The way in which a person moves from story to action is a layered process that can be imagined as a series of spheres. The inner circle is story, “the central narrative of our life.” Following this is identity, “how we see ourselves and present ourselves to others.” Next is convictions, “those beliefs that make up how reality works for us.”

Most of the time, the story our brains generate matches the real, physical world — but not always. Our brains also unconsciously bend our perception of reality to meet our desires or expectations. And they fill in gaps using our past experiences. All of this can bias us.