It has been since the time of the ancient Greeks that human beings have used methods designed to encourage the ability of the mind to associate and imagine various possibilities in order to find coherent solutions. Mind mapping is a modern approach that relies on associations and imagination to create an overview of many seemingly separate pieces of information, with the aim of identifying and clarifying paths and solutions and organizing the different issues of an individual.
You may be wondering how a mind map can help you personally. In fact, it can be incredibly useful, as mind mapping can be used as a source of personal empowerment or individual growth, as a way to organize problems and challenges, as a motivator that will help you overcome the goals you have set. for yourself. And it's even easier for us than it was for the ancient Greeks, because we can use a surprising range of mind mapping software (or just pen and paper). Your path to self-discovery through mind mapping starts here.
Steps
Step 1. Understand the benefits of mind mapping
About 60-65% of the population is made up of people who learn visually. This means that mind mapping, a visual learning tool, is ideal for a large segment of the population, distinguished by those who prefer to see things directly as they take shape, including thoughts and ideas. While not an individual who learns this way, mind mapping is a very flexible means of associating a variety of different kinds of thoughts and ideas, in order to create connections that might not have been evident previously. Using a mind map as part of a personal program to improve your creativity, goal achievement, or discernment of feelings or problems can give you a new point of view about yourself, which has probably not been made evident only through writing, thinking or reading. And mind mapping is great if you don't actually have a solid idea about your goal or where the parameters of a problem end and where the solution begins; a mind map can make these things instantly clearer to you.
- A mind map allows you to achieve a kind of objectivity that may not be easy to achieve using other methods of personal development. With a mind map, you are forced to find key words and phrases and then link them to other words and phrases. This excludes returning to the same thoughts, a factor that is often identified in the writing of a diary, which occurs through an intense internal weighting found in the reflection and self-absorption of non-constructive approaches, such as worrying or being pessimistic.
- A mind map is not a table, chart or list. These are all fairly analytical tools that require the writer to have already finished his or her thinking. The mind map concerns the phases of flow, connection and pre-thought, which then evolve in an unstructured but still useful way.
Step 2. Find an online program or mind mapping software
It's still okay to use good old pens, pencils and paper. People who prefer the tactile feel of working with pen and paper may prefer the manual option. Since you are reading on a screen, however, you are certainly familiar with technology and perhaps you are more used to working on a computer, using a program; in some cases this method may be more immediate.
Step 3. Start somewhere on the screen or card, with your name or whatever you choose
It is normal to start in the center, but you don't have to do it if it doesn't seem like the right principle. Start typing whatever comes to mind by hand or on the keyboard.
- Start with something that represents you. You could insert a real photo, an image from a cartoon, a stick figure or just your name or a geometric shape. Use whatever makes sense to you.
- Add the emotions, feelings, facts, wishes, thoughts, goals, etc. that connect to you right now. If you are making the mind map for a specific issue, then focus on what you want to bring out for this particular personal issue.
- Start by making links (branches and sub-branches) between the various things you are adding to the map. You will find that some relationships are natural, others may not seem relevant, so leave them alone as they are attached to everything that represents you for now. As time goes by, you may find that the netting needs to grow and that the connections become clearer for some things that didn't seem all that obvious at first. Likewise, some things may always remain marginalized and never connect to other parts of the map.
- Try to use very simple language to describe what you add. A single word is usually preferable; if you have to add more, make it all short and straight to the point.
- Don't dwell on your thoughts too much. Quick work produces honest self-reflection, without taking the time to add clarification or embellishment. Simply write down what comes to your mind as you develop the map.
Step 4. Be honest with yourself
No one else will read it, unless you want to. Censoring yourself is not helping you, so write down all your feelings, aspirations, worries, problems, possible solutions, and so on, that relate to you right now.
Understand that sometimes humans find it difficult to be brutally honest about themselves. You could ask your friends for a helping hand with what is blocking you, what is holding you back from exceeding your milestones, etc
Step 5. Choose a type of color scheme
Use relevant colors that have personal meaning for you. In this screenshot, red is used to highlight less desirable features. Over time, the colors can change as you take on new perspectives or change the things you've included on the map.
Colors can indicate particular categories, such as goals, preferences, emotions, family, friends, dreams, responsibilities, strengths or weaknesses, etc
Step 6. Keep testing yourself
Don't force yourself to create the entire mind map in one sitting. Not only will it be exhausting, but you'll be more likely to miss out on the things that need to be added, and often they only come after you've thought about them and slept on them. Once your mind is in the flow of mind map creation, it will continue to suggest things to you throughout the day, and you will think of new elements to add. As a result, take breaks and return to the map repeatedly.
Step 7. Don't be tempted to create a perfect mind map
Nothing is permanent on the map and you can always change the point of an element of it. In fact, this is encouraged because, as time progresses, you will begin to see changes in the severity or importance of different factors on the mind map and you will want them to reflect this (if you need to change things on paper, you can simply attach some post-it or something similar on the parts already written). Furthermore, there are no perfect mind maps; this is where the beauty of this tool lies: it makes use of schematized thinking and jumping from one thing to another typical of the human brain, so follow or accept whatever your mind offers you every time you work on the map.
Step 8. You could use the mind map to create your future self in contrast to your present self
Many life coaches, psychologists and others affected by transitions and changes believe that visualizing ourselves as we want to be in the future is an important part of the work towards transformation in these individuals. While it goes without saying that you still have to put your own effort into it and work, having a mind map of the future you want to become can be a guiding tool as you tackle different issues; It also allows you to make comparisons between who you are now and how things are changing in your life as you progress towards the person you are sculpting on yourself right now. For example, a person who now weighs 150 kg but wants to weigh 100 could make two mind maps by entering the two different weights. Maps could also help cover feelings, ability or not to do things, exercise, lifestyle, etc. and a contrast will be immediately noticed between the two different weights.
A variation of this approach is to develop a series of mind maps. The first map serves as a "mental repository" to hold your feelings and thoughts. The second mind map represents a more reflective consideration, from which you categorize the "mind deposit" into more concrete things, such as a goal, a thing you don't like, a factor that worries or stresses you, a health problem, etc.. Next, make a third mind map, which will combine the first two, this will allow you to create who you are at that given moment. This process does not preclude you from realizing a future self as well, but, as you have already understood, this requires several mind maps and could therefore be a more time-consuming approach
Step 9. Review the map regularly
As stated earlier, you are expected to make changes, additions and adjustments to the map over time. It is a tool in life and that needs constant work, it moves with you and changes to reflect your changes. You definitely need to keep copies of the points established over time to compare them, but you also need to be sure to keep the map up-to-date, reflecting your current progress and way of thinking.
Start new mind maps anytime you feel motivated to do so. There is no need to be trapped trying to feed the original mind map. If it's time to remove some ramifications and create new ones, then go for it. There is also nothing wrong with making a bunch of mind maps at the same time. What matters is that they work for you. The only recommendation is that you keep them all in the same place, to make sure you find and update them easily
Advice
- When you create a mind map for yourself, you could make a larger and more general one that encompasses yourself based on your consideration of yourself now and make a series of mini mind maps that address particular issues that you may have at heart right now. such as finding a job, trying to network, having your doctoral thesis corrected, writing a book, caring for a disabled child, etc. Absolutely anything that has overwhelming importance in your life can be put on a mind map to observe all of its various ramifications and approaches.
- This method can help you prepare a resume made in the form of a mind map, perhaps you can use software to familiarize yourself with this tool. It can also be used for positive thinking, stress relief, personal analysis, and other things that you may find useful right now.
- For people with low memories, a mind map can be a good way to bring back positive memories into your life, especially if you only think about the negative ones for a long time. Once you begin to force yourself to remember more positive things and jot them down on the map, you will begin rewriting your past in a more optimistic way. And this is always good for you!
- Treat that one simple word or phrase you have in mind as an element to start a story; it can inspire you, make you think, encourage, motivate you, get you focused, and help you form bigger ideas once they're on paper.
- If you can get hold of Tony Buzan's lyrics, you'll find that the author has already worked extensively on mind mappings. For example, his book "Head Strong: How to Get Physically and Mentally Fit" has some excellent color maps that will inspire you.
Warnings
- Making a mind map might seem like a disorganized job if you've never done it before. Trust the process and follow it. It will soon become apparent that what seemed confusing to you actually had thoughts running around in your mind, so writing them down somewhere along with the related links can actually organize what was confusing!
- Many people will not make the attempt to create a mind map of themselves. And that's fine, it's a personal choice. However, if you don't really try, you won't know how amazing it is to find that all that confusion inside your mind can be translated into something more organized and that it will have direction once you make a map of it. Reconsider using a mind map the next time you have a dilemma and you may be positively surprised.
- Prepare mind maps in tidy and quiet environments. If you are bothered by too many distractions, the process of creating one will likely fail.
