What is a Mind Map?

A Mind Map is an easy way to brainstorm thoughts organically without worrying about order and structure. It allows you to visually structure your ideas to help with analysis and recall.

A Mind Map is a diagram for representing tasks, words, concepts, or items linked to and arranged around a central concept or subject using a non-linear graphical layout that allows the user to build an intuitive framework around a central concept. A Mind Map can turn a long list of monotonous information into a colorful, memorable and highly organized diagram that works in line with your brain's natural way of doing things.

Here is an example of an outline for vacation plans. It only takes a few moments to go through the list of locations and activities. But by the time you get to the bottom of the outline, do you even remember what you read at the top?

Take that same information and view it in Mind Map. You can now overview the information much faster and recall the data much more easily.

The Five Essential Characteristics of Mind Mapping:

1. The main idea, subject or focus is crystallized in a central image
2. The main themes radiate from the central image as 'branches'
3. The branches comprise a key image or key word drawn or printed on its associated line
4. Topics of lesser importance are represented as 'twigs' of the relevant branch
5. The branches form a connected nodal structure

What us mind maps used for?

1. Brainstorming and visualizing concepts
2. Presenting and communicating ideas
3. Graphic organizers and electronic note books
4. Running meetings more effectively
5. Outlining reports and documents
6. Simplifying task and project management
7. Writing essays

Theory Behind Mind Maps

When you study the brain's functionality and memory system, you will realize the extraordinary extent of its capacity and potential. The Mind Map is a tool used to entice, delight, stimulate and challenge you. You will discover some astonishing facts about your brain and its function, and you will take the first major steps on the path to freedom of the mind.

How Mind Maps Harness the Brain's Power

A Mind Map is a highly effective way of getting information in and out of your brain - it is a creative and logical means of note-taking and note-making that literally 'maps out' your ideas.

All Mind Maps have some things in common. They have a natural organizational structure that radiates from the center and use lines, symbols, words, color and images according to simple, brain-friendly concepts. Mind Mapping converts a long list of monotonous information into a colorful, memorable and highly organized diagram that works in line with your brain's natural way of doing things.

One simple way to understand a Mind Map is by comparing it to a map of a city. The city center represents the main idea; the main roads leading from the center represent the key thoughts in your thinking process; the secondary roads or branches represent your secondary thoughts, and so on. Special images or shapes can represent landmarks of interest or particularly relevant ideas.

The Mind Map is the external mirror of your own radiant or natural thinking facilitated by a powerful graphic process, which provides the universal key to unlock the dynamic potential of the brain.