I want to give you a very real example of placebo and nocebo and how it impacted my life and a lot of my career.

Early Life and Career

Very early on in my life, during school and my early career, I didn't feel like I was that intelligent. My perception was that I was less intelligent than others in my classes and among my peers. This negative self-perception acted as a nocebo, and I lived with those results. My intelligence was what it was, but my environment and early results didn't instill a positive placebo effect. I didn't receive encouragement or early successes that could have boosted my confidence.

In every class, I thought I would be average or below average, often achieving C grades. This mindset continued through university, especially in problem-solving tasks in computer science. I lacked confidence, and my work reflected that. This low-confidence mindset carried into my career, where I didn't see much success in my jobs.

The Turning Point

One day, I took an online IQ test. It wasn't official, but it indicated that I was in the 98th percentile of intelligence. Regardless of what you think about IQ tests, this result gave me a placebo effect. My intelligence didn't change, but my perception did. I started to believe that I could solve anything and take on greater challenges. My career trajectory improved as a result.

The Power of Mindset

The placebo effect is a small contributing factor, but it can make a significant difference. After the IQ test, I no longer had the nocebo effect holding me back. I developed a growth mindset, believing that with hard work and intelligence, I could achieve as much as anyone else. I took on the hardest challenges and, even if I didn't always succeed, I tried.

Interest and Motivation

In university, I noticed that my performance varied between classes. In subjects that interested me or were useful for my career, I did well. In subjects that I found boring or irrelevant, I didn't perform as well. This difference was due to interest, desire, and motivation.

People often say they are bad at math or don't like math, giving themselves a nocebo effect. This negative self-talk puts them at a disadvantage. Instead, they should focus on their strengths and past successes to build confidence.

Reversing the Nocebo Effect

To overcome the nocebo effect, reverse the negative internal dialogue. Focus on your strengths and past successes. For example, I could have told myself that I was creative, hardworking, persistent, and knew how to get help. By building on these positive attributes, I could have given myself a natural placebo effect and improved my confidence and performance.

Conclusion

This is a real story from my life, and it reflects the experiences of many people. Negative self-perception and low confidence can hinder performance. By finding moments and examples to build confidence, you can get ahead of the competition through mindset alone.