Rewire Your Brain (How To Hijack Your Mental Model)
Learn how to unplug from limiting mental models, rewire your thinking for growth, and make meaningful progress toward your aspirations.
Turn off the TV.
Detach from the divisive programming that has come to define the mainstream media.
It will allow you to notice something that’s otherwise quite obvious:
Humans actually have a lot in common.
There’s not a person on planet Earth who doesn’t have aspirations.
And when you pick apart each of these aspirations one by one, you’ll have a second realization:
Turns out, they’re all pretty similar.
Most people’s desires line up pretty closely with each other.
Barring the specifics, yours are going to be pretty close to mine:
Financial Abundance (Live comfortably, create a sense of security for my future)
Freedom and Independence (Autonomy, living life on my own terms without excessive restrictions or dependence on others)
Good Health (A healthy life, free from illness or suffering)
Love and Meaningful Relationships (Building deep, loving relationships with family, friends, and partners)
Personal Growth & Self-Improvement (Continued growth & improvement)
Meaning in Life (Finding a sense of purpose, leaving a mark on the world by creating something of lasting value)
But here’s where people stop being so similar:
For every person who has what they really want in life, 99 others have failed to manifest their dreams.
So if everyone has similar goals, why is it that so few actualize them?
Here’s the answer:
Your mental model.
Think of it as the operating system for your mind.
It’s the engine you use to interpret the information you’re absorbing on a daily basis.
It’s integral to both:
who we are
who we become
If you’re anything like I used to be, you’ve probably hardly even spent time thinking about the way you think.
Here’s the reality:
A well-configured mental model streamlines the process of becoming the highest version of ourselves.
The problem?
Most people go about their lives using mental models that impede their success:
Fixed Mindset: Believing that abilities and intelligence are static, which limits potential for growth.
Victim Mentality: Believing that you have no control over your life and that external circumstances determine your fate.
Dwelling on Failure: Focusing excessively on mistakes without learning from them or moving forward.
Pessimism: Always expecting negative outcomes and focusing on the worst-case scenarios, viewing challenges as insurmountable obstacles rather than opportunities for growth
Complacency: Accepting mediocrity and avoiding efforts to push beyond your comfort zone.
Inaction: Failing to take decisive action due to fear, doubt, or laziness, leading to stagnation.
Passivity: Letting life happen to you instead of actively taking control and shaping your circumstances.
Low Self-Esteem: Lacking belief in your ability to succeed, which leads to a passive, negative approach to life.
Dependence on External Validation: Relying on others’ approval for self-worth, rather than cultivating internal confidence and self-belief.
If these patterns sound like you in any capacity, then you’re in the right place.
Recognizing it is the first step.
Most people aren’t even aware of it when these mental barriers hold them back.
Their mental model stays hidden in their subconscious, never seeing the light of day for a chance at improvement.
They stay stuck, processing the inputs the world flings at them the same way their whole lives, wondering why their life never changes for the better.
Ask yourself:
Is my current model serving me as best it could, or is it time to upgrade?
If you answered the former, let’s dive in.
Blueprint: High-Performance Mental Models
“All models are wrong, but some are useful.” — George E.P. Box
Not all mental models are created equal.
Some help us navigate life more effectively, while others hold us back.
The difference comes down to a few key characteristics.
A pragmatic mental model has specific qualities that make it useful.
So, what makes a mental model strong?
Here are the key attributes that separate robust mental models from mediocre ones:
Input Conversion
Malleability
Predictive Power
Scalability
Bias Mitigation
Let’s dive right into each one.
1) Input Conversion
Let’s face it: life throws a lot at us.
Things are going to go wrong.
But here’s what most people fail to recognize — you can interpret the exact same situation in vastly different ways.
This is where mental models come in.
A mental model that’s truly working for your benefit doesn’t just receive inputs — it converts them.
Every experience can be turned into a catalyst for growth, regardless of if it feels positive or negative in the moment.
“I just lost my job.”
“I failed my exam.”
“I just suffered an injury.“
These are situations no one wants to be in, right?
But here’s what sets resilient people apart — they flip the situation on its head.
An elite mental model transforms these negative experiences into motivation.
Here’s an example:
Jocko Willink is a former Navy SEAL best known for his philosophy of “Extreme Ownership“.
Needless to say, he’s weathered the storm
His strategy for doing so?
When something bad happens, he says:
Good.
Why? Because he’s intent on turning that bad thing into fuel for the next step.
Lost your job? Good — now you have time to explore new opportunities.
Failed an exam? Good — now you know where to focus and improve.
Injured while training? Good — now you can work on aspects of your training you were neglecting like nutrition, flexibility, or mental toughness.
To most, this kind of thinking might sound absurd — almost robotic or detached.
But this is what separates growth from stagnation.
Think about it: being negative serves no purpose.
You can’t control the world around you.
But you CAN control your perception.
Why would you relinquish the one lever of control you have?
Why would you ever subscribe to a mental model of defeatist thinking?
Construct a mental model that turns setbacks into stepping stones.
There’s no reason to settle for less.
2) Malleability
Mental models shouldn’t be rigid — you don’t want to stick to the same approach forever.
The best ones are malleable, constantly evolving as new information, circumstances, and challenges arise.
You should be able to reorient the way you think about things based on feedback.
What’s working? What isn’t?
When you take an iterative approach, you can construct a mental model where improvement is inevitable.
Step by step, you can recalibrate your mental model along the way.
You apply what you’ve learned, make small adjustments, and keep refining your path to reach higher ground.
By embracing malleability and an iterative mindset, you allow your mental model to grow and evolve alongside you, always pushing you toward your highest potential.
To learn more, check out my newsletter on my philosophy of Personal Gradient Ascent, and how iteration is a key component to learning to think like a machine:
3) Predictive Power
A good mental model doesn’t just help you react to your environment.
It helps you predict outcomes.
With an elite mental model, you can anticipate the future before it arrives.
Think about the most successful people you know.
They don’t just respond to life as it happens — they anticipate challenges, see opportunities before others do, and make moves that keep them ahead of the curve.
That’s the power of a mental model with predictive capabilities.
It helps you see what’s coming and act with clarity, instead of being caught off guard.
4) Scalability
Most areas in life are far more interconnected than they might seem on the surface.
For example, fitness and finance may seem like two completely different domains —one is about physical health, the other about monetary wealth.
However, on a deeper level, they share several fundamental principles that can help you excel in both areas:
Discipline and Consistency (hitting the gym occasionally won’t lead to long-term fitness, sporadically saving or investing won’t build financial security)
Delayed Gratification (saying no to short-term pleasures like junk food, resisting the temptation to overspend today so you can save and invest for the future)
Tracking Progress (measurement is crucial in both domains: tracking calories, workouts, or finances)
Compounding Effect (investments grow exponentially over time as interest builds upon itself, while in fitness, consistent effort leads to gradual improvements in strength)
Risk Management (injuries in fitness can set back your progress, poor financial decisions can derail your financial health)
The best mental models are scalable.
They aren’t limited to just one part of your life — they apply everywhere.
Whether you’re…
making decisions about your career
improving your health
building stronger relationships
…a good mental model is rooted in timeless principles.
It provides a framework that guides your behavior across the board.
Think of it this way: a scalable mental model is like a toolkit.
You can use the same tools whether you’re fixing a leak, building furniture, or crafting something entirely new.
It’s adaptable, versatile, and applicable in any situation.
The mental models that work best in life are the ones that connect the dots between different areas — your emotions, intellect, physical health, and relationships — so that you can approach life in a holistic, well-rounded way.
5) Bias Mitigation
Let’s be real for a second: we all have biases.
Whether we realize it or not, they influence:
our thoughts
our decisions
how we see the world
Our biases can distort reality.
They make us cling to ideas that may not serve us well and cloud our judgment when making important choices.
So how do you make sure your mental model stays clear?
You need to constantly analyze yourself.
Ask yourself tough questions.
Is your thinking aligned with the facts?
Or just based on comfort or convenience?
We love to tell ourselves we’re doing our best, don’t we?
But let’s be honest — are we really?
Here’s the truth: there is always something more you can do to improve.
A strong mental model keeps you constantly striving, constantly questioning, and constantly improving.
But this only works if you stay objective.
The moment you let your biases creep in, convincing yourself that you’ve reached your peak or that external circumstances are to blame for your shortcomings, you lose.
An elite mental model forces you to look at the data, at the facts, and face reality as it is — not how you’d prefer it to be.
Are you truly maximizing my potential, or are you letting your biases hold you back?
Mental Models: Practical Application
Now you know the key attributes that make up elite mental models.
The next step?
Figuring out how to implement your own.
So how do you solidify the adjustments you make to your mental model?
How can you stop yourself from reverting to your old mental model over time?
Here are the practical methods I used to internalize them:
1) Input Conversion: Reframe Challenges in Real-Time
Practice reframing immediately: When something goes wrong, stop yourself before reacting. Find the positive in whatever went wrong, and go from there.
Keep a daily log: At the end of each day, I write down a challenge I faced and how I was able to reframe it. This helped me cement the habit of converting my perceived problems into opportunities.
Example: Instead of saying, “I had a terrible workout today,” ask, “What did I learn from that workout that I can apply next time?” Make every experience a stepping stone, not a setback.
2) Malleability: Embrace Change with Iterative Adjustments
Start with small experiments: Identify an area of your life where you can introduce a change for the better. Try it for a week, and assess how it worked.
Conduct a weekly review: At the end of each week, I reflect on what worked and what didn’t. Then, I make slight adjustments based what I observe.
Example: If you want to improve your productivity, start by adjusting one element of your routine — say, spending 15 minutes planning your day out the night before. At the end of the week, review whether it helped, and adjust accordingly.
3) Predictive Power: Build Anticipation Into Your Planning
Set aside time for forward-thinking: Each week, I block out 30 minutes to anticipate potential challenges and opportunities. I ask myself, “What’s likely to come up this week? How can I prepare?”
Example: If you know that certain days at work are always chaotic, start preparing for them in advance by organizing your workload earlier in the week. The more you predict, the fewer surprises will throw you off.
4) Scalability: Mental Model Across Life Domains
Apply Learning To Multiple Domains: I go out of my way to study principles from various domains — psychology, fitness, finance, business — and look for ways to apply those lessons in different areas of my life.
Example: If you’re learning about problem-solving in a business context, consider how those skills can help you overcome personal challenges, such as sticking to a fitness goal or improving communication in relationships. The more you cross-pollinate your learning, the more you unlock new possibilities for growth.
5) Bias Mitigation: Build Awareness Into Your Routine
Daily bias check: At the end of each day, I take 5 minutes to reflect on any decisions I made. Ask yourself: “Was I influenced by my emotions or assumptions?” Write them down. By identifying biases, you can start addressing them.
Seek external feedback: I ask people I trust to challenge my assumptions regularly. Why? They may see biases that I don’t. Having an external perspective will help keep your thinking objective.
Example: If you notice you’ve been avoiding certain challenges because of fear, acknowledge it. Write down an action plan to approach those tasks the next day, while focusing on facts rather than emotions.
Alright, now you have:
the building blocks of what makes an elite mental model
practical ways to apply these new frameworks to your life
Your next step?
Implementation.
Take a hard look at your current mental model.
Ask yourself:
How is my current way of thinking holding me back from achieving my aspirations?
Then, go from there.
I’ll end with this reminder:
Everyone has the same goals.
Build a mental model that gives you the pleasure of achieving them.
Do it for you.
Until next time.
— Landon
I could read these all day…