MSS #108: Rewiring Your Brain – Use Confirmation Bias to Build Confidence

MSS #108: Rewiring Your Brain – Use Confirmation Bias to Build Confidence

1 Feb, 2025

🕒Read time: 3.7 minutes

🚀In a hurry? Cut straight to the heading “3 Steps to Harness Confirmation Bias” - reduced read time 1.7 minutes

Confirmation bias is an inescapable part of how our minds work.

It’s the brain’s tendency to focus on information that confirms what we already believe, while ignoring anything that challenges those beliefs.

But what if you could turn this mental shortcut into a tool for personal growth?

This week, we’ll explore how to recognise when limiting beliefs are holding you back and how to shift your focus toward clear, emotionally charged goals to rewire your mind for success.

 What Is Confirmation Bias?

At its core, confirmation bias is about pattern recognition. Your brain is constantly looking for evidence to support your existing worldview – even when it’s unhelpful.

For example:

• If you believe you're "not good at presenting," your brain will zero in on every awkward moment to reinforce that belief.

• Conversely, if you believe you’re improving at presenting, your brain will highlight small successes and opportunities to grow.

The good news? You can intentionally redirect this process to build confidence and clarity.

On this occasion I will not share the science behind how this happens in our minds, there is one very powerful part of our brain that enables this.

Three steps to get confirmation bias on your side.

Here’s a simple way to get confirmation bias working for you.

Step One: Awareness of Limiting Beliefs

The first step to breaking free of unhelpful patterns is awareness.

When you feel stuck or held back, ask yourself:

• What belief might be driving this feeling?

• Is it based on fact, or could it be a learned assumption?

For example:

• “I can’t handle difficult conversations” might actually mean, “I’ve avoided conflict in the past and it feels uncomfortable.”

• “I’m not creative” could stem from a single comment or comparison that’s stuck in your mind.

Recognising these beliefs is critical because confirmation bias will naturally work to reinforce them. The moment you become aware of them, you create the opportunity to challenge and redirect your focus.

Step Two: Visualisation with Purpose and Emotion

Once you’ve identified the limiting belief, it’s time to replace it with a clear, positive mental image of what you want, not what you’re avoiding.

Here’s how:

1. Create a Clear Picture

• Visualise yourself succeeding in the situation that felt limiting.

• Make it specific: Imagine delivering a presentation where you feel calm and confident, or navigating a tough conversation with poise.

• Engage all your senses to make the image as real as possible.

2. Tie Positive Emotions to the Image

• Focus on how you want to feel in that moment – confident, proud, calm.

• Recall a past experience where you felt those emotions and bring them into your visualisation. Your brain will associate the positive emotions with the new mental image, reinforcing your belief in its possibility.

This process works because part of your brain doesn’t differentiate much between imagined and real experiences. By vividly visualising what you want, you’re giving your mind new “evidence” to support your desired belief.

Step Three: Rational Thinking in Practice

When you’re stressed or under pressure, accessing rational thinking can feel like swimming against the tide. But by engaging your brain in intentional practices, you can nudge it back into a more resourceful state:

• Challenge Absolutes: When you notice limiting thoughts like “I never get this right,” question their validity. Are there exceptions? Is this thought really true, or is it just a reaction to stress?

• Pause and Reflect: Before jumping to conclusions, take a moment to breathe and ground yourself. Even a short pause can help shift your focus from reactive to rational.

• Take Small, Focused Actions: The smallest actions aligned with your visualisation can act as proof to your brain that change is possible.

Summary of 3 Steps to Harness Confirmation Bias

1. Recognise Limiting Beliefs
Notice when feelings of self-doubt arise – they’re often signs of underlying beliefs that confirmation bias is reinforcing. Awareness is the first step to breaking the cycle.

2. Visualise What You Want
Replace limiting beliefs by creating vivid mental images of success, tied to positive emotions. Focus on what you want to achieve, not what you’re trying to avoid.

3. Engage Your Rational Mind
Use grounding techniques, question extreme thoughts, and take small actions to keep your brain in a productive state, even under stress.

Working Example: Boosting Self-Confidence in Your Abilities

Imagine you’re preparing for an important presentation, but the thought “I’m not a good public speaker” keeps creeping in, holding you back.

1.Recognise the Limiting Belief:

Pause and ask yourself, “Is it true that I’m not a good speaker? Or am I focusing on isolated moments that went wrong?” Acknowledge that the thought is a belief, not a fact.

2.Visualise Success with Emotion:

Picture yourself delivering the presentation confidently. Imagine standing tall, speaking with clarity, and making eye contact with an engaged audience.

• See the audience nodding in agreement.

• Feel the pride and sense of achievement when you finish.

• Hear your voice steady and assured.

3.Engage Your Rational Mind:

Take one practical step, like rehearsing a key point aloud or practicing in front of a mirror.

Remind yourself of past successes, such as times when you clearly communicated in meetings or handled challenging conversations.

By combining these steps, you’re training your mind to focus on your potential rather than past fears.

Summary

Confirmation bias doesn’t have to keep you stuck in old patterns.

By recognising limiting beliefs, visualising clear goals with positive emotions, and engaging your rational mind, you can turn this natural tendency into a tool for growth.

Here’s a quick recap:

• Notice when limiting beliefs are driving your reactions or holding you back.

• Replace these beliefs with vivid mental images of what you want to achieve.

• Stay grounded and rational, using small, actionable steps to support your new mindset.

Ready to transform how you think and what you believe about yourself? Let’s connect to explore how you can apply these techniques to your personal and professional growth.

See you next week. One more thought 👇

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1. My book - Nuclear Powered Resilience

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That's it for this week. Thanks for reading, really hope this helped. Contact me if you think I can help you further at matt@mindlocksmith.com.

Happy thinking.