Let's Break Mental Models Together

As a "Selectively Social person," it's challenging to reveal my hidden self. But when discussing biases and Mental Models, it's essential to share vulnerability.

I'm comfortable with compliments on my dress, like "your dress is pretty." But when someone says "you look good", I feel uncomfortable, angry, or sad. I haven't explored why this happens. I might fake a smile or redirect to work topics.

A Mental Model is playing behind the scenes. Let me introduce you to it

Understanding the Mental Model

Mental Model is deeply ingrained assumptions or generalisations or images / pictures that influences how we understand the world, how we take decisions and act.

“ We have Mental Models about everyone, every system, every concept, and every place. We live in a world of self-generating beliefs which remain largely untested! “ says Raja Chidambaram , My OBTA guru

Our ability to achieve the results we truly desire will be eroded by these limiting mental models.

Mental models may develop as early as age 12. Probe to understand their origins, what situations might have used these. Do we know if we select data selectively, view through biased lenses, and deny reality? And hence the mental models are being verified with selective data and becomes our belief system ?

Fundamentals of Mental Models

We can't avoid mental models, they keep forming. We must suspend or discard unhelpful ones to progress and find happiness. They're like coloured glasses that we mistakenly think are our eyes.

There are many mental models which do not limit us, they do not harm us and sometimes they help us. Keep them as your strengths.

Handling Mental Models

So what do we do with limiting Mental Models ?

Reflect, Observe and Suspend

Reflecting - Seeing and understanding how the mental models operate in retrospective. Reflection is slowing down our thinking to see how our mental models work. Observing the thought process. Understanding the beliefs, assumptions behind it. Try to Journal or write to get clarity

Observation - The moment you observe it changes !! It is a meditative practice, bringing consciousness to inner voices. There are 4 levels of awareness for observing

• Body: Sensory perceptions experienced physically.

• Head: Thoughts, expressed in words.

• Heart: Feelings, expressed as emotions.

• Gut: Motivations, core beliefs, 'woulds,' 'shoulds,' and 'coulds.'

Suspending - There are many ways to suspend them or let go them. Write and discard assumptions. Break free from colored lenses. Craft a preferred response for future triggers

Preparedness

Next time a Mental Model triggers, slow down, observe, and recognise it. Understand it's a trigger, recall your planned response, and respond accordingly.