Do you come up with some fantastic ideas, but when you come to write them down, they're not so fantastic? Or worse still, you can't even put your idea into words? Mind mapping is an excellent tool for translating partially formed ideas into words on paper.
Tony Buzan developed the Mind Map concept and describes it as a powerful graphic technique that makes use of the way our minds naturally work. He talks about 4 characteristics of mind maps.
1. The main subject is captured as a central image
2. The main themes radiate from the central image as branches
3. Branches include a key image or key word written on an associated line.
4. The branches form a connected node type structure
Mind maps greatly assist brain function by engaging both sides of the brain. If you try to write down difficult concepts, you are only using the left side of the brain. But if you use mind mapping techniques which require non-verbal, visual and creative processes, you engage the right side as well.
And by using both sides of the brain, you can access more creative, non-linear thoughts which is perfect for capturing difficult ideas. Mind maps also allow you to see more than one idea at a glance and how these thoughts are interconnected, and therefore helps clarify your thinking.
Because mind maps are intended to stimulate your visual mind, they are best done in color. So all you need to get going is a large piece of blank paper and some colored markers or pencils.
Begin with the key idea that you are trying to get your mind around. It could be a big work project, or a sub-project, it could be research for a paper or the plot of your next book. And mind maps are great for career planning and goal setting!
Write down the main idea in a couple of words in the middle of the paper, and draw a square or circle around it. Alternatively, you can sketch a symbol or picture to illustrate your main idea. The key is to engage that right hand side of the brain by drawing either shapes or images throughout your map. Don't worry if you aren't that good at drawing, it's the right brain engagement process that really matters.
From here it's just a matter of jotting down whatever ideas come into your mind. Don't worry too much about choosing the perfect word to describe your thought, just get it down on paper. Think of related ideas and put these in shapes or with sketches, and use lines to connect them to the main idea as well as other associated thoughts on the page.
As you continue to add related ideas to your map, continue to draw the connections and you will see that cross connections continue to appear, sometimes between seemingly unconnected thoughts or ideas.
Putting our thinking down into a diagrammatic format or mind map helps to communicate ideas by simplifying complex concepts. Mind mapping can be used for a number of functions and is a useful skill to learn.
You can learn more about how to do a Mind Map by signing up for this
FREE e-training course on Mind Mapping. You'll also find lots of free advice and templates on a range of self-improvement topics from goal setting to people skills.
