"人类的思想首先要独立地构建形式，然后才能在事物中找到它们。"

This quote is all about perception versus reality—it suggests that our minds need to create ideas or frameworks before we can recognize those same structures in the world around us. Imagine it like this: before you can see a pattern in the stars, you need to have some idea of what a pattern looks like. Your brain has to do some of the heavy lifting first.

Historically, this concept is tied to the philosophy of Immanuel Kant. In the 18th century, Kant rocked the intellectual boat by arguing that our understanding of the world is shaped by our mental frameworks or "categories". This wasn't just some academic noodling; it shifted how folks thought about knowledge and reality.

Think about the development of scientific theories. Before Newton came up with the concept of gravity, apples still fell from trees. But it took Newton's "aha" moment—his mental framework—to understand and describe why that happens. His mind had to construct the form of gravitational theory before he could identify and explain it in the physical universe.

So, how can you use this in your own life? Start by recognizing that your perceptions—whether of a situation, a person, or even a problem—are filtered through the mental models you’ve built over time. Want to change how you see things? Change those models. Let’s say you always dread public speaking because you’ve constructed the idea that it’s a terrifying ordeal. If you start to reshape that idea—imagine it as a chance to share something exciting—you’ll start to see speaking opportunities differently.

Here’s a relatable scenario: Imagine you’re learning to drive. At first, the traffic seems like chaos, right? But as your brain constructs forms—recognizing the rules of the road, the behaviors of other drivers, the mechanics of your own car—you start to see order in what once felt like a mess. Your mind shapes that understanding before you can perceive the system in the external world.

But don't stop there. Take this wisdom and apply it to your goals. Want to be a better leader? Start by constructing what leadership means to you. Is it about empathy, decisiveness, or maybe inspiring creativity? Create that blueprint in your mind first. Then, as you practice leadership, you’ll start to see those traits in your actions and in others, reinforcing and refining your original mental model.

This mental shift can be like adjusting a camera lens—things that were blurry suddenly come into focus. The clearer your internal frameworks, the more details you’ll spot in the world. So next time you're grappling with something complex, remember: your mind's got to build the blueprint first. Give it some time, let those forms take shape, and watch how your perception of reality transforms.