Mental models are thinking tools that you can learn (or develop) and apply to many situations to make optimal decisions.
Everything is driven by cause-effect relationships. You can deliberately look for common patterns, learn to recognize situations where you can apply a familiar model, and use it to achieve optimal results.
Intentionally expand your mental toolbox, build a “latticework” of mental models that work well. It will help you to efficiently reason about the world and solve problems.