Dr. O’Byrne,
Thanks for the insightful reminder on sunk cost. The concept was introduced to me long ago in my Undergraduate course on Engineering Economics. I had forgotten about it. Your article came up while searching for a less colloquial way to say, “doubling down,” or “flogging a dead horse.”

Because acting on impulses may sometimes be neurotic, perhaps escaping cognitive biases requires some transformative work as well? When someone forces their way through challenges, it could be misapplied will power, AKA overcompensating? Usually, people are not as desperate as that, but appraising the problem in this way may help clarify what to do about it?

I like to think of the neurotic, rigid Will power juxtaposed to a flexible Willingness. A willingness that is free and clear of a fearful bondage to ideas, bias, belief, and expectations. People become rigid and unwilling when afraid. I suppose that it may be tightly related to thinking fast. A virtue has been made out of this rigid, unyielding stance called, will power. It is a false form of the virtue. Similar to Willingness in purpose and power, but unhealthy and less effective.

Like identifying cognitive biases, awareness is needed to journey from will to willingness. Self acceptance as well. My definition. Willingness is a commitment of the heart to be free and clear of bias. The application of will becomes effortless and seemingly limitless. A flexible, limitless possibility for addressing challenges. Truer, and healthier as an athlete, engineer, business partner, friend or spouse. For those familiar with mindfulness, it is an accepting state of emptiness. Ready, alert, willing, available, able, flexible. Arrived upon by holding an accepting view of fear as a catalyst for alertness. Unfortunately, not only enlightened, but also transformed or at least on the journey.

Getting back to your article …
I appreciate seeing this list of cognitive biases. They seem like a useful short cut for negotiating with others. We engineers being so enthralled by our own perspective. Critical reasoning AND understanding bias traps that we each may fall into.

Thanks again, Rene