The discomfort that we experience when we possess two or more contradictory ideas or when our views are inconsistent with our behavior is known as cognitive dissonance, a psychological phenomenon. We may modify our attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors as a result of this discomfort. In psychology, cognitive dissonance is a complicated and interesting gossip.

The Primary reason for Cognitive Dissonance ~ 
Behaving contrary to our ideas or attitudes is one of the most frequent causes of cognitive dissonance. We could feel cognitive dissonance, for instance, if we smoke despite believing it to be unhealthy. When we are presented with facts that contradict our preconceived notions, it can also lead to cognitive dissonance. This might occur when we come across material that challenges our preconceived notions or knowledge.

The Connection Between Our Actions and Beliefs ~ Picking On Some Tricky Questions Revolving Around the Topic: 

1. Are acts caused by beliefs? For certain cases—possibly more than for others—the answer is unquestionably yes. We deliberately take a particular action because we think it will lead to the desired outcome. Sometimes, though, it seems like what we do doesn't match what we believe. What can we deduce from this? Are the ideas we take for granted as being stable and unchangeable very malleable, allowing us to think one thing under some conditions and act differently under others?
2. Are we constantly conscious of our beliefs? We may think we believe in the golden rule, but maybe we don’t. Is it feasible that there is a lot of societal pressure to believe a particular statement? hat our subconscious prevents our actual belief from coming to the surface of awareness since our whole conception of the universe, sense of self, morality, etc., depends so heavily on accepting this assertion. Like how cognitive dissonance modifies our actions?
3. Are our views are result of our actions? Is it possible that we act extremely thoughtlessly most of the time, and that our actions lead us to create beliefs after the fact? Again, we could be aware of our activities subliminally and conclude that we believe something because of the way we behave.

The Answer to the above-mentioned questions could be 'Ethical Decision-Making' under the entire paradigm of Cognitive Dissonance ~ Wherein  'A person with high ethical standards is aware of their values, beliefs, and ideals. When presented with an ethical conundrum, one's behavior would then be dictated by such values, principles, and beliefs.'

The Impact of Cognitive Dissonance on Human Behavior ~
The experience of cognitive dissonance can significantly impact our actions. We might feel compelled to lessen or get rid of the discomfort that cognitive dissonance causes. Adapting our attitudes or ideas to match our actions is one approach to doing this. For instance, if we smoke even though we know it's bad for our health, we could begin to justify our actions by persuading ourselves that it's not as bad as we always thought. As an alternative, we could begin to see smoking as a means of coping with stress or worry, which helps lessen the cognitive dissonance we experience. Cognitive dissonance can also influence our behavior by encouraging us to modify our actions to better reflect our views or beliefs. For instance, we may feel cognitive dissonance if we think recycling is necessary yet don't do it at the moment. We could be inspired to start recycling as a result of this pain to ease our anxiety. Cognitive dissonance can therefore be a potent inducer of behavior change.

Cutting Down on Cognitive Dissonance ~ 
We need to reduce cognitive dissonance for the sake of our mental and emotional health. These are a few techniques that can ease the tension brought on by cognitive dissonance.

• Reconsider our convictions ~ Our attitudes and views might occasionally be out of date or inaccurate. Reassessing our beliefs can assist us in minimizing cognitive dissonance by helping us match our actions with our present views.
• Modify our actions ~ Changing our behavior can help lessen cognitive dissonance when it contradicts our ideas. For instance, we may start altering our diet to better reflect our ideas if we think it's necessary to eat a healthy diet but don't do so at the moment.
• Look for information ~ We can settle the conflict if we're facing cognitive dissonance due to new information by finding out more information. This can ease the stress brought on by cognitive dissonance and assist us in making better-informed judgments.
• Embrace the discomfort ~ It's not always feasible to completely eradicate cognitive dissonance. In these situations, moving on without feeling overwhelmed can be facilitated by identifying the conflict and embracing the discomfort.

The Bottom Line ~ 

Everybody experiences cognitive dissonance, which is a normal and widespread occurrence. Although cognitive dissonance has the potential to be a strong motivator for behavior modification, it may also cause us to justify our actions or cling to antiquated ideas. For this reason, it's critical to develop good cognitive dissonance management skills to support our mental and emotional well-being. Cognitive dissonance can be lessened by reassessing our views, altering our behavior, finding new knowledge, or learning to tolerate discomfort. These techniques can help us make better judgments, bring our beliefs and behaviors into harmony, and enhance our general quality of life. It will be more and more crucial to comprehend and deal with cognitive dissonance as we continue to navigate a world that is changing constantly. We may lessen the conflicting nature between beliefs and actions; and live more satisfying lives by acknowledging this occurrence and finding effective strategies for managing it.