Mind cards. Mind maps change lives! Or not? How to create mind maps

The mind map method is a special mind visualization technique based on creating effective alternative records. There are other names for this method: "mind maps", "intelligence maps", "mind maps", "memory maps".

mental maps were developed by psychologist Tony Buzan. He explored the mental systems that were inherent in people in the era of antiquity and the Renaissance. Since in these times many cultural objects, literary works were created. T. Buzan noticed that when creating their notes, they used fantasy and followed associative links.

Perhaps that is why their records were able to convey information not only to their creator, but to any person, even after several centuries. The psychologist also appreciated the importance of drawing the design of one's own thoughts.

The main meaning of the mental map technique is to obtain a picture, where the main concept is highlighted in the center, from which the tasks, ideas, individual thoughts and steps necessary for the implementation of a specific project or idea are then branched off. Like the main branch of associative links, small branches can be divided into several smaller ones. Thus, the mental map displays all the associative links in the thought process of its creator.

This technique is based on the principle of "radiant thinking", which is associated with associative thought processes.

The starting point is the central object (thought, idea, task). The radiant is a point on the celestial sphere, from which the visible paths of bodies moving with the same direction of speed seem to depart. From this we can conclude that "radiant thinking" reflects an infinite set of all possible associations, and mental maps allow you to fix them on various media.

The results obtained are usually recorded on paper for clarity. In order to better perceive information from a mental map, it is recommended to arrange all entries in different ways, for example, using different colors, shapes, pictures. This visual design allows you to structure and group information, making it visual and more understandable.

Let us analyze the main advantages and disadvantages of this method, presented in Table 2.

Table 2. Advantages and disadvantages of the mind map method

Advantages	disadvantages
The presented information is smaller in volume, it is easy to record and analyze it.	It is quite difficult for a person who does not draw up a map and sees it for the first time to understand its contents.
When reading the map, you can see the relationships in each block, their structure and logic	The map is only useful to those who designed it.
When using the method, creative and logical thinking, imagination and memory develop, since both hemispheres of the human brain are used

The technique of "mental maps" is a method of holistic thinking. It is known that the left hemisphere of the brain is responsible for the logical thinking of a person. This means that when solving a standard problem, it will be activated. While the right one, which is responsible for creativity and imaginative thinking, will not be involved in the work process.

The method of mental maps allows you to use both at the same time, which means the integrity of thinking.

Features of building metal maps.

A mental map is a diagram presented in the form of a tree diagram. It contains words, tasks and specific concepts that are interconnected by branches extending from the main branch. The main (central) branch represents the main idea.

To create a mind map, it is best to use a sheet of A4 or larger paper.

In the center of the sheet place the main idea, thought. It will look more clearly in the form of an image: a picture, a picture. They are signed with keywords that will allow you to remember certain thoughts or images. These will be the main branches of the drawing.

Then, by dividing the branches into smaller ones, ever finer details will be displayed.

It is important to remember that the construction of a mental map is based on association, not structuring.

It is worth remembering that each person has an individual way of thinking and the mental map should reflect such a feature. It is necessary to use the space of the mental map as efficiently as possible, leaving no empty space, but not overloading the drawing. The most optimal location is the horizontal location of the card.

A map is considered complete if it appears to be complete. This means that its creator has made a comprehensive analysis of the problem and figured it out. If any branch of the mental map looks unfinished, it is worth continuing the analysis and associative series.

Figure 1 is an example of building a mental map on the topic “Using Mind Maps”.

On the branches departing from the central square with the name of the topic for analysis, the areas in which this method can be applied are indicated: training, planning, management, brainstorming, creative thinking, problem identification, presentation of an object.

Each branch has its branches, which show the associations associated with each area of ​​application of the method. It is worth noting that the method of mental maps is quite subjective, since each person sees the solution to a particular problem differently.

This technique is called differently: mind map, mental map, desire map, value map. Why is a mental map able to grant wishes?

The Mind Map Wish Fulfillment Technique was developed by Tony Buzan. At first, it was used to understand and quickly memorize new information. Various lectures, books, articles were assimilated rather quickly if the notes contained diagrams with drawings showing the main concepts or statements.

Then such radial schemes began to be used in other areas.

The mental map provides an opportunity to see the prospects, successes and failures of each section of the project.

She made it possible to understand what is worth using and what is not.

What does the mental map have to do with the fulfillment of desires?

Today, this method is used to fulfill desires, because it allows ... But first things first!

To create a mind map, you will need:

• Whatman sheet of any size;
• several magazines;
• felt-tip pens or pencils;
• scissors;
• glue;
• some free time.

Make a wish!

Now think about what you would like. It is important that your desires concern only you and have nothing to do with other people. Your desires will come true in the most natural way, you just need to go to meet them.

Any magical practice or ritual¹ is full of hidden meaning, so it will be very good if you create your mental map in a group of like-minded people who will fill the creation process with positive.

A mental map can be drawn up for some important day for you, it can be your birthday, the beginning of a vacation, or New Year, which is the start of a new time period. The mental map is very individual, it only carries a semantic and symbolic load for you.

How to create a mental map?

Use the ba-gua² grid from Feng Shui³ as the basis for the map. No need to show your card to someone who might criticize it.

You can discuss your mental map of desires only with those who share your views and support your endeavors.

Your mental map should receive positive energies, thanks to which it will gain strength.

The mind map can be created in any order. Draw a sheet of paper into nine parts, not necessarily the same size. In the center you need to place your photo or write a phrase that is directly related to you.

Draw the remaining eight sectors according to the ba-gua grid:

Income, profit, earnings	Recognition, success, goals of public importance and implemented in society	Marriage, partnerships, dating for marriage
Family, home, prosperity in the house, the building itself	Center, main idea, image, health, your energy	Creativity, ideas and projects for the future, realization of talents
Education, teachers, mentors, books, diplomas, exams	Career, efforts to achieve the desired	Travel and outside help

It is advisable to fill in all sectors so that you do not have a bias in one or another area of ​​\u200b\u200blife.

All drawings, pictures and photographs must be signed, and any phrase must be supported by a drawing. Each desire in the mental map should begin with the words “I / I have ...” The desire is formulated in the present tense⁴.

A mental map at this stage looks like this:

Now think and determine how much the realization of your desires depends on you, and what you need to do to fulfill them. Come up with the maximum number of ways to fulfill each of your desires. Break a complex or big desire into parts and describe how to implement each part.

For example, here is a mini-map of one event:

After working on analyzing each desire, your map looks like this:

Now take a good look at your mental map and find out how your desires depend on each other. Find the most important desire on which the rest depend. Show the dependence of desires on the map with arrows:

Place the mind map in your room so that you can see it before you go to sleep and when you wake up.

So why does the mind map allow wishes to come true?

Because you approach this process from different angles.

You use your capabilities, determine the main desires, set priorities.

Such a broad and systematic approach will surely lead you to success, the main thing is to notice the opportunities that will appear in front of you and use them!

“And if my desires have changed?”

In case your intentions have changed, you can review the card and write down new desires. You can also replace fulfilled desires with others.

² Gua is a special graphic symbol. Depending on the number of features included in the symbol, two types of gua are distinguished: trigram and hexagram. The trigram consists of three lines, their alternation forms eight possible combinations - ba-gua (Wikipedia).

³ Feng Shui, or Feng Shui - Taoist practice of symbolic development (organization) of space (

mental maps

Fedosova Svetlana Sergeevna

KSU "Secondary school named after Bezrodnykh with DMC"

Better to see once than hear 100 times b(under hear here is also meant and read).

One picture is worth 1000 words .

Mind maps are just such a way of perceiving and organizing information. Mind maps represent information, and most importantly, its structure - visually :

method creator Tony Buzan

• Mind maps are a mind visualization technique. The applications of mental maps are very diverse - for example, they can be used to fix, understand and remember the content of a book or text, generate and write down ideas, understand a new topic, prepare for a decision.
• Mind maps are an alternative writing method to text, lists and diagrams. The main difference between mental maps and other visualization methods is primarily that mental maps activate memory. Lists, Solid Text, Trees, and Schematics monotonous. Mind maps, on the other hand, use everything possible ways to activate perception through diversity: different line weights, different colors of branches, well-chosen keywords, use of images and symbols. The technique of mental maps helps not only to organize and organize information, but also to better perceive, understand, remember and associate it.

Principles of creating mental maps

• The mental map should activate perception and memory.
• The desire for greater clarity and readability of the map gives more awareness in thinking.
• An analysis of the map you have already drawn gives clues to the "arrangement" of your thinking on the topic.

Mind maps will be especially useful in the following areas:

• memorization (preparation for all kinds of exams, memorization of lists, tables, etc.);
• training (optimization of abstracts, writing creative assignments and better assimilation of textbooks);
• brainstorming (teamwork, new ideas);
• presentation (highlighting the main and effective transmission of a common goal and thought);
• planning (development of own projects and strategies of behavior, as well as the ability to qualitatively plan one's own time);

Rules for working with mental maps

The technique seems intuitive, but the following rules help to significantly increase its effectiveness.

Errors in building mental maps

• Too complex and multi-level mental map (it is best to use original notes, and leave maps as simplified and understandable as possible).
• The same drawings, colors and fonts for different levels and branches (each level and key must be appropriately highlighted in order to be visually different).
• Lack of drawings and icons (these elements provide the functionality of the map. But you need to select them in advance).
• Ambiguity and confusion (all elements must be logically related to each other. Otherwise it's just a list).

Why is a Mind Map better than a Synopsis?

• Clearer (due to drawings, arrows and colors)
• Faster (you move your eyes around the map faster)
• More structured (connections and hierarchy are visible)
• More enjoyable (Believe me, drawing a map is much more fun than writing a boring abstract!)

The amount of information in modern world is constantly growing, but the ways of handling it remain the same and already ineffective. What was adequate for the use of our ancestors will not help modern people cope with the existing volumes and intensity of information flows.

The use of charts, lists, tables and texts has some drawbacks, although it has been tested by time. Firstly, if the amount of information is large, then it becomes quite difficult to write down, remember, and then reproduce it. Secondly, the process of extracting key ideas is difficult. Thirdly, time is used in this case irrationally. Well, and fourthly, the presented methods limit the use of a creative approach and the generation of new ideas when solving a problem. Therefore, the modern scientific world speaks of such a method as Examples and stages of its construction will be discussed below.

A new method of assimilation of information

An innovative method of processing and assimilation of information is the method of mental maps, invented by Tony Buzan. The scientist states that the problem situation is the processes occurring in the human brain. speech, numbers, linear presentation of facts processes But the right hemisphere is responsible for orientation in space, perception, various abstract operations.

Tony Buzan argues that an effective replacement for traditional methods is the mind map. Examples of this method show that information is recorded due to the general activity of the two hemispheres of the brain and

What are the advantages of the new method

The answer to this question is simple and will now be demonstrated. The first advantage of this method is that the recording of information is fast, easy and not so voluminous. The second advantage is that when you read a map, you will have structured and logical relationships before your eyes. The third advantage is the usefulness of such a method as mental maps. Programs develop cognitive processes, namely memory, thinking and imagination. The fourth advantage is that when creating a drawing, a person uses his creative potential and the resources of both hemispheres of the brain. The fifth advantage is that information is remembered almost instantly and with a high level of quality. The sixth advantage is that it is easy to learn a method such as a mind map. How to compose it? A simple guide will help you.

Application situations of the Tony Buzan method

There are a number of areas where the effectiveness of using such a method as a mental map is manifested. We will describe examples below.

The next block of information presented will guide readers on how to use this method.

Mind map: how to make?

This is not to say that the application of this new method is so simple, because it will require effort from a person, but the usefulness of this skill will pay for the expenditure of resources. There are a number of steps and nuances that should be followed in order to create such a pattern.

The first three stages - fixing the mental map

The first stage is the initial one. It is also called free association mode or brainstorming. For example, you have a project. Taking a sheet of paper, write down all the thoughts and ideas that come to mind, even the most ridiculous ones. There is no place for criticism and limitations in this process.

The second stage is the actual creation of a mental map. You can take colored pencils and write the main theme in the center, from which branch and write down the ideas related to the main goal and generated during brainstorming. The main ideas can also branch out into several lower order ideas.

The third stage is the fixation of the made drawing. You should set the card aside for at least 2 hours, and preferably 2 days, and then return to it. Thus, ideas will be fixed in the mind.

The final stages of building a mental map

The fourth stage is a return to the mental map. At this stage, use colors to emotionally color your creation: designate something important or dangerous for you, joyful and cheerful. There are no strict requirements for shades, so use what you like. Create vivid images, because they will help to revive the drawing and will contribute to memorization.

The fifth stage is the re-fixation of the map. Set the sheet aside again for 2 hours to 2 days. By returning to the canvas again, you can make some more meaningful changes. Now the mind map is ready!

The presented method is quite young, but very effective, and many people have already appreciated its advantages. Do it and you!

Is it so?

What's this?

A memory map is an easy-to-understand scheme for presenting information.

For example, I made a mental map of a spring car repair:

Examples of mind maps

Why is that?

Tony Busan says this is how our brains think. Such bunches (he calls it a radial scheme) and associations. This means that such a format for presenting information is the most understandable for our brain.

In order to truly “permeate” any information, our brain needs it:

• See
• Hear
• Smell
• Touch
• lick
• draw
• pronounce
• ETC

In other words, the more senses, skills, and connections we use when thinking, the better ideas our brain will produce.

Basic rules for mapping

• come up with central image and position it in the center future card. For example, thinking about vacation ideas? Plunge the hat pattern into the center and label it with the word "REST!!!"
• Use short words instead of long sentences. If you are considering options to go to the sea, then keyword will be "SEA" and not "TRIP TO THE SEA".
• Only PRINTED LETTERS on the map!
• Draw! The more colorful your card, the better it will serve you.

Why is a Mind Map better than a Synopsis?

From childhood we were taught to take notes ...

But mental maps put them on both shoulder blades!

Look, mind maps:

• Clearer (due to drawings, arrows and colors)
• Faster (you move your eyes around the map faster)
• More structured (connections and hierarchy are visible)
• More enjoyable (Believe me, drawing a map is much more fun than writing a boring abstract!)

Where to apply?

• When reading
• At the reports
• For memorization
• For education (for both students and teachers) - oh, I would like a mind map method at the university!
• To choose from multiple options
• To come up with out-of-the-box ideas

In fact, the uses of mind maps are limitless. Buzan writes in detail about all these points in his book, a link to which I will provide at the end of the article.

Mind mapping software

To date, the most convenient and advanced program is MindJet. It is fantastic to work with her, but she costs very, very well. However, when did this stop a Russian person?))

Mind map software

The most popular mind mapping software is MindJet (formerly Mind Manager). It costs a fortune - 349 euros.

Many stop their searches at this point and go to download the cracked MindJet. But in vain. There is a good alternative - the free XMind program. Here her official website.

And this is how the working window of the program looks like (click to enlarge):

Everything is in English, but in the settings you can also enable the Russian interface.

XMind also has paid versions. They cost 69 and 89 Euros (as of 10.10.16). Still much cheaper than MindJet, but what are we paying for?

Here is a table that explains a lot:

By the way, XMind gives a 50% discount for non-profit organizations.

But I personally use free version and I have enough. Often they send me a map in MindJet format, but XMind “digests” it perfectly.

Popular questions about XMind

Whose program is this? Where are the developers from?

If I understand correctly, from China. Moreover, the product is very old and proven - they have been on the market since 2007! And since 2008, the program has opened its code (Open Source).

Is there a Russian language?

Yes, the program has been translated into 14 languages. Including in Russian. Here:

In places, English words slip through, but this is not critical.

What are the system requirements?

Modest. The program requires the presence of Java on the computer. If you do not have it, then the installer will help you install it.

If the program still slows down, then in the menu you can do the following:

• Edit - Preferences - Editing, and then turn off animation and shadow
• Edit - Preferences - Spell Check - Disable Spell Check

Is there integration with cloud services like Dropbox?

No, there is no integration built into the functionality. Of course, you can always do it manually.

To do this, simply create a folder in Dropbox for your XMind projects. And then save all new projects there.

By the way, the program provides integration with Evernote. You can save all maps in text format or as a large picture.

Summary

Buzan himself sings like a nightingale, of course ... Buzan's mental maps are a miracle, a panacea for all ills and the path of humanity to a brighter future. Such “thick chocolate” smeared on the pages of a book is a bit repulsive. But such is the style of ABSOLUTELY all books on self-development from American authors.

For me personally, mental maps have become a good alternative, a kind of “upgrade” to the usual linear recording of projects, plans and notes.

Indeed, these bunches, these drawings are not just cool and fun, they also work better. I began to plan better, bright ideas began to appear more often. Mind maps are more pleasant to read after a couple of weeks - everything remains clear.

In short, mind maps are another tool for an effective person! I'm planning this now.)

Drawing a mental map - VIDEO!

Update from 09/01/2016:

Years later, I can say that ... I practically DO NOT use mental maps. So they didn't stick with me.

I use it only when I need to outline the architecture of some small project. Or if we conduct a quick brainstorming session on a magnetic board. In other cases, I use the usual notes, but not boring, but with drawings, arrows, highlights and drawings. IMHO such an outline is more convenient than a mental map.

That is, I took something from mental maps, and something from ordinary notes. It turned out to be a kind of hybrid)) This is if you write by hand. And if not, then mental maps become quite inconvenient. Well, it's probably individual. I know people who just love programs like MindJet or XMind.

What inconveniences I found with the mind map method:

• It is necessary to think over the whole architecture in advance. If you just need to quickly outline something, then you can make a mistake with the structure and the map will come out ugly. On the one hand - it is empty, and on the other - it barely fits in small print.
• If you take notes in Word or Evernote, you can easily copy the content even into a chat. But with a mental map based on MindJet, everything is not so simple ...