Category: Motivation

How you think about things can be either liberating or constraining, depending on your approach.

Both of these can be good and bad—liberation is a sense of freedom to do whatever you want, but freedom requires some degree of responsibility to be able to focus and constrain if it’s ever going to be productively useful. On the other hand, constraints can be too limiting, in the negative, but do provide some structure and stability, and give you something to metaphorically hold onto.

Think of it like the difference between being in the middle of a deep ocean without any floatation device to hold onto, compared to being in a small pool with a handrail within easy reach.

Freedom to be anything and do anything can be debilitating and overwhelming if there’s too much of it, and particularly if you have nothing to guide you or hold onto. In archetypal terms, it’s too much chaos and not enough order.

It is said our outer world is a reflection of our inner world, and the way we think does indeed map onto society. Society provides structure, support, and guide rails, while simultaneously reducing the individual’s freedoms, constraining, and forcing conformation, and that’s only to be expected because it can’t give you freedom and stability to the same intensity, at the same time. It’s a trade-off—more freedom means less structure, and vice versa.

Some people want more government support, and more government interventions, they seem to want governments to look after them more and more these days, but this subsequently means they have less freedom. More of one means less of another, it’s a trade-off between the two.

I sometimes hear people foolishly calling to tear the government down, but overthrowing it means the end of any structure, and support, and more chaos. It’s like finding yourself in the middle of an ocean scenario. Revolution sounds empowering, when it’s anything but, especially as people today seem increasingly dependent on guide rails to support them.

It’s all about balance, different people have different tolerances. Some want more support and less freedom, they tend to be more close-minded and rigid in their thinking. Others want more freedom and less support, they’d call it interference mind you, they tend to be more open-minded and free-thinking. But some people are just not thinking it through sufficiently, they need to get their thinking straight, they want more of both, more freedom and more support, but in reality, it doesn’t work like that.

A Simplified Guide to Your Brain’s Amazing Process

Understanding how the brain works can transform the way you think, learn, and interact with the world. While our day-to-day experiences feel seamless, your brain is constantly working behind the scenes to predict, process, and adjust. Here’s a breakdown of this fascinating process in simple terms.

Your Brain as a Prediction Machine

Every time you walk into a room, your brain makes unconscious predictions about what you’ll see, hear, smell, or feel. These predictions are based on past experiences, helping your brain create a mental “model” of the environment. If everything matches your expectations, your brain stays calm, operating on autopilot to conserve energy. This is why routine tasks feel effortless—they’re handled by your brain’s predictive systems.

But what happens when the unexpected occurs? Suppose there’s a strange sound or an unusual object in the room. This mismatch between prediction and reality activates your conscious attention. Your brain then focuses on identifying and resolving the anomaly, whether through curiosity or, in extreme cases, a fight-or-flight response. Once the new information is processed, your mental model is updated to better handle similar situations in the future.

We Never See True Reality

Surprisingly, you don’t experience reality as it truly is. Your brain is locked in the “dark vault” of your skull, relying entirely on your senses for information. These senses—sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell, and body awareness—offer limited data tailored for survival rather than a full understanding of the world.

For example, your eyes can only see a small portion of the electromagnetic spectrum, and most of your field of vision is blurry. Yet, your brain fills in the gaps, creating the illusion of a complete and vibrant picture. It’s a simplified, low-resolution map that prioritizes what’s relevant to your goals while filtering out the rest.

Mental Models That We Live By

Your brain relies on mental models, to navigate life. These models include beliefs, values, and priorities built from your past experiences, memories, and imagination. They shape how you perceive the world and interact with it. For instance, the belief that “politicians can’t be trusted” is a mental model shaped by personal experiences and cultural narratives.

However, it’s essential to remember, that these mental models are representations of reality, not reality itself. They guide your decisions but are inherently limited, focusing only on what’s necessary to achieve your goals.

Biological and Social Drives

Your thoughts and behaviors are influenced by two key factors:

1. Biological Needs: Hunger, thirst, reproduction, and other survival instincts constantly compete for attention. These must be prioritized to keep you alive.
2. Social Environment: Navigating relationships and societal expectations helps you regulate emotions and meet basic needs like earning money for food, shelter, and clothing. Socialization also shields you from chaos by providing predictability in interactions with others.

Adapting to Complexity

As the world becomes more complex, so do our mental models. Humans constantly develop more sophisticated ways of thinking to thrive in ever-evolving societies. This adaptability ensures that we can handle the challenges of modern life while still relying on the same fundamental brain processes.

Key Takeaways

Your brain’s predictive process is an extraordinary tool that helps you navigate life effectively. By creating mental models, focusing on relevant details, and updating its predictions, your brain ensures, survival, and success. Recognizing these mechanisms allows you to think more critically, embrace curiosity, and adapt to new challenges with greater awareness.

Challenging Your Assumptions: How Internal Models Shape Political Beliefs

Your internal model—the mental framework your brain builds to interpret the world—shapes not just how you navigate daily life but also how you understand complex issues like politics. While these models help us make sense of overwhelming information, they can also limit us, reinforcing biases and resisting change. Recognizing this can empower you to critically evaluate your beliefs and make more informed decisions.

The Power and Perils of Internal Models

Internal models are shortcuts your brain uses to process information and predict outcomes. For example, if you’ve always seen political decisions framed a certain way—through a specific media outlet or cultural perspective—your model is primed to interpret new information through that lens. While this makes processing faster, it can also lead you to dismiss alternative viewpoints or resist contradictory evidence.

Why Questioning Your Assumptions Matters

Political systems and policies are complex, and no single perspective can fully encompass their nuances. When we rely too heavily on pre-existing internal models, we risk:

• Confirmation Bias: Seeking out information that supports our existing beliefs while ignoring conflicting evidence.
• Over-Simplification: Reducing multifaceted issues to “good versus bad” narratives that miss critical nuances.
• Groupthink: Adopting the beliefs of a social or political group without critically evaluating their validity.

By questioning your assumptions, you open the door to greater understanding and a more balanced perspective.

Strategies to Challenge Your Internal Model

• Engage with Opposing Views: Instead of avoiding perspectives that clash with your beliefs, explore them with an open mind. Ask, Why do others see this differently? This doesn’t mean you have to agree but understanding their reasoning can refine your internal model.
• Follow the Evidence: Prioritize credible data over opinions. For instance, if a policy seems ineffective based on anecdotal evidence, investigate broader studies or reports to get a clearer picture.
• Separate Emotion from Fact: Political discourse often appeals to emotion—fear, anger, or hope. While emotions are valid, they can cloud judgment. Take a moment to distinguish between how a claim makes you feel and whether it’s supported by evidence.
• Question Absolutes: Be wary of statements framed as “always” or “never.” Policies and situations are rarely black and white; explore the gray areas.

A Real-World Example

Consider a divisive policy like healthcare reform. Your internal model might categorize it as “good for the economy” or “a threat to individual freedom,” depending on your past experiences and the narratives you’ve absorbed. But what happens when you step back and ask:

• What are the actual outcomes of similar policies in other countries?
• Who benefits and who might be disadvantaged, and why?
• Could my assumptions about economic impacts or personal freedoms be incomplete?

By reframing the issue, you move beyond initial gut reactions and engage in a deeper analysis.

The Rewards of Updating Your Model

When you challenge your assumptions, your internal model becomes more accurate, flexible, and resilient. You’re no longer confined to a single narrative or vulnerable to political propaganda. Instead, you approach issues with curiosity and critical thinking, empowering yourself to make decisions rooted in a fuller understanding.

Final Thought

Your brain is wired to seek patterns and consistency, but that doesn’t mean you have to be trapped by your initial assumptions. Questioning your beliefs doesn’t weaken your position—it strengthens it by aligning it closer to reality. In a world of complex political challenges, the ability to think critically and revise your internal model is not just a skill—it’s a necessity.