Your Brain Is Lying to You! Everyday Cognitive Biases You Don’t Even Notice

Your brain is basically a master manipulator.

But here is the kicker: it is not trying to be evil, but is trying to be efficient.

And in doing that, it often… lies. A lot.

We all like to believe we are logical and objective, but psychology says otherwise. Our brains are filled with shortcuts called cognitive biases, little mental traps that help us make decisions faster, but not always better.

Let me spill some tea from my own life.

So one day, I was shopping online for a gift. I saw this bracelet priced at ₹799 and thought, meh, kinda steep. Then, suddenly, poof! There is a “Limited Time Offer!” and the price drops to ₹399. I immediately added it to my cart like I had just scored a luxury deal. The truth? That bracelet was probably always worth ₹399. But the anchoring bias tricked me. My brain latched onto the original price and convinced me the new one was a bargain.

And do not even get me started on confirmation bias… you know, when you already believe something, so your brain filters out any info that contradicts it?

There was a time I thought one of my classmates did not like me. So every time they did not wave or looked a little zoned out, my brain went: “See? Proof.” Meanwhile, I completely ignored the one time they actually complimented my notes. Why? Because it did not fit my story.

Your brain is not just thinking, it is narrating. And sometimes, it is writing fanfiction instead of facts.

Here are a few common mental lies your brain tells:

• Availability Bias: “That happened to me once, so it must happen all the time.”

• Halo Effect: “They are attractive, so they must be nice too.” (Nope.)

• Sunk Cost Fallacy: “I have already spent so much time on this, I can not quit now.” (You can.)

Knowing these does not make you immune — but it makes you aware. And awareness is everything.

So next time you catch yourself jumping to conclusions, falling for a sale, or overanalyzing someone’s vibe, pause and ask:

“Is this actually true, or is my brain just being lazy?”

Because the real flex?

Learning to outsmart your own mind.