Cognitive Dissonance

FABLES FOR OUR GRANDCHILDREN
READING TIME: 1 minute

A powerful behavioral modifier that institutions, religions, and dictators use all the time is cognitive dissonance. I think about it like this. If you say you believe something or are going to do something, your brain gets pretty pumped to follow that command. If you don’t, you feel bummed.

For example, if you stand up in a church in front of 200 people and say you believe in Jesus, your brain will want to believe in Jesus.

There are three things I write on my Shutdown Protocol everyday and seldom do. One, I’ve never done. I’d like to erase them because they nag me everyday and whisper that I’m not quite measuring up to my ideals. But I can’t. I actually put them on my task list because they nag me everyday - and I actually started doing two of them, although infrequently at this point.

The fact that I want to erase them shows me that the cognitive dissonance is building and propelling me to action. That’s how my wiring seems to work best. I have integrated a lot of things in my life this way.

You should try this great little brain hack. Put a note on your mirror or your door or on your daily “to do” list about something you want to do. Your brain will remind you.

I love you,
Granny

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