Foundation to Fortitude: A Mental Model for Better Thinking.

Image 1

Part 1: Prespective

Any good structure, whether in nature or in life, requires a strong base upon which to build. A weak foundation crumbles in the face of adversity. When you look at a skyscraper, for example, you see a tangible structure — concrete, steel, and glass. The physicality of this structure helps form your perception of it.

Human beings, on the other hand, are more abstract.

To give an analogy, consider nature: When you look at a tree, what do you see? The bark, the branches, the leaves, flowers, and fruits — but what you can’t see are the roots. They hold the whole tree upright and together, absorb water and nutrients from the soil, and produce hormones that help the tree grow.

Similarly, in people, think of these foundational qualities as roots.

The stronger the foundation, the thicker and deeper these roots grow. While you can expose a tree’s roots by uprooting it, in humans, these ‘roots’ — comprising our values, beliefs, and experiences — reside deep within the mind.

And the mind, like in nature, is prone to “bouts of adverse weather.” This than raises the question: if this “bad weather” is inevitable, how can we ready ourselves when the time comes?

The answer lies in building ‘fortitude,’ and by fortitude I mean the ability to withstand adversity, whether mental, physical, or emotional.

A process that requires strengthening both mind and body, achieved through disciplined action compounded over time.

Part 2: The Relationship

There is a conceptual relationship that exists between discipline, strength, and fortitude. These three elements form a progressive structure, each building upon the other.

One can visualize this concept as a pyramid with discipline as the base layer, strength as the middle tier, and fortitude as the apex (Image 1).

My intention in writing this post is to give you a a framework of thought that you can call upon when making decisions pertaining to the discussed themes.

This mental model is particularly useful when building or reassessing a new habit. It helps you visualize the process and the connections inbetween.

The point is to think in layers and ask yourself how these layers connect to one another.

For this model to work as intended, you must view discipline, strength, and fortitude as unit, and not as isolated elements.

The moment you start thinking in layers can you truly begin to appreciate the interconnectedness that exist between the three.

Part 3: Structured Thought

Here’s how I applied this model in my own life:

1. I divided ‘discipline’ into three domains: emotional, mental, and physical.

2. I identified the significance of each of these sub-disciplines for myself:

• Emotional discipline: This involved managing my emotions effectively, especially in stressful or triggering situations.
• Mental discipline: This entailed my concentration levels and overall attentiveness.
• Physical discipline: This included regular exercise and maintaining healthy lifestyle choices.

3. After defining the scope, I chose one foundational habit to pursue in order to improve my discipline in each of these respective domains:

• Emotional Discipline: Meditation and journaling
• Mental Discipline: Pomodoro Method (deep work broken down into 25-minute windows)
• Physical Discipline: Weights and cardio (boxing)

Below is an visual example of what this process would like.

Image 2

4. Visualize, Practise, reflect and re-assess.

Visualisation is key. You must picture, in your head the process. As shown above in image 2:

To build A, I intend to do B, which will help improve my overall wellbeing and in time, improve my overall ability to tackle mental/emotional/physical challenges.

Try to engage in 21 one days of continued practise — puncuated by weekly reflections. At the end of the 21 days you can decide whether to continue or discontinue the habit.

To summarize, here is a simpler version:

1. Choose an area to improve (emotional, mental, or physical) or all three.
2. Pick an activity to improve the chosen discipline (e.g., meditation, deep work, sport).
3. Visualize the process(Image 2)
4. Practice the habit daily for at least 21 days.
5. Assess and reflect regularly.

Points to Remember

1. Good habits equal to strong foundations and strong foundations strengthen fortitude of mind, body and soul.
2. There is a conceptual relationship that exists between discipline, strength and fortitude.
3. Good habits (discipline) builds strength of mind & body which over time improves an individuals ability to withstand mental, emotional and physical adversity.
4. Use a mental model that allows you to think in layers.
5. Pick a habit, visualize the process, practice, reflect, and reassess.

In summary, use this model in any way that suits you — test it against your own reality. There are no limitations to this approach; the possibilities are endless.

Happy thinking!

If you have any more questions, send me a message I’ll be more than happy to answer your questions.

You can also check out my last post by clicking on the link here .