The second presupposition
The presupposition is that, “We each map the world according to our beliefs and the map is not the territory”, this is also fundamental when thinking about how did you become you
- We each have a map and those maps are as different on the inside as we are different on the outside (how we look), because of the different things we have experienced or learned in life. You cannot assume for instance that just because you know something, or think another will do something specific in a particular situation, that they know it too, or they will do as you expect.
o When I get stuck, in my mind, with something i.e. I keep ending up in the same thought pattern, it is as if I’ve run out of map symbols or indication of a road to take me forward.
o Someone else though, with different experience and learning can share a possible way to handle the situation, from their map and thus my map is enhanced. - It is the maps, I believe that really differentiate us as people. For instance most self-made millionaires, (I’m not one yet) do not use the word failure or believe they fail at anything, instead their map may work as follows:-
o Do something (e.g. invest in a new area of business)
o Look at the results (get feedback)
o Make decisions about what to do next based on experience
o Act on those decisions
o Loop back to second bullet
– If the results are not as you want them, a decision you might make is to get out of this business
• You look on this as a sensible decision based on the evidence you found at this time
• Ask what have I learned from this?
• Move on to something new with this experience under your belt now
• You have not failed, just did stuff that eventually did not work out and learned from it.
We learn just as much, in my opinion, probably more, from the things that do not work in life as we do from the things that do.
If you look at the example above, as probably most of us would when the results are not as we desire, then you would be using the words fail, failure, no good, bad, then making the failure mean you are a failure and no good at business, hence forming a belief or several beliefs about yourself.
How do you think about the above?
Do you Fail or Learn?
Can you change your beliefs about this?
More on Beliefs next