NOTE: Today’s guest post is with Brenda Wilson, Ed.D. I met Brenda virtually through email when I was editing a medical coffee table book. She was one of the writers I’d correspond with. A few years later, I met her in person at a B2B networking group and now, we run in similar circles. Recently, she attended the Author Showcase in March and from the showcase, she was inspired to write a book about mind mapping. She has since published it on Amazon.
When I wanted to feature mind mapping as a tool in the writer’s toolbox, I asked her to write a guest post about this powerful tool. Enjoy!
The list of choices and obligations in our lives seems to grow each day. Today the choices of how to manage our daily lives is filled with apps, streaming services, blogs, vlogs, videos and smart phones. Life is challenging and while all those choices are designed to help manage our lives, they can be overwhelming. It seems like there is always a better way to complete tasks, learn, manage money, and even interact with one another.
Deciding what to watch on television has become a stressor with dozens of streaming services. We don’t want to miss out on the latest blockbuster hit, but it often seems impossible to keep up with the latest or best. The constant pull of social media, with our personal lives displayed for all to see, has become an obsession and is not always an honest or realistic portrayal of life.
One tool I use to combat the pace of today’s world is mind mapping or thought tracking. The premise is to take a central idea, task, word, project, or just about anything and write it in the middle of a page. The next step is to attach several branches (4-6) from that single idea, noting in a few words your thoughts, plans, reflections, etc. It is a way to take a close look at your idea on one page and the branches provide different perspectives on the idea.
I have used mind mapping for several years and decided it was the perfect way to organize the plan for writing my recent books. As a matter of fact, both of my books are journals incorporating mind mapping into daily life.
Simplicity, that is what I like about this tool. When was the last time you got out your color pencils and markers to create anything? Sometimes slowing down is the best way to accomplish your goals, make good choices, and successfully fill your obligations.
So, grab a blank sheet of paper and sharpen your color pencils for a march into simplicity, discovery, reflection, and action.
Q & A with Dr. Brenda Wilson:
Q: Do you set a timer and mind map for a certain length of time or just until you’ve exhausted your ideas?
A: The time I spend creating a mind map varies from a few moments to a few days. I find it helpful to quickly create the main branches and often take my time adding more thoughts, actions, or ideas.
Q: You mention using colored pencils or markers. What’s your color coding system? Also, do you encircle every word/idea like a bubble?
A: I love using color when creating my mind maps. My use of colors is completely random. Another reason I love mind mapping is that there are no rules.
Most of the time I encircle the center word(s) and main branches with bubbles, line, squiggly lines, or simplistic drawings.
Q: Then what do you do with the mind map once it’s done? For example, do you create an outline from the mind map?
A: Sometimes I create an outline of sorts. The main thing it does for me is get me thinking deeply or intently about a certain project, idea, or thought that solidifies a plan on one page.
Links to purchase the mind mapping books on Amazon:
- Thought Tracker: A Personal Discovery Journal
- Thought Tracker 2: A Personal Discovery Journal
Connect with Brenda:
Websites:
The Green Giraffe Group:
- The Green Giraffe Group (website)
- The Green Giraffe Group (Facebook page)
Red Raccoon Resumes:
- Resume Tulsa (website)
- Red raccoon Resumes (Facebook page)
Bio:
Brenda has a doctorate in organizational leadership, a certificate in dispute resolution, an MBA, and bachelor’s degree in marketing. She has been fascinated with mind mapping for several years and even wrote her dissertation about the topic. She consults with individuals and organizations using mind mapping techniques to enhance communication and understanding. Doodling and drawing quirky letters with color pencils and markers of course, and reading and writing are some of her favorite activities. She is currently working on her next book, Leadership Lessons from Nature.
Featured Image by Biljana Jovanovic from Pixabay