“I Think, Therefore I Am” – René Descartes

René Descartes once wrote, “I think, therefore I am.” It’s a phrase most of us have heard, but it carries so much weight when it comes to mental health. What we think shapes what we see. And what we see, we come to believe as truth.

Take for example the thought: “I am a failure.”

When that thought takes over, it’s like putting a filter on a camera and locking the zoom lens on one small detail. Suddenly, every part of the picture seems to confirm the belief. A mistake at work? Proof of failure. A friend too busy to reply right away? Proof of failure. That one thing you didn’t cross off your to-do list? Proof of failure.

The problem isn’t that success isn’t there, it’s that the zoomed-in filter only lets you see failure.

But when you take the filter off and zoom out, you begin to notice so much more of the picture. You start to see the ways you are actually succeeding: showing up, trying again, caring about growth, creating relationships, managing challenges, learning. All of these exist alongside the moments of failure, but the zoomed-in view doesn’t allow you to see them.

Here’s the interesting part, once you start looking for success instead of failure, you’ll start finding it. Why? Because of confirmation bias. As humans, we naturally look for evidence that supports what we believe. It feels good to be right. If you believe you’re failing, you’ll collect evidence of failure. But if you begin to believe you’re succeeding, you’ll collect evidence of success.

So, here’s a reflection question: When was the last time you discovered you were wrong?

Think about how you realized it. Did you first deny it, clinging to the zoomed-in belief? Or were you able to step back, zoom out, and take it as an opportunity for growth?

The truth is, being wrong isn’t always a setback, it’s often a step forward. When you zoom out, you gain perspective. And with perspective, you begin to see the full picture of who you are: not a failure, not a success, but a human being capable of both.

Try This:

Grab a notebook or the notes app on your phone. Write down three things you did this week that could count as “success,” no matter how small. Did you keep a promise to yourself? Did you show kindness to someone? Did you get through a hard day? These are successes too. The more you notice them, the more you train your brain to zoom out and see the bigger picture.