The Mental Operating Loop

Across any person’s lifespan, all mental activity runs in a cycle. Let us call this cycle the Mental Operating Loop, which is comprised of Components.

Since the Mental Operating loop is present in all people, and often subtly but significantly influencing us, always running in the backgrounds of our lives, we should strive to pay special attention to its structure. By examining closely this loop and the operations that occur, we can detect issues and risks, correct faulty components and patterns, see fantastic opportunities, and even better connect with our fellow humans as we recognize them operating in the same loop.

Components of the Mental Operating Loop:

• Perception

• Model of Reality (creates Meaning, creates Possibilities)

• Analysis (creates Options)

• Decision (chooses 1 Option)

• Execution (carrying out Option)

• Result (can feed into Perception)

Basic Operation:

• First Perception occurs, then a Model of Reality is created.

• Analysis is performed, creating Options from the Possibilities inside the Model of Reality.

• A Decision selects an Option, and Execution carries that Option out, creating a Result.

• This Result can then enter perception, restarting the loop.

Note: All components are recursive and can enter Perception. Multiple loops can be running simultaneously. The Components can change order and interact with each other endlessly.

Perception

• Everything the person perceives enters perception, including internal and external stimuli all enter the mind, but not everything is noticed. Human perception is heavily filtered.

• Examples: hunger, thirst, other people’s aura/energy, that thing you have to do later tonight, a coworker getting mad at you, returning to work on monday and subsequent dread,

Model of Reality

The model of reality interprets and creates Meaning via connections, and takes into account the following inputs:

• Filtered Perception

• Beliefs

• Memory

• Identity

• Emotions

• Incentives

Meaning is generally created by emotionally resonant connections unconsciously made between inputs inside the Model of Reality, combinations of the above bullet points. It’s something the person experiences, or doesn’t experience. This is typically not actively done; the person either realizes it exists or doesn’t exist.

Meaning is never guaranteed (the default is not having Meaning), but human beings continually search for Meaning as a fundamental need. People with Meaning in their lives do much better than people without it, who literally go crazy.

The quality and quantity of Meaning is specific to the person in question. Meaning is highly, highly individual.

At this point in the loop, Meaning is a complete hallucination. It can be actually present in the real world, but that’s not required. It can also be shared as this hallucination version to other people, with no connection to reality whatsoever. (a complete delusion)

From the sources of Meaning in the Model of Reality, possibilities are created as an output.

Possibilities are Meaningful single or combined inputs (a bullet or bullets from above, or mini-Model of Reality). Remember, since components are recursive, inputs can also include mini-Models of Reality.

Examples:

• Feeling excited about getting to see someone you know, and thinking of the possible directions life could take after that meeting

• Becoming nervous about the task ahead of you at work, and what it means for your career

• Seeing the connection between a place you used to live and a pattern that’s followed you for years across your life

• Not knowing if an article or book you read chose you, or you chose it, but knowing deeply that the message it contained connected to something significant in your life

Analysis

The Model of Reality creates Possibilities to consider. Analysis cuts these possibilities down to Options we more deeply consider. There are generally fewer Options than Possibilities.

Typically, Options pair a Possibility with a potential Response.

Responses include actions, reactions, and can also include doing nothing as a reaction.

Example:

• For this, picture a kind of electronic screen, showing only the relevant Options and all of their components

• The Options are listed on a menu top to bottom, going down the screen for you to pick from

• The ramifications of each Option show up, forecasting the future to the extent you can foresee it and to the extent each one can be predicted

Decision

A Decision chooses one Option from the Analysis component.

Other Options are excluded, but a second (recursive) round of Analysis can combine or change Options.

Not choosing any Option is also a decision.

Example:

• One of the Options above takes precedence above all others, it’s details and next steps expanding to fill the screen

Execution

This is the act of carrying out the chosen Option.

The mechanics involved in pursuing an Option are also recursive, and can also enter Perception.

Example:

• The next steps involved in actually bringing about that Option are brought into focus on the screen, and any progress related to the actions taken begin to spring forth

• Sometimes execution isn’t really relevant; some Options are more decisions to be made than steps to be taken

Result

Either the inner or outer world of the person in question is affected, and this Result enters the person’s perception, restarting the loop or creating a new loop.

The decision component is the area where you can control this loop. You’ve perceived this information and added it to your Model of Reality. Now, you can edit your own loop at will.

Take a moment to consider the gravity of this: any situation contains infinite possibilities that you can pursue, so long as you believe in your own agency and act on the things you perceive. This means quite a few (though not all) situations in life can be altered to fit your plans. Life, to an extent, can be shaped at your command.