The Map is not the Territory
You always read this in modern psychology books, but I still haven’t figured out exactly what it means. We’re not on a hike. This blog isn’t your trail head. We’re not on a journey. You can’t hear the clack clack clack of the rail under the train. Western territory? The Sea of Tranquility? Maui? What territory are they talking about? And why do I need a map? I’ve got a GPS.
When I first started hiking, my friend and experienced trail master Vince, and I, climbed around in the Sierras. A few others were on the trail, and at about ten thousand feet Vince got separated. A ten year old kid walked by like he was superman and my legs were molasses, which they were, but eventually I caught Vince. He was halfway up a snow covered slope.
“This is the way,” he yelled. “Just follow my footsteps.”
I did. About thirty yards up the snow covered slope, I took another step and fell in up to my waist. This happened several more times until I reached Vince where I noticed other climbers were on a trail, but we weren’t. We kicked in shoe holds and forged through the ice and snow and eventually got where we were going, which was more and more adventure.
Life is an adventure
“The map is not the territory” has a lot of meanings. One meaning is what we think we are, is not exactly what we are. Our self talk descriptions of how we are, is not exactly how we are. What we think about how we think isn’t exactly how we think. Our minds are different from the techniques and pathways which we navigate within our minds.
Don’t use this blog as a map to your mind. It’s not. You’re mind is virgin territory. There is no trail head. This is no map. Moment to moment you are forging your way. You’re on the adventure of your lifetime.
Where’s that global positioning satellite when you need it?
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