Effective thinking is a prerequisite to effective actions and behaviors. By changing the way we think, we can find new ways to do things better and be better in every aspect of our lives. Mind Map is a profound tool for effective thinking. Allow me to share with you my experiences on my journey with Mind Maps.

Better Focus

Being pulled in different directions in the daily grind of life, trying to meet life’s competing demands and priorities and keeping my focus to accomplish all that needs to be done without distractions remain constant challenges. At times I find my thoughts straying and my thinking becomes foggy, lacking clarity. Mind Maps help to focus my mind as this task requires me to drill deep into my thoughts to think about all the important factors and then prioritize them. It fosters a continuous stream of associations, and before I know it, my thought process begins to flow almost effortlessly. At that point, my mind no longer thinks about the things that are irrelevant.

For example, when I have to prepare for a session plan for my lecture at the Singapore Institute of Management, I first focus on the objectives, followed by the learning outcome that I want my students to achieve, then the key learning points, pace and timing. If I allow these ideas to float in my head without physically pinning them down on the branches, it will not help to solidify my focus and I will tend to procrastinate my projects & tasks at hand. After prioritising the various tasks, I then decide what to work on next and allocate the amount of time accordingly.  This serves as my teaching agenda and it also allows me to be flexible with the sequence when I lecture and conduct tutorials. Hence Mind Maps help me to focus and make me more productive.

More Organized

The true beauty is that Mind Maps can be applied in virtually any area of my life, an instant power source anyone can easily tap into. After familiarizing myself with the theory and practice of Mind Maps, I can use them as a system & structure to plan any task, such as a presentation or a review as it is easy for anyone to follow since everything falls on one page.

Leonardo da Vinci once said, “In this world, everything is connected to everything else.” This is so true. I can conveniently shift from one aspect of my topic to another with ease and my audience can visualize how all things connect and work together to arrive at the big picture (gestalt).  My audience’s eyes would be fixated on the whiteboard as I reveal the course information through a network of colourful text, graphics and images connected by branches. I could edit the information quickly as they contribute their ideas and add new information during our interactive discussions.

This tool is also powerfully used in my meetings where irrelevant ideas just won’t fit into the Mind Map of what’s being discussed. Hence it is easy to prevent drift and waffle from the agenda at hand.

Increased Awareness

Being a whole brain tool, Mind Maps train me to be more in touch with nature and to appreciate the beauty of life.

For example, looking at an object, I begin to notice its contour, dimension, proportion, shadow, shading, position, angle, depth, colours, texture, smell, taste and feel around me. Soon everything appears to be more aesthetic and interesting which I have never taken notice of before. I begin to take interest in my surroundings, learn to smell the roses, enjoy life and appreciate all the wonderful creation, rather than move through life missing out on all the details of our magnificent nature.

Tony Buzan mentioned, “When you are interested in everything, everything becomes more interesting.” So life is interesting. It makes it easier for me to connect and relate to others because I am better able to make connections and associations to people and the things that happen around me. I am grateful to Tony Buzan for his incredible invention of Mind Maps. His quest to improve mental literacy on this earth makes this world a better and more colourful place to live. I believe I am now a better person and learner because of Mind Maps. I have started to believe in myself more and am able to achieve more. To Tony Buzan, “Cheers and thank you!”