You See What You Believe

We all like to think we’re objective.
That how we see the world is how the world is.

That we look at situations, weigh them up, and make decisions based on what’s actually there.

But that’s not how the brain works.

We don’t just take in information, we individually interpret and filter it.

And by that very definition, every single person on this planet sees a different world.

We may be able to relate to each other in certain ways, but ultimately, none of us really knows what reality actually is.

It’s all an interpretation.

Which, when you think about it like that, makes it obvious we all have blind spots.

And to protect our ego or sense of importance, we look for things that confirm what we already believe.

We ignore, downplay, or forget the things that don’t, and even misinterpret people who have differing views.

This is called confirmation bias. And it shows up everywhere.

You follow people who agree with you.
You notice things that support your opinion.
You remember the moments that prove your point and forget the ones that don’t.

Not because you’re trying to be biased.

But because your brain is trying to be efficient.

Your Instagram algorithm is a perfect example on how confirmation bias works.

It interprets your actions and feeds you what you already engage with.
It shows you what you’re likely to agree with.
and filters out the rest.

Heres the problem.

It doesn’t lead you to the truth or growth.
It leads you to what’s familiar and fixed.

And over time, that can shrink your perspective… not expand it.

You double down on what you already believe.
And when that belief gets challenged it creates friction.

The beliefs you hold, shape the actions you take.

If you believe something about the world,
you’ll start to look for proof that it’s true.

And the same is true for the beliefs you hold about yourself.

You notice the moments that reinforce that belief and overlook the opposite.

And if you keep doing that without awareness. Without being open to other ways of seeing things. You just reinforce and solidify that belief.

Not because it’s true…
but because you keep finding evidence for it.

And confirmation bias doesn’t just shape how you think.

It shapes how you show up. What you expect. What you believe is possible. How you treat yourself. How you treat others.

So what do you do?

You challenge it. Constantly.

Be open to evidence that goes against your current belief. Be open to other ways of viewing things.
Seek understanding in others rather than judgment, because we often learn the most from each other. And pay attention to what you’ve been ignoring.

Because once you become aware that we all have gaps, everything changes.

You become less concerned with protecting your reality…
and more focused on expanding your perspective.