Being the Type

The Power of Bias: Turning Stumbling Stones into Firm Foundations

What if I told you that bias, often seen as an obstacle, could be the foundational key to achieving a life of growth, success, and happiness?

Bias is everywhere—woven into the fabric of our daily lives, shaping the way we perceive, decide, and act. Understandably, bias has been cast in a negative light. But what if we’ve misunderstood bias? What if bias is like every other powerful tool, but is only being recognized for the harm it has caused?

In practice, rather than being instruments of hateful bigotry, biases are useful value judgments that serve as short-cuts our minds use to navigate the overwhelming complexity of life. And if we don’t blindly accept the biases that society has imposed upon us, we can shape them to align with the highest virtues.

For example, a bias toward being optimistic (optimism bias) can help us bounce back from tough times (resilience) by keeping us hopeful. Like all biases, however, persistent optimism needs to be carefully managed to avoid overlooking important red flags—like ignoring warning signs in a romantic partner. When crafted wisely, the resilience that comes from optimism bias can form a firm foundation for true heroism.

Bias: Harnessing Its Power for Growth

Bias isn’t just something that happens to us. It’s something we can harness. Imagine biases purposefully crafted to favor virtues like honesty, perseverance, and kindness. These “value-based” biases don’t distort judgment—they guide us toward becoming the best version of ourselves.

This idea isn’t just theoretical. It’s deeply practical. Angela Duckworth’s work on grit demonstrates how passionate commitment—often fueled by a bias toward a goal or value—can propel us through adversity. By deliberately biasing ourselves toward our ideals, we can cultivate the discipline needed to reach our loftiest aspirations.

The Distinction Between Physical and Biased Inclination

To better understand how bias works, consider this example: imagine you’re savoring a delicious food, enjoying each bite. But then, you’re told that the dish contains dog meat. Suddenly, the same food becomes repulsive (or doesn’t, I don’t judge). This shift in perception demonstrates the difference between physical inclination (your original enjoyment) and biased inclination (your reaction when you learn more about the food).

• Physical inclinations: Sensory-based, mostly genetic if healthy, but can be altered dramatically with medication, hormones, health, injury, etc.
• Cognitive inclinations (biases): Values-based, mostly nurtured and socially conditioned, but bounded and highly influenced by physical needs, inclinations, and limitations.

External factors like hormones and health can dramatically influence physical inclinations, though these are not the focus of this website. Physical inclinations, amplified by extreme circumstances, will dominate biased inclinations. Conversely, wisely crafted strong biases often overpower physical inclinations, creating consistent healthy habits. Both influence each other deeply, making neither unimportant.

Biases Shaping Default Behavior Under Pressure

“You don’t rise to the occasion; you fall back to your training.” This concept, often attributed to U.S. Navy SEALs, illustrates how our automatic responses in high-pressure situations reflect the habits and inclinations we’ve deliberately cultivated. Bias functions like this kind of training: it shapes our default responses when there’s no time for deliberate decision-making. Without intentional biases, we risk being overwhelmed or paralyzed by indecision when faced with complexity or stress.

Imagine someone who has cultivated a bias toward honesty over years of intentional effort. In a moment of unexpected crisis, such as being asked to account for a mistake at work under pressure, their ingrained bias toward honesty steers them away from a reflexive lie and toward transparency—even if they haven’t consciously prepared for this specific situation.

If we craft biases toward virtue, resilience, and integrity, those biases become ingrained in our decision-making. In moments of stress, pressure, or emotional turmoil, we don’t need to think about what the “right” choice is. Our biases, like well-honed training, guide us automatically toward the behaviors that align with our values.

A New Perspective on Bias: The Role of Intentionality

How do we begin to intentionally shape our biases? It starts with intentionality—the process of choosing our inclinations with purpose. Here’s how we can do that:

• Identify Your Core Values
  What truly matters to you? These are the principles that deserve your strongest biases. Whether it’s integrity, compassion, or ambition, knowing what you stand for is the first step toward creating biases that align with your deepest desires.
• Bias as Commitment
  Reframe bias as an act of commitment. Rather than seeing it as something that clouds your thinking, recognize it as a tool for aligning your actions with your values. A bias toward kindness, for instance, can make it easier to choose empathy over judgment, especially when the right choice isn’t the easiest.
• Self-Awareness and Adaptation
  No bias is perfect. That’s why self-awareness is crucial. As you grow, your values and perspectives will evolve. To avoid stagnation, balance your biases with critical thinking, adjusting them when necessary. This way, your biases work for you—not against you.

Bias: The Intersection of Passion and Discipline

Ultimately, embracing bias isn’t about abandoning rationality or critical thinking—it’s about modulating emotional investment and leveraging our natural passions to create the discipline needed for personal transformation. Bias, when harnessed with intentionality, aligns our autopilot inclinations with our best intentions, fueling our drive to improve.

By embracing your biases—not as flaws, but as tools for growth—you begin the transformative journey toward becoming the type of person you aspire to be. With each intentional shift in bias, you move closer to your highest potential. For now, start by identifying one character attribute you want to nurture today, and consider how it would change your life if you became that type of person.