If it’s 50:50, why does it never feel that way?
Mindset Mechanics – Your Human Upgrade Thinking Toolkit
Simple ideas. Big shifts.
Mindset Mechanics is a growing collection of bite-sized, science-backed thinking tools to help you think more clearly, respond more calmly, and make better decisions in real time.
Each one links to a Human Upgrade Element - so if something’s off, this is where to start.
No course. No waft or fluff. Just practical insights that work in real life.
Dip in. Pick what resonates.
Use what helps. Leave the rest.
Momentum doesn’t come from doing more - it comes from thinking better.
A Buddh-ish take
Each Mindset Mechanics post ends with something slightly Buddh-ish.
Not Buddhist in the religious sense, but inspired by the spirit of the Dhammapada: a collection of practical, poetic verses attributed to the Buddha, focusing on awareness, clarity, and non-attachment.
This section usually features a quote, thought, or perspective - often from someone who said it better than I could.
It’s here to bring you back to centre, something grounded to take with you.
No incense required.
Hedonic Adaptation
What if things aren’t supposed to stay shiny forever?
The Availability Heuristic
What if the things that feel most common aren’t actually very common at all?
Hyperbolic Discounting
The reason your future self keeps getting outvoted.
Antifragile
Are you playing it too safe? Or too reckless?
Emotional Granularity
What we think we’re feeling is often only the headline, not the detail.
The Gottman Ratio
The maths equation which calculates the success (or otherwise) of a relationship
The Fundamental Attribution Error
Maybe they’re not the problem, it could be your brain throwing in a dramatic subplot.
Emotional Bids
The smallest moments of connection often reveal far more about a relationship than the drama.
Attachment Styles
Before you blame their mixed signals, check your own wiring
The Michelangelo Phenomenon
Imagine if the people around you were quietly sculpting the best or worst version of you. (Spoilers – they are).
Conversational Narcissism
When conversations feel like a competition instead of a connection, this one explains why – and how to do things better.
Stockdale Paradox
Between blind hope and bleak certainty lies something more useful than either of them.
Ockham’s Razor
What if the best solution isn’t the cleverest, but the simplest?
The Planning Fallacy
You might not be bad at planning. Perhaps your brain’s stopwatch is just wildly optimistic.
Moral Drift
Harmless at the time. Costly in the long run. Even heroes can come adrift.
Calling Yourself In
There’s an excellent version of all of us, that doesn’t need to be told what to do by anyone else.
The Mirror Test
The real question isn’t whether you like what you see, but whether you can face it.
The Integrity Gap
Does who you are and how you act line up nicely? If not, it can cost more than you think.
The Five Whys
What if the obvious answer isn’t the right one? But it’s hiding 4 layers deeper…