Cognitive dissonance is a psychological concept developed by Leon Festinger in 1957. It refers to the discomfort or tension that arises when a person holds two or more conflicting beliefs, attitudes, or values simultaneously. This internal conflict can hinder personal growth and limit one's potential.
simple terms
Lets break this down, limiting beliefs can obstruct a person from fully understanding the facts of a situation or issue they are facing. This post will explore how addressing and restructuring cognitive dissonance can enhance your growth potential by challenging and expanding your existing beliefs.
an example
It is strongly believed that maintaining a healthy lifestyle, including regular exercise and a balanced diet, is essential. Physical activity and proper nutrition are understood to be crucial for long-term health and overall well-being.
Despite this belief, there is a tendency to frequently skip workouts and regularly indulge in unhealthy eating. This behavior contradicts the belief in the importance of maintaining health.
The dissonance typically arises from the challenge of consistently dedicating time and discipline to regular exercise. This inconsistency and lack of discipline create a conflict between the belief in health maintenance and actual behavior.
So how do the worlds best restructure there dissonance that leads to success.
Noah Lyles, who won the 2024 Olympic 100-metre race and was crowned the fastest man on Earth, demonstrates how restructuring cognitive dissonance can lead to exceptional success. Lyles won in a dramatic finish, edging out Kishane Thompson by just 0.005 seconds with a final time of 9.79 seconds.
Digging a bit deeper into the Lyles history of running the 100metre, the following times were posted each year.
Over the last 12 years, through extreme determination and grit, Noah Lyles has shaved off 1.48 seconds from his 100m sprint time, culminating in his achievement as the fastest 100m runner in 2024. This impressive improvement averages out to a reduction of 0.123 seconds per year over his 12-year journey. In other words 378,683,424 seconds were spent to gain an improvement of 1.48 seconds.
Notably, Lyles famously posted to run the 100m sprint in 9.65 seconds at the 2023 Budapest World Championship, showcasing his consonant MinDset. Though he was unable to achieve this feet, through the 378,683,424 seconds he was able overcome his dissonance by setting a target that may have not been achievable from the outset.
How Top Performers Restructure Dissonance
There is no secret to overcoming cognitive dissonance; as demonstrated by Noah Lyles, it requires not just natural talent but also rigorous training, discipline, and consistency. Lyles has successfully aligned his beliefs with his actions, showing that dedication and perseverance are key.
Like many athletes, Lyles may encounter cognitive dissonance when his performance in practice or previous races falls short of his high standards. Rather than becoming discouraged, he analyses what went wrong, adjusts his training, and addresses any weaknesses. This approach turns potential setbacks into opportunities for improvement.
Top performers use mental antifragility techniques to manage the stress and pressure of competition. Techniques such as visualisation, positive self-talk, and focusing on short-term goals help them overcome the dissonance between their ideal performance and actual results. By adhering to a disciplined training regimen and lifestyle, these athletes minimise discrepancies between their beliefs about success and their daily actions. When faced with setbacks or slower times, they re-evaluate their methods and strategies, allowing them to refine their approach and reduce the dissonance between their goals and outcomes.
“The existence of dissonance, being psychologically uncomfortable, will motivate the person to try to reduce the dissonance and achieve consonance. When dissonance is present, in addition to trying to reduce it, the person will actively avoid situations and information which would likely increase the dissonance.” - Leon Festinger
Summary to the MinDvesting philosophy from todays post:
Cognitive dissonance significantly influences a person's values, judgments, decisions, and evaluations, and is closely related to confirmation bias.
If you’re not able to increase awareness in the MinD, confirmation bias might cause you to ignore evidence that contradicts your current beliefs or strategies, hindering your growth potential.
Confirmation bias is the tendency to seek out, interpret, and remember information in a way that supports your existing beliefs. This bias can affect how you perceive cognitive dissonance and the steps you take to resolve it.
By understanding and addressing confirmation bias, you can navigate your goals and challenges more effectively. Balancing self-reflection with a willingness to embrace new perspectives can help you surpass your current expectations and biases.
Remember the limiting factor in all of the above is only the MinD, realise your confirmation bias to become aware and unlock new doors to exponential growth.
Appreciate your time and making it this far in the post, keep reading over time.