Mind Mapping Is Serious Business… But It Shouldn’t Be!

Please read first and then create your own opinion then. I believe we need to change the world of mind mapping and you and I are able to do this. Here’s why I write this and what we have to do:

Have you been listening to all these people who are stimulating left and right brain thinking and their use of mind mapping?

They know exactly what their left and right brain side are doing. They understand that normal linear writing is very left brain oriented. And to improve our ways of managing our information and improving creativity, we need to use our right brain side as well.

This is great… until you see what they do next…

• Most mindmap trainers and users are talking about processes of mind mapping (rules and systems – very left brain side).
• Many ‘hardcore’ mindmap users are using mainly words (left brain side)
• Many mindmappers create mindmaps on their computer (less creative and less freedom and limited by what the tool allows you to do – left brain side)
• Most people use one color in their maps for the branches and the words – preferably blue or black (left brain side)

My point is: people create mindmaps based on rules, systems, processes, etc. They create a mindmap with their left brain side. In addition, they might add some images or colors to comply with the rules of mind mapping…

(How often do you create a mindmap that has a different setup than a mindmap you did before?)

I think most mindmap users are trapped in their own systems for creating mindmaps. You better call your mindmaps visual overviews. It might be better to create Practical Mindmaps (as I like to call them). Practical mindmaps are traditional mindmaps that have (most) images stripped and rely much more on color differences and font sizes. These are powerful tools for clarity and overview on paper and your computer. But technically, they are not ‘real’ or ‘traditional’ mindmaps.

The one thing you should be aware of is that you don’t take mind mapping (or visual mapping or information mapping in general) too seriously. I think the creation and use of the mindmap should not be too formal (left brain side).

Don’t try to capture everything in rules, systems and processes. Think more with your right brain side. Balance the influence of your brain. You will enjoy creating overviews and life a lot more!

Enjoy the creation of maps and above all, make use of the map. You will reduce (information) stress and move forward faster.

Let go!

Have fun!

PS.: Traditional mindmaps are for example the hand drawn maps created by Tony Buzan.
Also, have a look at the maps of Adam Sicinski (http://blog.iqmatrix.com). Adam creates amazing maps that stimulate both the left as well as the right brain side.

Tags: advice, hand drawn, improve your map, rules, systems