Mind Maps, Tony Buzan, Thinking, Brain Capacity
Last Updated on Thursday, 18 June 2009 23:18 Written by Norm Tucker Wednesday, 17 June 2009 19:38
Mind Mapping - learning and using the process - may be the best way to improve and increase your ability and capacity to think, organize and communicate your thoughts. Yes - the best way. And Tony Buzan, a graduate of Kitsilano Secondary School in Vancouver, is an expert.
I came to mind mapping late at Banyon's some four years ago while leafing through Tony Buzan's book. You can see from the image below, that my copy of The Mind Map Book is well worn and laden with sticky notes. Inside, margins are dotted with notes and key phrases highlighted with a yellow marker, indicate a valued and well read book.
But beware.
Why beware?
Well, according to Tony Buzan, mind mapping takes discipline - there's a right way and a wrong way to do it. Mr Buzan may be the ultimate professional and expert at mind mapping. He has emphatic views on how to mind map. It is, after all, his business. He trains people. He writes and sells books. He consults and speaks and sells his software. He has rules - called laws - laws of technique and laws of layout - the laws of clarity, emphasis and association, he calls them - and, with guiding principles, recommendations and exercises, he insists we obey the quality and integrity of his process, at least initially, following an instructional technique called 'accept, apply, adapt'.
At first, I found Mr. Buzan's book laden by do's and dont's and a bit overbearing and preachy. A quote: "The Mind Map laws are intended to increase, rather than restrict, your mental freedom. In this context, it is important not to confuse order with rigidity or freedom with chaos". He presents mind mapping as though it was an 'ism' or a religion or a science.
I found some of the mind maps, while fascinating and colorful, just too complex.
All that aside, I applied myself to learning and using mind maps and started simply. I now regard mind mapping as a beneficial tool for thinking, for getting thoughts and ideas down on paper and for helping me with my writing.
I'm a believer, although still a novice and I still prefer to keep my mind maps simple.
Why mind map?
Mind mapping is a means of generating, collecting, recording, organizing,editing and presenting ideas in a visual, logical, innovative, pleasing and multi-dimensional way. Your developed mind map is a network of interconnected activities, feelings, information and relationship - an appraoch that mirrors the reality of nature and life. Mind mapping can be used by one person or by a group and has many applications such as brainstorming, note taking, planning, teaching, presenting, analyzing, decision making, managing projects, personal development - and more.
How do you mind map?
Here is an example of a simple mind map from 'The Mind Map Book'. First, you take the subject of 'Happiness' and put it in a node. Then you build the initial part of your web with up to ten key words on what makes you happy. Then you branch out.
You can mind map anything and over time, you will develop your own style. Here are two examples from the book.
Or, you can stay simple (below).
For more mind map examples see Google image.
For two You Tube videos: How To Mind Map with Tony Buzan and Maximize the Power of You Brain.
For an easy to use, intuitive and free software and tutorials to build your mind maps: Mindomo or Mindomo Getting Started.
To buy The Mind Map Book.
I have some concerns. To me, some mind maps are so busy and so intricate as to be a blur of confusion. You will note some of these in the Google images (above). Tony Buzan's lesson on discipline becomes well understood in these circumstances. Here is an example that nearly contravenes its own purpose of eliminating clutter (from topicscope.com).
Again, simplicity and focus seem to work best like the following on saving energy (from learningfundamentals.com.au).
And from Violette's Journal Bliss, remember mind maps. like journals and diaries, can be a fun, enjoyable, creative and rewarding pursuit on our life-journey of exploration and discovery .
