will create some spaciousness in your thinking and make you less likely to be seduced by your irrational thinking.

3. Convincing yourself that your bad decisions are good.

Cognitive dissonance occurs when you have two opposing ideas that you can’t simultaneously hold in your mind. To overcome this bias, be mindful of your tendency to rationalize bad decisions. Accept that you occasionally make bad decisions and resolve to learn from them.

4. Paying more attention to information that matches your beliefs.

Confirmation bias is a bias that causes us to seek out information that confirms our beliefs. To overcome this bias, be willing to accept that other beliefs are equally valid, even if you don’t agree with them. This is essential for creativity and growth.

5. Confusing selection factors with results.

We often attribute success to the wrong factors, such as Harvard’s program rather than its selection process. To counter this bias, don’t take things at face value. Be mindful of the messages that are coming at you every day and be mindful of how these messages impact your behavior.

6. Allowing your perception to be manipulated.

The anchoring effect is a bias that relies too heavily on the first piece of information we receive. To overcome this bias, be mindful of the messages that stores use to convince us to buy. Don’t take things at face value.

7. Overestimating the importance of our judgments.

The spotlight effect is a bias that causes us to overestimate the importance of our judgments. To overcome this bias, practice mindfulness and be aware of your thoughts and feelings. Be willing to accept that your perspective is just one of many and that it may not be the only way to see things.

In conclusion, our biases can greatly affect our perception of reality and cause us to make errors in judgment. By practicing mindfulness, we can become aware of these biases and overcome them. This will not only improve our decision-making skills, but also lead to a more fulfilling life. So take a deep breath, be present in the moment, and become aware of your thoughts and feelings. You’ll be amazed at the results.