Say goodbye to unproductive thinking

Many people believe that they can control the outcome of a game of chance through their actions, such as choosing certain numbers on a slot machine or counting cards in blackjack. However, the outcome of these games is ultimately determined by chance, and no amount of strategy or skill can change that. Despite this, many people continue to gamble, believing that they have some level of control over the outcome. This belief can lead to problem gambling and other negative consequences.

In a romantic relationship, where a couple has built trust, respect and love by communicating openly and showing appreciation for each other. However, when one partner makes a mistake like lying, it can damage the trust and the emotional bank account. But by making amends and rebuilding trust, the relationship can strengthen the emotional bank account.

Think of an individual who holds a belief that a certain stock is going to rise in value. They only seek out information that supports this belief, such as positive news articles or analyst recommendations. They ignore or dismiss any negative information, such as market trends or financial reports, that suggests the stock may not perform as well as they expect. As a result, this person may make investment decisions based on confirmation bias, which can lead to poor financial outcomes.

Cognitive dissonance is the mental discomfort or stress experienced by a person who holds two or more contradictory beliefs, ideas, or values. An example of this is a person who smokes cigarettes but also believes that smoking is harmful to their health. In this case, the person's belief that smoking is harmful creates dissonance with their behavior of actually smoking. To reduce this discomfort, the person may rationalize their behavior by telling themselves that smoking is not as bad as they thought, or that they will quit soon.

Imagine a student who doesn't study for an exam because they "know they will do bad anyway" or an athlete who skips practice because they are "not in the right mood". By not putting in the effort, they can attribute any failure or poor performance to the obstacle they created for themselves, rather than their own lack of effort or skill. This behavior can be detrimental in the long run as it can create a cycle of avoiding challenges, and limit the person's ability to improve and reach their full potential.

Imagine that you are worried about the future and unsure of what steps to take next. To apply the mental model of Tawakkul, you might: Reflect on your values and goals and try to focus on the present moment Trust that God has a plan for you and try to let go of excessive worry Do your best in your current circumstances and have faith that things will work out as they are meant to.