Mind Mapping -- an Easy Beginning Tutorial

mind mapping is nowwildly used by more and more people, it can help us increase creativity, develop brain and IQ, etc.
What is mind mapping?

A Mind Map is a kind of graphical technique which provides a universal key to unlock the potential of the brain. It harnesses the full range of cortical skills – word, image, number, logic, rhythm, colour and spatial awareness – in a single, uniquely powerful manner. In so doing, it gives you the freedom to roam the infinite expanses of your brain.”-- Excerpts of the help manual of imindmap.

Usually we only use a manner of left brain thinking, for example, using words, logic, numbers, sequence, linearity, lists, straight lines etc. This doesn’t allow us to maximize the potential of our brain.


Mind mapping is first invented by tony buzan in 1970s. it use words, logic, numbers, sequence, linearity, lists, straight lines etc to express ideas, arrange things, improve IQ, etc. tony buzan has written several books on using mind mapping and its application.


How to do mind mapping?

Mind mapping manually is easy. Before starting, we should prepare such things: a piece of A4 paper and server pastels. First from the center of paper, we write down or draw our main idea. Then from the center, you can draw branches, each standing for a sub idea. Let yourself be during this procedure. Don’t consider whether I have added too much sub branches to one branch. On the beginning, the more we write, the better the result is. Our brain is more interested in images than words and like simple word better. So during the process, you can express your ideas or sub-ideas in a word or simple expression on the branches. To get a better effect, you can use different colors for branches and some meaning images to replace word or expression. You can show your drawing talent at ease. Of course, you can say: I have not much talent on drawing, what shall I do? In fact, the beauty of the images is not the most important, and it is good only if you can express your idea lively. Mind mapping manually is simple and easy to do, while not convenient to share with others your ideas. So during recent years, there are many mind mapping software help us achieve this goal. Each software has its own advantages, but for me, the effect of imindmap is the best. You can draw your ideas easily and it looks cool.
Tips on mind mapping:

1) Using different colors for branches;

2) Using images more than word or expression;

3) One word per line;

4) Arrange you branches in a balancing manner;

5) Drawing branches using curved line;


An example

I used imindmap from tony buzan’s official website to create a mind map to reveal the effect and the content of this blog, next part "mind mapping -- an easy beginning tutorial part 2"; I will introduce a step by step using of imindmap -- a greatest mind mapping tool up to now in my view.