While vertical development as a framework does map out stages of psychological development that people can progress through throughout their lives, realize that these stages are not “maps” in the traditional sense.
“Knowing” about a stage only helps you to understand the basic characteristics of it and even then, knowing only helps you so far. To truly understand this new, unknown inner terrain within yourself, you have to explore it, experience it, and map it out yourself.
So your exploration and mapping of a specific stage of development is completely different than someone else’s, even though the terrain may have similar characteristics or patterns to it.
This is why stages aren’t like a traditional map in the sense that you’re not following someone else’s map but are instead creating your own.
So you’re still charting your own path forward, often having to feel your way forward more than think your way forward.