Few people think more than two or three times a year; I have made an international reputation for myself by thinking once or twice a week.
George Bernard Shaw
Why do most people not need mental models?
They do not think. And I am serious.
Brain is the most energy-consuming organ,
which a person tries to switch off in any possible way.
Only quotes from TV, books or parents’ sayings,
and a lot of arms waving, gasping the air like a fish out of water.
And we, those who practice the Art of Chinese Metaphysics,
Do not think more often than others –
As we are people of art, people who believe,
and in 99% with a huge ego
(The marker of it is a very serious face. Remember, most stupid things on Earth have been done with such a face.)
If you choose to think, though, you will need a tool (tools):
– with the help of what you can think –
some mental model.
One of the best mental models is
the model of weak links
and causal connections.
Remember, in part 2 of this article I promised to tell about two receipts of happiness?
So,
Formula of Happiness #1
Happiness = reward/stress
In other words, if your income will increase 100 times and your stress will increase 1000 times, you will be much more unhappy than with a current level of income.
If both income and stress increase 100 times, you will be 100 times richer, but as miserable as now.
So, you have to work both on the numerator and the denominator of this equation.
Otherwise, working on our dreams and goals we just create a delayed-action.
Formula of Happiness #2
My favourite one 🙂
A minimal effective dose
Why taking 10 mg pill, if we can get the desired effect with 5 mg?
People often close the way to success by adding too many extra steps.
A minimal effective dose
for getting from, let’s say, Riga to Moscow is:
1. To buy a ticket (no matter, for a train, plane or cart)
2. To come to the vehicle before its departure.
The problem is that most of the people are wondering:
– What should I wear?
– Should I shave or 3-days bristle is ok?
– What is better, a train or a plane?
– Where am I going to live?
– What am I going to eat?
– What day of the week should I leave?
– Should I buy a ticket at the box office or online?
– Should I pay for the ticket in cash or by card?
– Is the probability of an air crash is higher than a train crash?
– What the weather is going to be like in Moscow?
– And other 100 points.
It does not matter.
All those questions consume your energy and minimize the possibility of reaching the aim.
If you just fulfill two simple conditions that are buy a ticket and come to the vehicle in time – you will automatically come to your point of destination.
And, by the way, both formulas for increasing happiness – or decreasing unhappiness – are MENTAL MODELS.
Use this variant or more sophisticated and comprehensive one and you will reach your goals.
Of course, if you have willingness to REALLY THINK at least a couple of times a month.
Let the good Feng Shui be with you!
Vladimir Zakharov