When I first started learning about cognitive bias, I wasn’t doing it to be clever. I was just trying to understand why I was making decisions that didn’t actually serve me. I was the person who held onto beliefs long after they’d expired, who got too attached to my first impressions, and who often misread situations simply because they didn’t match my expectations. Not exactly a badge of honor—but absolutely a wake-up call.
What surprised me wasn’t how often I was wrong. It was how confidently wrong I could be.
That’s the thing with cognitive biases. They don’t come with blinking warning lights or mental pop-ups. They’re subtle. Quiet. They dress themselves up as rational thinking. And unless we’re aware of how they operate, we stay stuck in loops—making decisions that feel logical but are actually rooted in shortcuts our brains use to conserve energy.
So let’s pull the curtain back. This article is about building awareness of those mental shortcuts, understanding where they come from, and learning to catch them—gently, and without judgment—before they lead us astray.
What Is a Cognitive Bias?
But the same shortcuts that once helped us react quickly on the savannah now sometimes trip us up in boardrooms, relationships, and daily decisions.
Cognitive biases are like filters. They tint the lens through which we see the world. They shape our judgments about people, events, and ourselves—often without us realizing it.
And because they’re so automatic, we tend to trust the thoughts they produce. That’s where things get tricky.
Psychologists have identified more than 180 cognitive biases to date. Fortunately, you don’t need to memorize them all to improve your decision-making—awareness of a few key ones can go a long way.
The “Big Five” Biases You Probably Use Daily (Without Knowing It)
Let’s start with a few of the most common cognitive biases—ones I’ve personally run into more times than I care to count.
1. Confirmation Bias
This is our tendency to seek out or interpret information in ways that confirm what we already believe. It's why we ignore news articles that challenge our viewpoint and latch onto social media posts that echo our opinions.
I see this often in my own research habits. If I already think something is true, I’m more likely to click on sources that back me up—and subconsciously avoid the ones that don’t. The problem? That reinforces my beliefs without testing their accuracy. Not great for clarity.
Quick fix: Before accepting new “evidence,” ask yourself: Would I still trust this information if it led to the opposite conclusion?
2. Anchoring Bias
Anchoring happens when we rely too heavily on the first piece of information we get. That first number, price, or idea becomes a reference point—even if it's totally arbitrary.
For example, if you see a shirt priced at $200 and then find one for $90, the second one feels like a deal—even if it’s still overpriced. I once made this mistake with a freelance project, undercharging myself because the client’s initial offer felt “reasonable” compared to my previous gigs. Anchoring had me stuck.
Quick fix: When evaluating something, especially a number or price, pause and reset your frame. Ask: What’s this actually worth based on context—not just compared to what I saw first?
3. Availability Heuristic
Our brains tend to judge the likelihood of events based on how easily examples come to mind. This is why we fear plane crashes more than car accidents, or assume our business idea won’t work because we remember that one person who failed dramatically.
Emotionally charged stories are easier to recall—and that makes them feel more common than they are.
Quick fix: Balance anecdotal thinking with data. Ask yourself: Am I reacting to one vivid example, or does the broader evidence support my concern?
4. The Dunning-Kruger Effect
This is a bias that has shown up painfully in both my early 20s and, let’s be honest, a few times since. It’s when people with low ability in a certain area overestimate their knowledge or competence. They don’t know enough to recognize what they don’t know.
But the reverse is also true—those who are knowledgeable tend to underestimate their expertise, assuming “everyone knows this.” I’ve fallen into both ends of that spectrum depending on the subject.
Quick fix: Stay humble in your assumptions and curious in your gaps. Try saying: “Here’s what I understand so far—and here’s what I still need to learn.”
5. Sunk Cost Fallacy
This one hits especially hard. The sunk cost fallacy is when we keep investing time, money, or energy into something simply because we’ve already invested a lot—even when it’s no longer serving us.
Ever stayed in a job, relationship, or creative project longer than you should have? Same. It’s hard to walk away from something that’s cost us so much. But sunk costs are just that—sunk. They don’t owe us a return.
Quick fix: Ask: Would I still choose this today if I hadn’t already invested in it?
Why Bias Awareness Isn’t About “Fixing” Yourself
I want to be clear: having cognitive biases doesn’t mean you’re irrational or flawed. It means you’re human. The goal here isn’t to eliminate bias (you can’t), but to build a little space between your automatic thought and your action.
What that space gives you is choice. It gives you the chance to pause, reassess, and—sometimes—change course.
And if that sounds subtle, that’s because it is. But it’s also powerful.
Just recognizing a bias as it shows up (“Oh, I’m probably anchoring right now”) can shift how you respond. That tiny shift might mean saving $300 on a purchase, pausing before misjudging someone, or re-evaluating a decision you’ve been forcing because of pride or past effort.
The Role of Emotion in Bias: More Important Than We Think
Bias isn’t just a thinking error—it’s often emotionally driven. We don’t just cherry-pick facts randomly. We cherry-pick the ones that protect our ego, support our tribe, or preserve our version of safety.
This is important to acknowledge, because awareness alone won’t change behavior unless we also address the emotional weight behind our biases.
For example, confirmation bias may be driven by fear of being wrong. Sunk cost fallacy might come from shame or guilt about wasted effort. Anchoring can reflect anxiety about making the “wrong” choice.
The more emotionally charged the situation, the more likely we are to lean on cognitive shortcuts.
Neuroscience research shows that emotionally salient experiences are more likely to be remembered—and shape future decisions—even if they aren’t the most accurate reflection of reality.
Practical Ways to Build Bias Awareness in Daily Life
You don’t need to overhaul your thinking overnight. In fact, the best cognitive clarity often starts with a few steady, repeatable practices.
1. Start a “pause and question” habit Pick one recurring decision each week—like how you respond to feedback, or how you form first impressions—and ask yourself: Am I reacting from habit, emotion, or clarity?
2. Journal your thought process If you’re facing a choice, write out the reasons for and against it. Then read it as if it were someone else’s situation. This helps separate emotion from logic.
3. Play devil’s advocate—gently You don’t need to dismantle your every belief, but occasionally asking “What if I’m wrong?” opens space for insight.
4. Welcome contradiction Talk to people who think differently from you. Not to debate—but to understand. Exposure to alternative viewpoints weakens the grip of confirmation bias.
5. Pay attention to your “certainty meter” When you feel overly confident in a snap judgment, ask: What else could be true? Overconfidence often masks blind spots.
Mindful Moments
Five Practical Tips to Outsmart Your Bias and Harness Your Brain’s Full Potential
1. Create a 24-hour decision buffer For emotionally charged or high-stakes decisions, wait a full day before acting. This helps override impulsive bias-based responses.
2. Use a “truth trigger” phrase When reflecting on something you believe strongly, try saying: “This feels true, but is it factually supported?” It’s a way to open the door to new data.
3. Make space for doubt Instead of seeking certainty, cultivate comfort with ambiguity. Doubt can be a sign of intellectual honesty—not weakness.
4. Set a “perspective prompt” in your phone Something like: “What would this look like from someone else’s lens?” A daily nudge can train your brain toward broader thinking.
5. Revisit past decisions with fresh eyes Pick one past judgment—good or bad—and analyze what bias may have influenced it. Then ask: What would I do differently now?
Why Bias Awareness Is a Form of Self-Respect
This isn’t just a mental exercise. Becoming aware of your own biases is one of the most respectful things you can do—for yourself and for others.
It allows you to show up with humility in conversation. It helps you recognize when your reactions are about you, not the other person. And it gives you the tools to lead, decide, and relate with more grounded clarity.
It doesn’t mean you never get caught in bias again. You will. I still do. But now I catch myself more often. I ask better questions. And I’m gentler on myself when I find I was wrong—because noticing is a sign of growth, not failure.
