The Silver Lining

Is a phenomenon we are surprisingly keenly aware of. The prospect of the sun is always more enticing than the reality of the storm. This selective attention has served humans well over time, encouraging perseverance in the face of adversity. But how useful is self-deception when we are solving for prosperity rather than survival? Optimistic biases neglect real problems that are inhibiting our joy.

The concoction of plausible, but often embellished, narratives is a convenient way for our mind to avoid the anarchy of uncertainty. We remember only what paints us in a positive light, preserving our fragile egos. The rest lies dormant–somewhere deep in our subconscious. 

When dormant information becomes active, it can be destabilizing. Possibilities you once shed for the sake of a decision are reintroduced, and you’re pulled back into superposition. There is no right answer in a probabilistic world, only our best guess.

But who is it that is guessing? With no one at the helm, our biological biases will lead us astray.

So, take your own conclusions with a grain of salt. Approach life with a healthy skepticism. Be as objective as you can in the assessment of your experience–with a nod to evolution, and how it has tried to serve you.