Humans are programmed to be more negative than positive. Back in the day, focusing on what disaster may befall us was the best way to survive. Now, those negative thoughts are not related to survival, but can get in the way of health and well-being. Ironic. Often, negativity is aimed at ourselves. We may not have a positive view of our capabilities, our potential, or our ability to rebound after a disappointment or failure.
Confirmation bias is when people only believe information that reinforces what they already believe. For example, vaccine opponents may only believe information about vaccines being unsafe, and will reject any contrary information or facts. Confirmation bias is one reason people find it hard to let go of their belief in misinformation. Misinformed people often trust virtual or online sources, such as social media or podcasts. However, misinformation is increasingly coming from state and federal government agencies.
Many astronomers are really driven by the search for Earth twins because I think deep down the natural endpoint of this whole goal of looking for planets is to answer the question: are we alone? That is a burning itch that I think many of us have our entire lives wanted to answer. I'm sure many of you feel the same way as well. So I think that was what really drives us.
We live in a world where it's easier than ever to surround ourselves with people who think exactly like we do. Social media bubbles, corporate cultures and even leadership teams can all become echo chambers, places where the loudest reinforcement drowns out the most valuable challenge. The problem? Echo chambers create blind spots. They emphasize what we want to hear, not what we need to hear. They boost our confidence but rarely bring clarity.
