Telling You This in Confidence

Feels familiar, feels true,
Feels good, feels effortless--
These are the components
Of a cognitive ease
That lets us know all's well,
Perhaps, or perhaps not.

"When you are in a state
Of cognitive ease," writes
Dan Kahnemann, "you are
Probably in a good
Mood." You like what you see.
You believe what you hear.

So you're ripe for trouble,
Naturally. Nothing is
Dangerous as comfort,
No mistakes as awful
As those made when you're safe.
No wonder awareness

Evolved to hone our sense
Of terror, even if
It's most often asleep
When we should be wary.
Life's waking dream first put
The con in confidence.