Mythology

Science studies the tangible world — things we can touch, see, measure.

In the Middle Ages, Christian thinkers studied nature to understand God’s creation. They believed uncovering the basic elements meant peering into the mind of God. This drove the growth of modern science.

But this is just the world of things, where the action takes place. It’s a backdrop for the game that runs in our heads. Since we only get a sliver of reality, we pack the rest with story — personal myths that make sense of life as we go.

These stories aren’t fictional. They’re our interpretation of reality. And the most important question is: what myth are you telling yourself about what’s going on? What are you doing? Are you winning?

Those stories unfold in a fictional space in our heads which is a reflection of the world around us. But as we know reality is much more than we can comprehend. So we pack the parts of it into the mind map in our head. The map of meaning.

Science measures and explains the world of things. The map of meaning is more abstract. Scientific maps chart physical territory. Maps of meaning chart the psychological and emotional terrain of our inner world.

Ask yourself: What do you believe is going on in your life right now?

Your map of meaning is built from personal experiences, cultural stories, upbringing, and beliefs. It shapes how you interpret events and define your values. It steers the story you tell yourself.

Science deals with the measurable. The map of meaning deals with purpose, morality, existence — where religion, philosophy, and personal reflection come in. And of all the stories we map onto our lives, one keeps coming back.