The 3 Things That – Combined - Are Making Everything a Clusterf**k

I’m going to present to you 3 elements of our generation that - when combined - make everything a clusterf**k. Then I’ll share how to get past this and achieve your goals.

Element 1: The Era of Over information

Living in an age of over information has presented new challenges. We don’t struggle to find information anymore, but the information is readily available and we don’t know what to do with it. Now, dissecting the information to distinguish what is most true has become the challenge. This is a skill within itself and with the plethora of ‘experts’ in our digital space, this is becoming more and more difficult to know who to believe. There are plenty of ‘experts’ who also cite studies which can be more convincing. However, interpreting science takes mastery in itself. Which takes me to element 2…

Element 2: Journalists + influencers + anyone with internet access thinking they are now scientist (because of said access to information)

But, Martha, this article I read cited studies!

Here’s the thing about that.

There are studies, and there are interpretations of studies. A journalist or influencer can easily access studies (cue element 1 above) but how the studies are referenced and in what context, matters. There are people dedicating their lives to interpreting studies to dissect the information and present it to the general population in a way that makes sense and uses minimal bias. Note ‘minimal.’ In scientific interpretations of studies, usually scientists are the first to acknowledge their own bias because  (SHOCK HORROR) they are human!

 And finally, the trifecta…

Element 3: Cognitive Bias

Ah cognitive bias. That glorious, dichotomous thing that brings humanity together whilst dividing us the most. This form of bias refers to  our brains ability to ignore information that doesn’t line up to our beliefs, and believe more in information that validates our beliefs, so that we don’t have to change our minds. Because that is tiring.

In the wisdom of ChatGPT, “these biases can affect decision-making, problem-solving, and various aspects of human cognition… they can lead to errors in judgment and decision-making”

Now combine all 3 elements and what do we have. An absolutely diabolical clusterf***k that almost makes me want to throw away all my screens, run far away, and live amongst the (non human) animals.

I haven’t done that yet, and here’s why. There is hope.

You know what the secret sauce is when we’re overwhelmed with information, don’t know what to do, who to believe or how to find the right information? It’s not sexy or glamorous. Most of you will hate me for this anticlimax of a climax…

It’s action. Living. Doing.

Rather than reading, analysing and consuming some more.

There is no greater teacher than life itself. We are all unique and sometimes even with the solid science to back up how we can optimise how to achieve x y and z, we may not fit in that equation and science is continually evolving. So nothing will teach you what is best for you more than doing shit yourself. Nothing will give greater clarity in the sea of information on which overnight weetbix recipe is best, than you making the f*****g weetbix and deciding for yourself.

Nothing will give you the clarity you need in your relationships more than having the difficult conversations with your loved ones rather than watching a 5 hour podcast of a psychologist explaining communication techniques.

Don’t get me wrong. I love 5 hour podcasts (no joke). But when we lean too much into the ‘information’ that is being dissected and regurgitated (by journalists and nobody’s on the internet), we can find ourselves in a vicious cycle of paralysis by analysis. Take in some info, but go out and take some risks. Not everything we do all the time is going to be 100% optimum and that’s ok. It’s called living.

What do you think will challenge your cognitive bias, reading an article, or having a lived experience through your senses that shows you a different way of viewing the world?

What is more fun too? I’d say living life.