The brain’s propensity to oversimplify and then act more quickly than necessary can be problematic.
This dynamic also applies over a longer time frame, as your brain interprets past events with its “oversimplification” filter. For example, many humans are overconfident – they believe that their ability to preform most activities is better than average, when in fact this is statistically impossible. Typically, people are average drivers, yet few of us think we are. This overconfidence stem from our brains’ simplifications of past events, their causes, and their impacts on us – we ascribe good outcomes to skill and bad outcomes to luck. Tricking ourselves to increase our self-confidence may have improved chances of survival, but it still counts as delusion!
-Jamie Lester, Pause To Think
“Never say ‘I don’t think’. The only thing that that makes you a higher order of animal is the ability to think.”
-Henry H. Buckley
“Confidence is a fine trait. Overconfidence isn’t.”
-Laurell K. Hamilton
“Before you speak, let your words pass through three gates; Is it true? Is it necessary? Is it kind?
-Buddha quote
“Don’t burn your opportunities for a temporary comfort.”
-Unknown
“Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.”
-Viktor Frankl
“Overconfidence is a very serious problem. If you don’t think it affects you, that’s probably because you’re overconfident.”
-Carl Richards
“Patience and silence are two powerful energies. Patience makes you mentally strong, silence makes you emotionally strong.”
-Unknown
…and remember, no matter the situation, never let your emotions overpower your intelligence.