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Home » The Famous Blog » Mind Mapping: The Ultimate Way To Gain Control Over Your Brilliance

Mind Mapping: The Ultimate Way To Gain Control Over Your Brilliance

March 26, 2011 - Last Modified: March 31, 2011 by Andreas Kramers 4,236

Mind Map

The Memory Palace

In the book ‘Hannibal’ by Thomas Harris, one reason why Hannibal Lecter doesn’t loose his mind when he’s in a tight spot is because he uses a thinking technique called ‘The Method of Loci ‘(no, this has nothing to do with going loco). Loci is Latin plural for places.

According to the theory, you can give each memory or idea you have a “place and a face” so that you can build a palace for your memories and thoughts.

If we were anything like Hannibal Lecter -god forbid- we could wander through our palace of thoughts and memories and relive the feelings we had when we first experienced them.

The sad fact however, is that from all the brilliant plans we have, roughly 80% of them end up in a far corner of your brain never to be thought of again.

Why Are Our Thoughts Such  Chaos?

Speaking for myself, I can well imagine that I’m not alone when I say I sometimes have a hard time getting my thoughts together.

The main reason for this is that our brain works in associative ways. It links thoughts and ideas to everything we see, hear and feel.

Since most of us can’t shut our senses off, it’s inevitable that our mind creates a melee of ideas we could easily get drowned in.

To protect us from going instantly mad, the brain gives these thoughts a place by default. Some places are obvious and easy to access, but some thoughts get hidden in some dark corner of your memory and are hard to retrieve.

For example – you just had a great idea a minute ago and now it somehow doesn’t come to mind. Ring a bell?

Another reason is that many people are not trained to think in a disciplined pattern.This can be taught in school or drilled into your mind by a drill sergeant, but not all people are receptive to these methods. The mind works in curious ways.

How To Build Your Own Palace of Brilliant Plans

mind mapping

You will have to adopt a new thinking/brainstorming pattern. This is something that grows over time and is only possible through practice, repetition and perfection.

Start with writing your thoughts down. This is nothing new. we all do brainstorming sessions and write down anything that comes to mind.

The problem with just jolting down ideas on a piece of paper is that it doesn’t bring you order. It sometimes even makes things more confusing.

The Solution Is Creating A Mind Map

mindmap of life

A Mind Map is a diagram that depicts thoughts, ideas, memories and tasks all linked to a central topic. So if you’re planning a vacation, you surround your central topic ‘vacation’ by subtopics like ‘destination’ or ‘means of transport.’

The big difference between a mind map and a top to bottom list of ideas is that a mind map isn’t linear. It is more of a 3D way to write down thoughts, and therefore gives you more space for new thoughts.

The problem with a linear way is that when you get a new idea, you have to scroll up and down a page to find the right place to insert it. This can get quite chaotic.

A Mind Map, however, gives you a better overview, as the basis of your brainstorm is centered in the middle and the surrounding thoughts are within view. This not only helps you place a thought, it also makes it easier to retrieve ideas.

Another advantage is that mind mapping allows you to be chaotic, and, therefore, you can be more creative.

How To Create A Mind Map:

  • Write your general topic for your post, business plan, or whatever project you may want to start in the middle of a piece of paper.
  • Start brainstorming and just write down anything that comes to mind around your central topic description.
  • Now start brainstorming the subtopics and circle them. You now have a rough outline for your plan, and you can really let your mind storm free without being limited by the boundaries of a subtopic.
  • Just look at your map, and thoughts will come without making a real effort. Try it.

Uses for Mind Maps

You can use a mind map to create an outline for articles, a new site, (e)books or your own product. And your quest for world domination..

As soon as you have created an outline you’re satisfied with, all you have to do is fill out the blanks.

This allows you to think in a more focused, targeted way, saving you a boatload of time in the process.

Tips To Improve  Mind Mapping

Time Your Brainstorm

Set your timer to ten minutes, no more, no less. Do a brainstorm. Stop when the time’s up. It generally works well if you set yourself a time limit for being creative. People tend to be more focused when their time is limited.

Do your brainstorming in the early morning

This is (hangovers excluded) the part of the day when you think clearest. Provided you slept the night through 😉

Try doing your typing/ writing standing up.

I read about this in a blog comment recently and decided to try it. Apparently the mind stays more focused when you are standing up.

Although my legs got tired, my mind did stay focused, and I got a lot of work done in one go.

Use Mind Mapping Software

There’s plenty of mind mapping software out there. Some is ridiculously expensive and really business orientated. I can’t judge it though, since I haven’t bought it.

There is Free Mind , open source niftyness in its purest form. You can download it for free and start playing with it.

As soon as I started to work with Free Mind,  my productiveness reached an all time high ;).

Mind Mapping puts your projects back into perspective and helps you prioritize your action, thus making it easier to make decisions.

What’s your experience with Mind Maps?

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Filed Under: Featured, Online Business

About Andreas Kramers

Follow @andi76

Andreas Kramers writes on his blog The I.M.Greenleaf to help himself and other Green Leaves make sense of what's going on in the world of Internet Marketing and Blogging.

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{ 38 Responses }

  1. Jim says:
    Andreas, Really clever post. I've heard of people who can remember numbers, figures all through relating it to some idea or thought. I think the concept is pretty similar to what you mentioned here but yeah it does take lots of training.
  2. Bojan says:
    You are doing it wrong. First of all, words don't go "in bubbles" but rather on lines that are connecting it. I don't imply that there are certian rules to mind mapping, but actually there are. If you put it that way, they really ARE a diagram, while in fact, they are anything but. It's a piece of art and if used porperly it can blow your mind in many different ways. I recommend honestly getting a better picture, where people can get a clear picture of what mind mapping really is.
  3. Bojan says:
    You are doing it wrong. Words don't go in "bubbles", but rather we put single words on lines. Also 3 dimension wouldn't hurt either... Better use of colors and, clear central image. I recommend getting a better picture for mind map, at least for this blog article, because anyone knowledgeable about it will shrug it off, the same way I did.
  4. Fran Aslam the Onlinewriter says:
    Mind maping is a great idea. I noticed many people use it too. It is a great strategy as you said for info over load. Yes now I figured it out how it can do that. The software that you mentioned about, is a great tool, I never knew bout it. I have to give it a try. It is a good informative read. Fran A
  5. Shekhar says:
    Excellent Post.... I really did not had though seriously on this, at times I had unknowingly used this process once in a blue moon type . Now I hope after reading your post I can go ahead in trying it the systemic way. THANKS A LOT FOR SHOWING A NICE WAY.
    • Andreas Kramers says:
      Hey Shekhar, I hope it works for you too. Remember to brainstorm in short sessions and let the results rest for a day. Then edit your mindmap. Free mind enables you to export the mindmap to Word or Open Office Writer so you can have a linear look at it. I usually use it to outline a post or article. Cheers, Andi
  6. Bryan says:
    Andreas, Very interesting post. Love the mind map idea. I'm really a mind map person. When it comes to trying to put things together and learning things, mindmapping works for me. I use bubbl.us. It's a site that helps you build mindmaps that can be saved as image files. I incorporate some of it into my ebooks. Never heard of free mind though. Love to check it out! :D
  7. Grady Pruitt says:
    One of the best books I ever read was "The Mind Map Book" by Tony Buzan. Although I don't think it's the first place I heard of mind maps, it was after reading that book that I really began using them. Though many of mine are more like yours here than the ones in Tony's book. One thing that attracted me about mind maps is for those who are more visual, the technique could be adapted by using pictures to represent the ideas. I often use more of a hybrid that sometimes uses pictures and sometimes uses more of the style here.it's been a while since I tried mapping software, but I might take another look. Thanks for the post!
    • andreas kramers says:
      Hey Grady, FreeMind also lets you insert images and graphics in you mind map. Haven't tried it yet though. But I can imagine the good use of it. I will test it in my next project. Cheers, Andreas
  8. Mani Viswanathan says:
    I don't standing up and thinking helps, it tires me out instead. But yes thinking inside a time limit does help me.
  9. HP van Duuren says:
    Yes, I use MindMaps all the time..., It's also a good tool to get a little more insight into my own - for example - Home Business Lifestyle Blog, and I recently made a Mind Map giving me a better overview about what I am doing with that Blog. It gave me a new outlook on that Blog and made me wonder how I can make it a little more focussed and more usefull for my readers. Recently I made a new little improvement by creating 'Jump Breaks' making it easier for you to directly choose the Blogposts you like the most. I am constantly looking for new ways to improve and I would appriciate your help. So feel free to write your - Comments - on Blogposts asking me questions, or by giving suggestions for new Topics to write about on this Blog. All the Best, To your Happy - Home Business Lifestyle - Inspiration, HP
  10. Delena Silverfox says:
    My third grade teacher taught us to do exactly this way back when! I haven't seen it since then. However, I have heard of the "palace of thoughts," though I didn't know the name for it. A favorite author of mine has obviously done her research, because I was introduced to the idea by a spy novel I read a few years ago. I'll have to try this, because if you've ever heard of "baby brain," my thoughts could use a little more discipline and organization right about now! Delena
    • Andreas Kramers says:
      Hey Delena, You're not alone in needing a dash of discipline ;) That's why I proposed to do 10 minute sessions or even less. The trick is, as with small kids, if you make it a sort of contest with a start and a finish that's within your grasp, we tend to be much more focused. And that's when the magic happens. For instance, when I tell my son to get dressed it takes him up to 30 minutes with lots of rrr an rrraaah. But when I tell him I'm getting dressed faster than him he's finished in 5. Make it a game...
  11. divas says:
    Never heard of a mind mapping software before...but sounds interesting. I'll surely try it... Nice article, never read such article and such theories.
    • Andreas Kramers says:
      Give it a go Divas, you'll feel free somehow..
  12. Ash says:
    I can't say mind mapping is something I would have considered, but it seems like the proof is in the pudding for it's success!
  13. Jitendra Singh says:
    This is completely different approach of thinking the things. Mind maps we just read earlier but never think about them in deep. Thanks for nice post.
    • Andreas Kramers says:
      Hey Jitendra, It takes a bit of a turnaround, but mind maps really increase thinking tempo at length. Grtz, andi
  14. Sandeep says:
    free ming is a good software for mind mapping .. i've used it and does a good job.. I've used mind maps earlier but really not been consistent with it.. Thanks for refereshing me on this..
    • Andreas Kramers says:
      Hey Sandeep, A consistency app still has to be invented I guess ;) Ideas anyone? Cheers, Andreas
      • Sandeep says:
        :)
  15. joesmith says:
    1. In the book ‘Hannibal’ by Thomas Harris, one reason why Hannibal Lecter doesn’t loose his mind or .... ‘Hannibal’ by Thomas Harris, one reason why Hannibal Lecter doesn’t lose his mind 2. "It is more of a 3D way to write down thoughts" (it's still 2D)
    • Andreas Kramers says:
      Sure Joe, you're so right. I bet you would want to eat my liver with a nice glass of Chianti...
  16. Khalid J Hosein says:
    Another option for mind mapping software is the web-based MindMeister which has a free plan as well as premium and business plans. Cool features include: saving and sharing your maps and importing from Freemind as well.Although honestly when I just need to get going for the day, I whip out a blank piece of paper and start drawing ovals furiously ;-)
    • Andreas Kramers says:
      LOL I'll check out MM. And yeah, somehow a pen and paper seem to be quicker sometimes. Cheers, Andreas
  17. Alex says:
    Hello Andreas, Great concept, I do know about mind mapping but I actually never used it, or better said I never used it consciously. I might have written down my thoughts in order to remember them later and apply them, but that is kind of it. Now, that I learned that even Hannibal Lecter was using it, I have to try it, I don't know what kind of success I will have with it, but I hope I can get my ideas in order so I can apply them faster and much better.
    • Andreas Kramers says:
      Hey Alex, Hannibal's memory palace is a bit different from mind mapping, but I somehow found it a cool comparison. And it was when I made my first mind map,Hannibal was the first thing that flashed through my chaotic mindscape. I know, slightly macabre ;) But it's a very efficient method all the same. Good luck!
  18. Robert Dempsey says:
    Hi Andreas - fantastic post. I'm a huge fan of mindmapping and use it for every project I have. I use XMind on my Mac - works like a charm. As you said with mindmapping you can free associate and aren't stuck in the outlining format that we are all accustomed to. And as you can easily connect ideas with lines you don't have to worry so much about the structure and can get much more out, as well as see links between ideas that you may not have otherwise.
    • Andreas Kramers says:
      Thanks Robert, I presume XMind is a bit like FreeMind. I'm still playing with the software and I think it's even more powerful when I understand and implement all its features. World domination is only a couple of clicks away! Cheers, Andreas
  19. Toni Krasnic says:
    Thanks for the great post Andreas!Mind mapping is also used by students. What makes mind mapping so useful is that it enables us to break down information to key concepts (analysis) and then meaningfully put it together (synthesis). This makes mind mapping not only a great tool for business, but also an outstanding tool for learning in schools. Many students use mind mapping to take notes, consolidate lecture materials, manage information, solve problems, and enhance their thinking and learning.
    • Andreas Kramers says:
      Hey Toni, Thanks for your smart contribution. Now that you mention it, I remember my history teacher always scribbling her lecture on the whiteboard like a mind map and afterward putting it together in a linear model. I always had good grades even for subjects that didn't interest me. Maybe it was her teaching method? Regards, Andreas
  20. Andreas Kramers says:
    Hey Bjorn, Just try Free Mind instantly. The big advantage is that it's software and your space to write down and order ideas is virtually limitless. Trust me, it will rock your world. Regards, Andy
  21. Andreas Kramers says:
    Mind mapping allows you to write down the ideas randomly, that's the cool thing of it. Because you have a brain friendly overview of your thoughts you can find a place for any (slightly related) idea that jumps to mind. Good luck, Andy
  22. ashwin shahapurkar says:
    i had No idea about mind mapping software, as you said i used to write it down whatever comes into my mind before starting a new post. Now i will try that free mind mapping software. thanks for sharing such a wonderful information here.
    • Andreas Kramers says:
      Hi Ashwin, I didn't know either, but I stumbled across it. Free Mind gets over 4000 downloads a day and that over the last 4 years! That's a lot of people structuring their ideas by now. Cheers, Andy
  23. semmy says:
    Hi Andreas I really nice the concept of mind mapping. It's really help me to do the text. It's also prevent me to get overload. Thank you very much for your article. You give me some complement that I missing on mapping. Thank you again.
    • Andreas Kramers says:
      Hey Semmy, Great you liked my post. Mind Mapping is a fantastic weapon against info overload. Cheers, Andy
  24. Bjorn says:
    I have not done mind mapping before, but it definitely looks like a great way to structure the ideas. I think I will try the pen and paper method first. I think structureing the ideas is better than just writing ideas randomly.

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