The Map is Not the Territory (Achievement Nudge about Living in the Present)
Last Updated on October 7, 2024 by Bill Truby
The map is not the territory, the menu is not the meal, and worry is an invention of the mind.
Achieve Greater Peace by Keeping Your Mind on What is Real
“Worry” is something we learn, not something we are born with. Animals, babies, toddlers all have the innocence to more happily and healthfully live in the moment. If they feel something that is unpleasant or fearful, their response can change quickly – as quickly as the moment changes. Worry and anxiety seems to be an invention of the mind we learn from others after we are 8 years old. And the sad part is, we learn it and it sticks!
The National Association of School Psychologists says that before the age of 8, children are anxious about specific, identifiable events such as an animal they see, being in the dark; or localized situations like the ubiquitous monster under the bed. After that age they unfortunately begin to worry about future events like an upcoming school play, issues that can’t be controlled such as what others think of them or self-esteem and identity issues; not feeling worthy or whether or not they will be liked and loved.
How much better off we could be if we could regain our innocence. And one way to do that is to realize that the map is not the territory and the menu is not the meal.
After we are 8 years old, we begin creating mental maps of reality that are often not accurate. Our anxiety creates a map of what we THINK reality is or will be. Then we live and respond based on our map; not on the reality of the territory. We live as if there is no bridge across the river because our mental map doesn’t show the one that is really there. Or we still use a distorted map from our early childhood days. We haven’t bought a new one that accurately depicts current reality…sort of like using an old map of Texas to navigate in New Mexico. The things we do in our mind…
The menu analogy is slightly different. What we are looking at is not OUR mental map; it is a batch of words someone else has given us to describe the experience. But the words someone else gave us that describe the food may or may not be accurate when it comes to our actual experience.
Most of us live in a map and eat from the menu – not in the territory or the reality of the meal. And that’s what causes so much of our stress, our ill health and our problems. This Nudge is to live in the territory, not the map. It is to use the menu as a guide, not as the absolute truth.
When you look in the mirror, you are probably looking at someone who is living in a map and a menu. When you look in the eyes of a child, you are looking at a reflection of a person who lives in the “now.” Regain YOUR innocence by enjoying the moment of splashing in the rain puddles – not worrying about whether or not you will ever splash in them again. Enjoy cuddling in the arms of the ones who love you today – don’t worry about being loved tomorrow.
Tanya Quinn
COO, Truby Achievements
