It's In The Mind

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So, before starting this post, I popped into WA to answer messages and follow-up a few things. Once done I noticed two things on my screen.

This is my 100th blog post at Wealthy Affiliate. Celebrate! Every achievement is worthy of

celebration, it adds fire to motivation. I also offer my thanks to all the wonderful people who have “Liked” or commented on my posts; for that I am very grateful and some of your comments have taught me much and serve as frequent reminders that there are some amazing people out there.

The second thing I noticed was the top comment in the chat window;

“NnurseBecca 5 minutes ago
@VAIOCI Good ideas, live chat brain map sounds fun lol”

This post has nothing to do with live chat, but it does have a huge relationship with “Brain Maps” and even better, it gave me a title I had been pondering over for some hours. Thank you, Becca.

Mind Maps ®

Did you notice the little symbol ®? It means that Mind Maps is a registered trademark of the Buzan organization.

“A trademark (also written trade mark or trade-mark) is a type of intellectual property consisting of a recognizable sign, design, or expression which identifies products or services of a particular source from those of others”. (Wiki)

Well, I’m not about to get into a legal battle with Buzan but I will raise a point. I was first introduced to Mind Maps ® during an adult education course at Surrey university (UK) well before Tony Buzan’s “How To Mind Map®” book was published in 2002. Sixteen years earlier to be precise and the wonderful lecturer who introduced it called it, “Mind Mapping” because by using this amazing tool we could create Mind Maps®.

Mind Mapping goes way back. In Charles Darwin’s “Transmutation of the Species (1837)”

there are Darwin style Mind Maps® and if I cared to search, I’m sure there will be others. The point is, Mind Mapping is an exceptional tool and relates to the left / right brain discussion in yesterday’s post.

What Is Mind Mapping?

It’s exactly what it says in the header. An effective way to map out the contents of your mind that could relate to:

  • Things you already know but need to pull together
  • New things you are learning
  • To do lists
  • How to instructions
  • Revision
  • Clarify your thinking
  • See the ‘bigger’ picture

Anything that you need to remember or think about.

It is a highly creative and effective way to take and retrieve notes from your mind because it works with the natural creativity of the mind. The brain engages in this creative activity right from the start.

Note Taking

Better be careful here, I’m not criticizing, honest. My wife takes copious notes when she needs to learn something relating to midwifery. Her notes are linear, usually monotone and while they may contain a few underlined points; symbols and images are rare. To learn the content, she reads and rereads until the messages are assimilated into her thinking and practice. There is a lot of repetition.

Rote Learning

“mechanical or habitual repetition of something to be learned”. Most of us are no strangers to this form of learning. From learning this way in our early school-days, the process is reinforced, and rote becomes the way we learn most things, even remembering family birthdays, events, shopping lists . . But wait! There’s a mind map for that.

The Basics of Mind Mapping

There are some free apps that enable electronic mind mapping. I’ve evaluated a few of these with restricted success because at the end of the day, they are limited by the thinking of the programmer. By far the best way is to get out the paper and pens (are you ready Twack?).

You Will Need

  • Plain Paper (I typically use A4 but sometimes step up to A3)
  • Colored pens or pencils
  • Your imagination

Mind maps work in the same way as the brain starting with imagination and association. Tools at the ready; try this. On your sheet of paper (landscape position is best), write the word SPORT in the center then close your eyes for about 30 seconds and think about SPORT (Don’t write anything else on the paper just yet).

Did you see images of your favorite sport or sports personality? Perhaps you saw the colors or uniform of a particular sports team. Somebody on a mountain bike, a player swinging a baseball bat, a soccer player scoring a goal . . .

This is because your brain likes sensory images and forms personalized associations from the images. Your brain already knows how to mind map.

Now draw an image (in a different color) next to the word “sport”. It doesn’t have to be a masterpiece, a stick person with a ball at their feet will do. The image helps with focus. If you are a locksmith like our friend Jeff and you had written “Locksmith”, the image might be a simple key. Keep it simple.

Why Different Colors?

Different colors add vibrancy and our brains like that. They add energy to our creativity too and it’s fun. Did you know that the colors we were 'told' to use in school, such as blue, black and pencil grey are monotone and the lightwaves from those colors are identical? How monotonous! Learning improves when learning is fun.

Add A Branch

Draw a branch from the word “SPORT”. Like a tree branch, not straight lines and write in one word relating to your first sporty association at the top and add an image or relevant symbol. I’m sure you’ve heard the saying, “a picture is worth a thousand words”. Draw a secondary branch from there and add more until you’ve exhausted that sport.

Note how the ideas are connected. Connections form associations. Use single words because they enable flexibility. Single words can multiply and generate their own associations and connections. Phrases and sentences can inhibit the triggering effect. I see an association with website keywords coming in here.

Too many words can render a good keyword idea ineffective.

After dropping that one into the mix, I’m off to create a mind map for my next mountain bike post. But before I do that, here's the one I created before writing this post.

Happy Mind Mapping!

I would love to know what you think.

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Recent Comments

40

First off, huge congratulations on the century, pretty spectwackular, I'd say.
Your 'mind mapping' is next level. Standard 'mind maps' have been integral in all of the childrens education, the school were pretty hot on it.
Only recently I did a 'full size' one on the 5'x3' dining room table. All with A4 pieces of paper. It was cathartic as well as much needed. It meant I could take those items out of my head and give them some order.
I say next level because of the added colour and imagery. I hadn't though about it being a catalyst for more stimulation. I was always just looking for ways to organise the thoughts that were already there (a few might have needed teasing out though)
Would this be why 'infographics' are the thing nowadays ?
I have an A3 pad somewhere and a pack of coloured pencils (mindfulness colouring book) this could well prove to be very enlightening.
Raise your bat and wave to the crowd Steve, great way to bring up the hundred

WOW, I would love to have seen the dining table MM Twack. More spectwackular than a century of blogs. I despair a little at French edu system mm's. Lists with boxes around list items. Pretty but . . .so I taught our children the how to MM.
You may have a point about infograhics, I'm going to take a look at that and see what shows up. I'm thinking how the brain likes imagery for starters so let's see what the research says. Have to rush, more later :-) S

I did have a picture I used for one of my posts but alas it is nowhere to be found.
Our lot have used MM since leaving school, so it is a very worth while tool.

We surly are wonderfully made... not even the most expensive computer could map out thoughts yet we are able
Thanks my friend
TIM

Yes wonderful indeed Tim. "AI" may have some benefits but it will never replace "HI"
Thank you
Steve

My mind map likely looks like a bunch of child's scribble, Steve! 🙄🙄

Doesn't matter what it looks like Jeff. Just stick to single words or one word per line. Your scribble is unique; your brain gets it.

Steve

Thanks for the vote of confidence, Steve!

Jeff👍👍😉

Hi Steve. Congratulations on your 100th post. I will have to think about this a while because at the moment my mind map would look like a rabbit bouncing around from one point to another, like a pinball machine. LOL.
I will definitely have to do more research on this idea to be able to use it effectively. Thanks for sharing, I am always looking for ways to improve.
Ray

I've got the image of a rabbit in a pinball machine now Ray. Ha ha, nice. MM is a superb technique and gets better with practice.
Happy Tuesday, hope you get those rabbits under control
Steve

Cool concept. A flow chart for the brain. I like it.

Thanks Jim, I like that. A great way to put it.
Happy Tuesday
Steve

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