What Models In Life Are You Following Now?

Is that a strange or confusing question?

We all have models which we follow in our lives. Rules to live by. Ways of viewing the world. People around us. How life goes. Even our own behaviors and reactions. The shoulds and should nots.

So now with some more explanation, what models of life do you have?

Given to you by your beliefs. Values. Parents. Friends. Society. Culture. Religion. Education. Social status. Whom you admire. Aspire to be. And also don’t want to be.

Think for a moment. Any come to mind?

Now think about something that is bothering you now. A problem. A person. A thing. A concept. Maybe the upcoming elections. Anything like that. Something that you can’t seem to stop the negative reaction in you and it bugs you.

Now match one of your models to this thing and also answers why you react the way you do.

Could you put your finger on it immediately? Or was it hard? If hard, some of our models are so ingrained in us that we are not even aware.

Think of the statement – it’s just the way it is. Or It’s just the way I am.

That’s a model!

Then go one more step. What makes you the way you are, or what makes the world the way it is?

Does that help shine a light on the model itself?

OK let’s try something fun.

What if you were to change the model you use here, what would happen to your negative reaction?

Were you able to find another model to insert? Make it a fun thought exercise. Pretend. Imagine. Imagine you were another person. Another gender. From another culture. Society. Time in history even. Born to different parents. From another country.

Just pick one. Then immerse yourself in the new model. Merge with it. Really be it.

Now look at what was bothering you before. How would you react now that your model has changed?

You can also call it changing perspective. Looking at the problem from another viewpoint. Leap high into the sky and take the meta view.

If your reaction now with the new model has changed for the better, how might this give you clues as to how you might resolve this issue you’re having with that problem?