You've probably heard of mind mapping as a useful technique for capturing complex ideas and thoughts and translating them into words and images. But mind maps are more than just a pretty picture. Your brain also benefits from the mental process of making a mind map, because of the engagement of both sides of the brain. Let me explain how it works.
You may know someone who is ambidextrous, which means they can use both their left and right hands for a range of tasks including writing, drawing, cutting with a knife and so on. While some people are born with this ability, most ambidextrous people developed this skill through practice.
The practice of using both hands for physical tasks also engages both sides of the brain, as the right side of the brain controls the left side of our body and the left side of the brain, the right side of the body.
Furthermore, both sides of the brain control different thought processes. The right brain controls imagination, risk taking, philosophy and creativity while the left brain is practical, conformist, ordered and logical. This is why right brain thinkers are typically left handed and think subjectively, holistically and intuitively, while left brain right handed people are inclined to be logical, analytical and rational. Right brain people will often be artists or involved in literature, and left brain people thinkers will be engineers and scientists.
Of course, it's not as black and white as all that. We can all use both sides of our brain, just to different extents. And by deliberately using both sides of your brain, you can actually increase the power of your mind.
A teacher friend of mine would get the kids in her class to crawl around the room before starting her lesson, as she believes that the coordination of left and right side of the body and therefore enhanced the kids performance.
Similarly, when we ride a bike or multi-task, we are applying and exercising both sides of the brain.
You can greatly improve your mental abilities by selectively choosing which side of the brain to engage. If you are struggling for inspiration in a technical environment, trying doodling with your left hand. Even simple exercises like patting your head with one hand and rubbing your tummy with the other can get you working at your full potential.
And mind mapping is an excellent technique not only for clarifying thoughts and ideas on paper, but as a way of engaging both the left and right sides of the brain. As well as written words and the logic of links and associations, mind mapping activates the right brain through the use of colour and images to illustrate the mind map.
So by using the Mind Mapping technique you employ all aspects and therefore increase the power of your mind.
You can find out 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-help topics from goal setting to people skills.
