A mental model I started using sometimes is the concept that our brains, as computers, have a set of "pre-loaded apps." These apps consist of our memories, experiences, values, and habits. Some are pre-installed, while others we need to actively load. This collection of apps forms the foundation that determines how we respond to the world around us, especially in moments when we act instinctively.

Some of these apps are more deeply embedded, like values. They act as core code, governing our actions at a deep level. Just like a computer has processes with different priorities, our brain's apps execute with varying importance, depending on the person. For example, someone who seems to effortlessly make healthy choices might just have the "healthy lifestyle" app prioritized higher than others. Their brain runs that particular app more actively, influencing their daily decisions.

Some apps are always ready, pre-loaded into memory, and others need to be actively loaded. For example, some people already have the "Google Maps" of the brain pre-loaded and they know exactly where they are and where to go. Other people have that software installed, but it requires some time and "taking the wrong turns" to get it running. And then there are those who simply don't have it installed. Every time you try to remember how to do a specific task at your job, one that doesn't come automatically, you need to load that app. On the other hand, some things are pre-loaded at an even lower level, almost like CPU cache memory.

How these apps get installed or gain higher priorities is still something I haven't completely figured out. But early age education and experiences probably have a big impact. The older you get, the harder it is to update or install new apps, but it's not impossible.

But just as our mental software shapes us, it can also be reprogrammed, for better or worse. The idea of "Trojan horses" or "viruses" in the context of the brain is a powerful analogy. Marketing, social influences, even addictions can act as mental malware, sneaking into our thought process and shifting our priorities. They implant ideas, subtly or forcefully, until we believe something is incredibly important, sometimes without even questioning why.

It's interesting to realize how much of our behavior is influenced by this pre-loaded and reprogrammed software.