Can Mind Maps Help Creative Thinking?

One of the Creative Thinking tools that is an aid to Personal Alchemist is the use of Mind maps for storage and recollection of information..  If you’re unaware of what they are the see below..

What is a Mind Map?

Well, according to wikipedia:

A mind map is a diagram used to visually organize information. A mind map is hierarchical and shows relationships among pieces of the whole.  It is often created around a single concept, drawn as an image in the centre of a blank page, to which associated representations of ideas such as images, words and parts of words are added..

This technique of representation has been around for many, many years and has been promoted as an excellent tool for learning, creative thinking and intelligence building.  This really helps you think outside of the box.

To tell you the truth, this is probably the main tool I used myself for my undergraduate degree that I undertook many, many years ago now.  If someone was to ask me about something I did in my first year right now, I think I could answer the question confidently.  If you are in an environment where you need to assimilate a lot of knowledge such as Technology, Law, Finance and any other vocation, my advice to you is to get to grips with this ASAP!

Soon, you’ll find yourself mind mapping everyday things like shopping, to-do lists etc.  You also won’t believe how you’ve gone without this for so long.  I remember my first year, I had a visual programming course for, and I HAD NOT READ ONE BOOK!

The Test

We had coursework and then an exam towards the end of the semester. About a week before the exam, I borrowed the recommended text book from the library and scanned through the relevant places that we may or may not face in the exam. It took me one evening to mind map the book roughly. The following day, I redrew my mind map with more pictures (to help with memory triggering) and also on a larger piece of paper (A3 here in the UK).

On the remaining days, I committed myself to memorising my mind map and familiarising myself with the course in general.  The exam took place on a Monday and I remember feeling quite nervous. When the exam began, I could not believe how smoothly easily the answers to all my selected questions were jumping out at me! Almost without thinking.  Here’s a picture of one of my mind maps to give you an idea of what I had done.

Book a risk free one on one consultation to learn how mind-mapping can increase your creative thinking and make positive changes in your life.