Mental Models
Mar 12
Dear brilliant reader,
Mental models? No no no I’m not talking about beautiful supermodels suddenly going wacko creating all sorts of ruckus, although that would probably be interesting 
. Not at all, my friend – totally different context. I’m talking about the models we use to view the world. We all see and make sense of the world in a certain way unique to each of us, would you agree?
Mental model??!
Photo by pinksherbet
Last weekend I had a great time attending Chris Howard’s ‘Breakthrough to Success’ event in Auckland, and at one point they talked about perception being projection, that is highly relevant to the topic I’m talking about here. There are 2,000,000 (two million) bits of information bombarding our senses every second, and to be able to function in this earth plane, we have internal filters :
- values
- attitudes
- beliefs
- memories
- decisions
- meta programs
- language
- time or space
- matter or energy
As the information goes into our internal filters, they get filtered, deleted, distorted, and generalized, and we end up with 5-9 chunks of information. These chunks then form our internal map of reality. In turn, our internal map of reality determines our emotional states, behavior, and physiology. As any changes in our emotional states, behavior, and physiology also affect the way you think and perceive things, they also alter your existing internal map of reality.
This internal map of reality is no other than the mental model with which we view the world. Having mental models is actually a great thing, it makes life simpler in many ways – mental models are immensely useful and allow us to function in this earth plane. However there is a problem…
The problem is not that we have mental models. The problem is that we do not recognize that we have mental models, we think that’s just how the world works. ~Srikumar Rao
Yes, we think that’s just how the world works while in reality this is just our belief of how the world works! Having gone through filtering, deletion, distortion, and generalization by our internal filters, our view of reality is not an accurate representation of what it really is. It simply cannot be!
Alfred Korzybski, the Polish-American philosopher and scientist that developed the theory of general semantics, puts it very succinctly:
The map is not the territory. ~Alfred Korzybski
This is the MAP...
... and this is the TERRITORY (that's me with hair, btw )
Many of the mental models we have are highly dysfunctional and these cause suffering. An example of a dysfunctional mental model is the “I am better than you” model. If you view the world this way, you are very likely to be very competitive and always try to one up the next person. Can you see the consequences of having this mental model? When you have this mental model, you have this internal pressure to constantly present a mask… which is what you want people to perceive you, and you are not authentic. But once you are aware of this mental model, you can choose to step outside the mask, be who you are (be authentic) and focus on how you can provide value by being who we are.
As human we will always have mental models – it is just one of the game rules for humans on planet earth.
I believe the more our mental models are aligned with the true nature of reality, the more we find life flowing effortlessly.
Each of us has hundreds of mental models, for example, what you think you need to do to find a life partner would be different than your brother, heck, even the process you go in your mind to determine where to dine out is different than any other person. These are all mental models!
If you find that there are any area in your life that you think could be better, perhaps you feel disappointed, annoyed, angry, sad, etc., you can be sure to have one or two or more mental models that do not serve you, in that area of your life. However, the moment you are aware of this fact, you can then analyze and replace your dysfunctional models with ones that are functional, with ones that serves you better.
So what can you do if you’d like to choose a mental model that serves you better?
- Recognize that you have a mental model, that what you believe how the world works is NOT how the world really works.
- Know that you can choose to step out of a dysfunctional mental model at any time, and choose a new one that is functional.
- Ask the right questions When evaluating a mental model. It is not useful to ask if this is true or false, right or wrong, good or bad. But rather, ask:
Does this model work better for me in my life, compared to what I’m presently using?
As a parting gift I’d like to share this excellent video of Srikumar Rao giving a speech at Google Headquarter, in which he also talks about mental models (again, not the wacko supermodel kind!). Enjoy!
Peace and Blessings,
Andre
Great article Andre
Yes we all make different maps of the world in our heads, and no map is real, they are all just maps and they get you different results… some help you get from one end end of the city to another (subway map), others help you find a particular building (detailed street map), none are real/territory. Same for human beings making maps of the world, none are real, different maps get different results… some show you a way to happiness, success, etc… When people are not happy in life, usually it’s not the world/territory around them that needs changing, it’s their map of the world 
)
Thanks for adding your insights here Elena, you are right – maps are just maps and they get you different results… but none are accurate representation of the actual territory. Mistaking the map as the territory creates all sorts of suffering.
Love & Blessings,
Andre
PS: I love that your life is about helping others changing their map of reality for better results… you are making real difference
.
.-= Andre Sumara´s last blog ..Mental Models =-.
Dude did you read my Facebook profile today?! Freakishly (in a good way) exactly what I’ve been studying lately. Understanding Psychology & NLP as tools to consciously re-construct internal beliefs systems that support the quality of life we desire. (deserve)
All available by going within “purposely.”
“Accepting circumstances & who you are because that’s just how it is and always has been, keeps your self image (and your life) frozen. By consciously recreating your self image & saying, “this is how I’ve acted up until now but I am open to transformation,” allows & encourages internal processes to flow again.”-Eben Pagan
“Internal processes” are exactly what you’ve pointed out here. Eastern culture & language is based on flow and western culture is based on frozen. “I’ve always been the that way,” or “That’s how it IS.” Etc. We internalize this language there for creating this map of what our brain see’s. Brain: “That’s the way it is? OK.” Gives up and accepts what is.
Instead open those internal processes, by allowing flowing language like I pointed out by Eben above. Our minds are SO powerful and creating a map of what’s real is only limited by what we are willing to let go of and what we’re willing to believe is possible. (sounds contradicting but totally not) I could go on forever with this however you’ve done great…
Amazing post my friend. I REALLY get into this kind of work because it puts the ability to consciously construct our self image. Therefor having a direct impact on the quality of lives we lead.
It’s within our wisdom once we understand this that we’re able to purposely provide value to those around us.
Love it.
.-= Tony Teegarden´s last blog ..Will You Be My Facebook Friend? (So I Can Make Some Money) =-.
Tony, it is freakishly interesting indeed. I did notice your fb status update, loved that quote by Eben Pagan and it went straight to my journal. The theme you and I are talking about keeps coming to my awareness in uncanny synchronicities. I took it as a sign that it is something I am nudged to delve more deeply… and I feel I’ll be learning a lot from you.
I completely agree with you that our minds are SO powerful and creating a map of what’s real is only limited by what we are willing to let go of and what we’re willing to believe is possible. Very profoundly put (this went to my journal too
)
The ability to consciously construct our self image really is crucial if we are to create our ideal life in this earth. I often imagine what it’s like if we all have the self-image of our True Self… the Infinite Love that is all there is… my feeling is that this world would be a completely different place. It always got me to realize how much layers I still have to peel of my ‘onion’
.
Thank you Tony.
Peace & Blessings,
Andre
.-= Andre Sumara´s last blog ..Mental Models =-.
Andre, Thanks for presenting this with us today. I agree 100% when you said “I believe the more our mental models are aligned with the true nature of reality, the more we find life flowing effortlessly.” Everyone does have their own “map of reality within their own world” Just as cultures around the world is different and as much as languages are different.
Perception is projection so when we really start to live with a map of reality that serves our own highest purpose we will really continually make that shift consciously and grow humanity to its highest potential. I love learning about this and so glad people like you and Tony are delving more into this. This really brings down a lot of what Gregg Braden talks about.
All Juicy!!! =)
Thanks Andre.
I have literally been craving for your blogpost and always a pleasure learning and growing with such a phenomenal human being such as yourself.
Love it
.-= Therese Miu´s last blog ..De-Stagnation of your Life =-.
Therese, your comments are always bringing lots of value (and a smile on my face, too!). Love how you said it:
“Perception is projection so when we really start to live with a map of reality that serves our own highest purpose we will really continually make that shift consciously and grow humanity to its highest potential.”
This have just gone to my journal too as one gem of wisdom! Always have so much to learn from you, my soul friend!
Thx for mentioning Gregg Braden. Haven’t read his work, could you recommend one I should start with?
Love & Gratitude,
Andre
.-= Andre Sumara´s last blog ..Mental Models =-.
By the way, Jeff & I went to see Chris Howard. I actually had a chance to party with him once. He is a very humble guy in person. Very genuine indeed
.-= Therese Miu´s last blog ..De-Stagnation of your Life =-.
Wow Andre,
Another great article! Funny that I saw this article today and this is the one I needed to read. That’s how the universe always works. Really loved how you broke down how to replace mental models that no longer serve us with ones that do. Another key thing to do in breaking down mental models is asking questions that make the model false. Like if you believe everyone is competitive ask questions that force you to see that is not ALWAYS the truth.
Thanks so much for sharing amazing value!
Love & Light,
Thérèse
.-= Thérèse Cator´s last blog ..Why Every Creative Should Use Twitter (Part 1) =-.
Hi Thérèse, thank you for your kind words and for sharing your thoughts. Glad you found something of value in what I shared. You made a very good observation about asking questions that make the model false being one key thing to break down dysfunctional mental models. It is about being able to see the possibility that there are many ways of viewing the same thing. It is about training our mind to see things as they really are…
Keep shining your light Thérèse!
Love & Gratitude,
Andre
.-= Andre Sumara´s last blog ..Mental Models =-.
Andre, I am really enjoying your posts.
Awareness is the key. We cannot change what we are not aware of. The other human condition is to forget what we already know if we don’t use it.
We often mistake the trees for the forest. So important to know that they are many different realities in the world based on our own model of the world.
10 people could experience the same event and have 10 different interpretations because we filter out what’s not on our map.
Thank you for an enlightening post and love the video!
Eiji
.-= Eiji Morishita´s last blog ..Will You Win the $4200 Scholarship? =-.
Thank you Eiji! Yes, awareness is always the first step. Without awareness, we can’t deal with whatever it is we want to change. It is still important to ask yourself if you are really as aware as you think you are (I’ve been asking myself this question a lot lately…).
Being able to see the possibility of different meanings you can apply to an event in essence put the responsibility squarely at ourselves, to consciously choose a mental model that brings us closer to where we want to go.
Peace & Blessings,
Andre
.-= Andre Sumara´s last blog ..Mental Models =-.
I didn’t realize the value of mental models until several years ago, one of my mentors encouraged me to create visuals of mental models.
The more I did it, the easier it got. The easier it got, the more I could inspect my own thinking or expose the thinking to a broader set of people. By creating a shared frame of reference, it helped use the collective brain power to build a better map.
.-= J.D. Meier´s last blog ..My Top Ten Lessons In Life – Ali Hale =-.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts here J.D!
Agreed with what you said about creating a shared frame of reference to help using the collective brain power to build a better map.
I’ve also been thinking though, perhaps mental models are only useful or valuable up to a point where you achieve equanimity, where you are able to see everything as they really are. Something that I must experience to really know the answer, I guess!
Peace & Blessings,
Andre
.-= Andre Sumara´s last blog ..Mental Models =-.