I would like to take ‘unleashing your mindmaps’ one step further today. In a new series of articles, I will explore the way we can use the knowledge we have of mind mapping to improve our understanding and to create mental mindmaps.
For some hardcore (technical/traditional) mindmappers, today may be one step too far right now 
. In the end it will all make sense. For the rest of y’all: read it and use it to your advantage. It is the concept which is important.
Perhaps visual mapping in this context is not the correct term to use. Once you start to think beyond the mind/visual mapping techniques, you will see there is a much bigger world. I believe this world shows us how all the data in the world is connected to and with each other.
Please note that I am no expert in Buddhism. I do not want to degrade Buddhism in any way. I have far too much respect for it. My intention is to show how the deep wisdom of Buddhism can help you in visual mapping and visual thinking.
Concepts explained in the book are connectedness, emptiness and forgiveness. I probably don’t use the exact words as used in the English version (I read the Dutch version). I hope and trust you understand what I mean.
All of these concepts are valuable to us as visual thinkers. We understand that in a visual map everything is connected. A mindmap shows this in a rather simplistic manner by actually using lines. When there is a line between blocks of information, we have a connection. Our mind shuts down and usually doesn’t think about the relationship anymore. Often this is good, sometimes is blocks you from exploring possibilities.
A summap shows you a more realistic picture of the information. We don’t use lines in this type of overview. Your mind knows what relationships are by looking at the map. In fact, your mind moves from knowing to understanding. You literally see the relationship between, and place of information in the big picture.
It is really interesting to see how we can improve our mind/visual maps by introducing the concepts of emptiness and connectedness.
When you do this, you will see that you can ‘understand’ information much better. A mindmap is great and a summap or concept map are wonderful tools. They are however just that: tools.
Moving Beyond Tools
Most people think their systems and methods are the right best ways. This creates a problem since this is hardly ever the case. Different people use different tools. What a mindmap does for one person, a linear piece of text does for another person.
Today, I believe you should investigate connectedness in your own life and your own mindmaps.
Everything is connected with each other. Understand this by looking at the ‘Butterfly’ effect. The movement of the wings of a butterfly can create a storm at the other end of the world.
The same happens with your mindmaps. The way you connect information in your mindmap creates a different or completely new perspective. You will understand concepts better or worse. It depends on the information and how you connect this.
I believe most people don’t understand subjects and other people because they don’t have the right connections or even the right concepts in their mind (map). They are restrained by the tools and concepts they use.
Simply understanding the concept of connectedness will help them to move forward. Create a map (not necessarily a mindmap) with the right connections. Think beyond traditional mind mapping. Create the picture you really have in your mind. Don’t limit yourself.
Is the picture you have in your head really something that looks like a mindmap? I doubt this. Your mind is capable of creating much more complex overview than mindmaps. In fact, it might be an insult calling the maps in your head mindmaps .
A New Perspective On Maps
I’ve been exploring life, relationships and information for as long as I can remember. If there is one thing I feel which can limit you, it is clamping on to the wrong models and maps.
Unfortunately that’s what a visual map offers you. It creates a simplified overview of the ‘real’ situation. Don’t take this overview for granted. Don’t assume it is showing you everything. It is only a simplified version of reality.
Emptiness Shows Meaning
As I wrote before, the space between topics which are not connected by lines is telling you a lot. Emptiness is underestimated by most people. Introduce the right amount of ‘white space’. This will improve the clarity of your maps and helps you to remember the information much better.
Take this concept into your everyday life. Reduce objects in your life. Simplify.
You will see that you see things more clear and reduce your stress.
This may sound strange for some people. You can even think this has nothing to do with mind mapping anymore. And I have to agree immediately. This is not mind mapping.
This is what represent visual thinking for me: Creating balance through clarity in my mind and surroundings.
What you will see and experience is that mind mapping gets a higher meaning. You will read and understand more from your own mindmaps. Your maps will become more effective, smaller and meaningful.
Moving Forward In Mapping
How can we use the concepts of Buddhism to improve our mindmaps:
1. Understand that everything is interconnected. Information in your map is limited and at the same time connected with the rest of the information. This may create false overviews.
The solution: Understand which topics or concepts you introduce in your map.
2. Practice the art of emptiness. Reduce the number of objects in your maps (yes, even further). By doing this, and by deliberately adding empty space in between objects, you will increase your understanding and overview.
The solution: Increase the distance between siblings and mother-daughter objects in your maps. Yes, also increase the distance between objects in the branch itself! It will improve clarity.
When you use these two concepts (connectedness & emptiness) your maps show a logical/rational overview of the information. On a deeper level, it shows you more… much more. It stores understanding and even emotion. This is what I mean when I tell you that maps show you a left brain side (logical) and right brain side (emotional) overview of information.
What’s Next?
Take action. Use the two concepts we discussed above. Grow and move forward faster. Your deeper understanding of creating maps will help you in becoming a more profound visual mapper and visual thinker.
Let me know what you did with this information. I look forward to discuss this with you and the rest of our community.
Arjen
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