There is a concept in programming called object oriented programming. This process helps to make sense of the world by taking data and creating a model of that “thing”.
It then creates characteristics such as properties methods and events.
This “thing” then becomes an “object model” which can now be used to perform the tasks and instructions you give it to solve any problem you have.
The mind works in the same way by creating models from our experiences and knowledge in life. We then create what is called a mental model.
But how does this help us in our own lives? How does it help us think better and solve problems?
To give a better explanation of how a mental model works let me share a story about a famous physicist named Richard Feynman.
While he was in college Feynman was known for walking in math classes and solving problems that brilliant Ph.D. students could not solve.
But the kicker was he never credited his genius to his intelligence, but rather his strategy.
You see when Feynman was in high school his physics teacher told him to meet him after class.
He gave him a challenge and said to Feynman “you talk to much and I think your bored. Go pick up that book in the back of the room and don’t speak until you know everything in that book”
Feynman took on the challenge and read the book -Advanced Calculus by Woods- he discovered a special method on how to differentiate under the integral sign. This method wasn’t taught normally in schools.
This led him to develop his own form of mental models. He learned how to use the method and found himself using it repeatedly.
So because he was self taught and learned a particular method outside the normal teaching standards, he was able to solve problems others weren’t used to.
The lesson here is because his set of tools were different he was able to approach problems and solve them to what appeared to be effortless.
Feynman went on to graduate from MIT with his undergraduate and his Ph.D. from Princeton.
What is a mental model?
Now we come to the part of defining mental models and what that means for us.
Mental models are a way we see the world. It is a make up of our beliefs, experiences, and knowledge.
Just like in computer programming it is a way we make sense of the world. These tools (models) gives us insight to making better decisions and thinking clearly.
The more mental models you have the more tools you can pick out from your tool bag to solve any problems you may face.
But how do you choose?
Did you know there are more than over 1000 different mental models and they can be categorized by different industries.
We were taught some of them in school but we really didn’t understand what they were teaching us and why it was important.
A few examples are:
- Supply and demand: explains how the economy works
- Entropy: how decay and disorder works
- Scientific method: process to test predictions and conclusions
These are just a few out of the 1000s but mental models can be broken down into different industries as shown below:
- Business
- Economics
- Psychology
- Thinking
- Science
- Biology
- Chemistry
- Physics
- Math and Engineering
- Product development
Why are mental models important?
It can be overwhelming to try and study all the different mental models and know which one is more important.
There are a few that are deemed as important but a better approach is to understand how they flow.
Bruce Lee said “be like water…empty your mind be formless. Shapeless”
Instead of separating the models into their own section it’s better to have an aerial view of how the different models work together as one unit.
I explain this concept in my previous article don’t learn to code.
When learning to code it’s not about writing scripts and commands for the computer, but how the code solves a problem. When you can step back and understand the connecting ideas, learning becomes a lot more easier.
Therefore building new mental models helps to reinforce your knowledge creating new experiences and thus new beliefs and behaviors in life.
You then have a new set of glasses to view life, take control of situations, thoughts, and making decisions.
Your mind becomes a well built machine capable of breaking limits you once had.
“As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he” -proverbs 23:7
How to improve your thinking and make decisions
So how do we start using the tools to our benefit?
Yuval Noah Harari said, “Scientists generally agree that no theory is 100 percent correct. Thus, the real test of knowledge is not truth, but utility.”
The best mental models are the ones that are most useful to us.
That’s like trying to develop a new skill and you watch a 100 tutorials but you never once used any of the concepts.
it’s all theory and thus useless.
The only problem that can come about is when we learn and master one model we tend to gravitate to that as our default and can make it hard to expand to others.
That is why it is important to be open to learn and have an arsenal of tools in your toolbox
One of my favorite tools that I just learned is inversion.
It’s a concept of reversing how you think of a problem. Others have used it to figure out vision for their life, set goals, or even decide what to eat tonight lol.
The process is simple, instead of thinking of what you want, and how can I solve this problem, flip it. Ask yourself how can I guarantee failure, or what’s preventing me from achieving this?
This is a way of using the negative to reach your positive. A better way to think of it is this.
If you can’t think of the things you want to do, think of what you don’t want. It sometimes easier to see the negative before we can build up to the positive or finding what we want.
It’s a process but the whole idea is to improve your thinking and the only way to do that is to put mind to work, sit, process, and question things. This is the beginning of building new mental models which in the end help to create new perspectives in and for your life.
We been using mental models everyday without knowing and know that we are aware we can begin to build on top of that and reach goals we’ve always wanted to.
That’s it for this week see you next time.
-Courey
P.S. If you’re interested in learning to develop your problem solving skills by learning to code my ebook is set to launch on April 15th. You can preorder today here.
