R. Steiner calls the feeling of warmth the first feeling that arose in a person. This organ was first located at the top of the head. You've probably heard of the "third eye," but that third eye was never an eye20. This organ can be found in reptiles such as lizards: it is located just under the skull. There is a hole in the skull there, so the organ really looks like a primitive eye. Scientists have found that with its help, animals can perceive infrared radiation - that is, nothing more than heat. It turns out that this is a heat perception organ. Previously, man also had such an organ, with the help of which he could find the most favorable places for himself where food was available. "Before" in anthroposophical literature is called the "Lemurian era." This organ was used to maintain its own vital functions. But gradually the third eye atrophied and became just a small gland, which is called the pineal gland, or pineal gland. Later the brain grows on it. Thus, embryology shows us that in early eras man went through a very long and strange path of development.

Science knows very little about the feeling of heat. Experts talk about cold nerves and warm nerves, but scientists contradict each other. I believe there is only one correct theory, a lecture about which I listened only once in my life. This theory is as follows. Under the skin we have many different, stacked layers of very small blood vessels and capillaries. Also under the skin is whole line various nerves with not very clear functions. These are simple nerves, bare nerves that do not terminate in any specialized sense organ. And these bare nerves penetrate layers of blood vessels located on top of each other. Nerves that simply perceive how heat leaves or enters the skin.

Longitudinal skin incision

These are very simple nerves because here we're talking about about very simple movements human soul. The soul shows interest and waits to see whether a response will occur or not. To do this, she needs “nerves of interest.” Is there a counter movement? Yes? Then we feel warmth. Then we feel that we are accepted, that the cosmos sympathizes with us, that we can act together. We are supported and inspired. Conversely, we, as soul beings, can also behave in this way. We take care of each other. We encourage each other. This is exactly what we do when we become interested in the world. The feeling of heat is the first human organ, which is present as a basic ability in all other senses.

The essence of any sense organ is to show interest. The third eye, externally, as a local sensory organ, has atrophied, turning into a pineal gland, but its activity is the basis of all sensory perceptions. The twelve senses are simultaneously twelve types of perception, twelve forms of inspiration by the world.

The fact remains that we, as heat-producing creatures, want to act. Not having a job makes you feel isolated and disconnected. We want to gain experience through our interest. And strangely, in this area we need as much diversity as possible. Nature is responsible for the diversity of what we perceive with the eye. We ourselves are responsible for the variety of experiences that we want to acquire. It is because our body is a thermal organism that we are able to move on earth, but the experience we seek is something internal. With the help of the sense of life, we perceive pleasant or unpleasant, that is, external, bodily. Feeling temperature teaches us to feel a feeling of joy or dissatisfaction. Even when we receive something just like that, without involving our own activity, wonderful gift or wonderful weather, we still have to actively respond to it. Even when we don’t like something or fail, when everything goes wrong, we still need to experience it internally. Animals move in order to find food that will support their physical existence. A person also moves in order to gain experience, that is, spiritual food.

Let us now consider what a turn has taken place in the use of the sense of heat. The ancestral organ of thermal sensitivity, the third eye, was a “selfish” organ and served to take care of human existence. The modern organ of heat does not want to deal with external heat or cold. He wants, while giving external heat, to also give internal heat and interest (think about the 17°C temperature difference).

I would like to draw your attention to a phenomenon that is well known to you, but no less strange. First, a few words about sneezing. Over the course of our lives, we have learned to handle heat carefully, not to get burned by hot objects and fire, to dress so as not to catch a cold, and so on. Our body has a powerful warning reflex, which is an expression of the sense of life and which, in the area of ​​smell, with irresistible force forces us to actively attack the enemy. A sneeze is indeed a very dramatic and comic performance, a kind of explosion. We sneeze not only from the pungent smells of pepper or tobacco, which even cause pain, but also when we stand in a draft. What happens when we sneeze? We take short breaths, as if about to cry, we gather in our upper pole. And then, at the highest point, we explode to the lower pole, to the belly and limbs. We throw everything out. Tears of crying become tears of laughter. In the blink of an eye it covers our nose, and without a handkerchief we are finished. The feeling of life warns us: not everything is in order with your thermal body. Come on, give it a quick shake with all your might to get everything in place! It's like a bird whose feathers have been ruffled by the wind. One quick shake and everything is just right again. When we sneeze, we shake our warm feather robe so that it fits well.

Thus, the feeling of life in a remarkable way leads to the interaction of two polar senses - smell and warmth. This is an example collaboration sense organs. In this transition “from tears to laughter” we also produce very loud sounds. The international word "apchhi", usually pronounced three times, fills the space. Sneezing is the best preventative against colds. It is no coincidence that people used to offer each other a pinch of tobacco with the wish: “Be healthy!”

Another phenomenon that speaks volumes and which also belongs to the feeling of warmth is shivering from cold. It is completely opposite to sneezing, which comes from a very local place (the area of ​​smell). We are trembling, or rather, we are shaking from head to toe, the entire surface of the body is shaking, silently and constantly, without interruption. We feel like we might freeze, we feel like we are growing stiff, and therefore we do everything to prevent this from happening. Usually we help ourselves by moving: rubbing our hands, dancing, clapping ourselves with our hands. This is a clear example of what is required of us to be personally active. We find the polarity of the sense of warmth and smell in the polarity of trembling and sneezing.

The feeling of warmth all the time prevents us from being indifferent. This needs to be learned very well - thanks to the feeling of warmth, we constantly perceive the difference between us and the world, and this awakens our interest. We stop being human when interest disappears. Then we talk about dead souls, even God doesn't know what to do with them. They are not good enough for heaven, not bad enough for hell, so Dante places them at the entrance to hell, where they, naked, are bitten by flies and gadflies22. They have to externally encourage internal activity, since they themselves do nothing.

Zodiac sign for feeling warmth - Leo (

Let us finally look at this strange process in even more detail: the first organ of thermal sensitivity physically disappeared, but the ability to show diverse interests was transferred to all other organs. The organ itself has transformed from a central one into an organ that is distributed over the entire surface of our body: development has occurred from the center to the periphery. There is a remarkable example of such development. The Bible tells about the baptism in the Jordan. The essence of Christ at this moment unites with the human being, Jesus, who is 30 years old. The divine being incarnates in a human shell and acts among people. After two and a half years, he is betrayed, crucified, descends into the underworld (the so-called descent into hell), and then resurrects (Easter). For forty days, the risen Christ stays with the apostles and conveys to them his deep esoteric knowledge. He, although in a supersensible form, remains between them. Then he leaves them (Ascension into Heaven, Thursday), as a result of which the apostles find themselves abandoned in the spiritual icy desert. On the tenth day of staying in this spiritually icy space - on the fiftieth day after the resurrection - consolation comes - the condescension of the Holy Spirit; this is Trinity Sunday (in German this holiday is called Pfing-sten, from the Greek pentecoste, which means the fiftieth day). This descent comes from the periphery, which is symbolized by the flames that enter the apostles. Now each of them speaks his own language, and yet they understand each other. Tongues of fire are an image of enthusiasm. The apostles are able to fulfill their mission, to pass on the flame further, each in accordance with their own strengths. Only now did they become apostles in the true sense of the word. In the evolution of the sense organs we also find a similar magnificent process from the center to the periphery. The senses have become the great teachers of humanity. Each sense organ speaks its own language, but they all understand each other and form a single whole.

I would like to end this chapter with two verses that will help you experience how so many different things can come from a feeling of warmth. The first is taken from Friedrich Nietzsche’s book “The Gay Science” (1882) and is called “Ecce homo” - “Behold man.” These are the words that Pilate pronounces when addressing the crowd (John 19:5). The second poem is a saying by Rudolf Steiner, written in the last year of his life.

Ecce homo

Yes! I know this secret! Insatiable like a flame, I rush upward, burning. Light is everything I touch, Coal is everything I leave behind: A passionate flame is who I am!

I would like to kindle every person from the cosmic spirit, so that he becomes a flame and fiery reveals the essence of his essence.

Others, they want

Take water from space

Which puts out the flame

And the whole essence does

Shackled inside.

O joy when human flame

It burns even where it rests!

Oh bitterness when a person

Connects where he wants to be mobile.

We guarantee sales and business growth in any niche. We take on tasks of any complexity. from TexTerra.

Let's get acquainted

Mind maps are diagrammatic representations of the key ideas in a book, the main points of a speaker's speech, or your most important action plan. With their help, it is convenient to restore order in information chaos. Mind maps have many names - mental map, mind mapping, thought map, connection diagram, mind map.

The word mind is translated as mind. Psychologists are sure: by drawing maps with felt-tip pens on sheets of paper, you will really become smarter and unlock the potential of your brain. Let's leave these thoughts to scientists and talk about the practical implementation of mind mapping.

What, where and how to draw?

The map vaguely resembles a tree. Or a spider. Or an octopus. In general, something that has a center and branches.

In the center is the main idea or problem. Key points depart from it. Each item is also, if necessary, divided into several smaller items. And so on until the whole problem is clearly worked out.

What's good about the card format?

1. A schematic text is perceived better than a sheet, because it is shorter and simpler.
2. Saves time perceiving information.
3. In the process of drawing up a map, memorization of the material improves.
4. When working on projects, areas of responsibility are clearly shown by coloring the branches.

How to create maps

Let’s not get fancy and complicate it – let’s use the algorithm of the map author himself, Tony Buzan.

• Maintain a hierarchy of thoughts;
• At the center is the most important question. Graphic images (drawings, pictograms) are welcome;
• Give volume to images, blocks, rays. This makes the map easier to perceive;
• Leave a distance between the blocks, do not make a palisade of rays;
• If you need to emphasize the connection between elements, use lines, arrows, and the same colors;
• Express your thoughts briefly and clearly. Simple font, one keyword above the corresponding line, the main lines are smooth and bolder, place the words horizontally.

Mind map - like the Glavred service, only for the brain. Helps clear debris from thoughts.

Mind maps are useful...

...at work:

• Plan work projects. Many programs allow shared access among all team members. Changes are made to the map, tasks are prioritized, and the implementation process is monitored;
• Prepare and conduct meetings. With the help of cards, you will draw up an outline of your speech, highlight key points, and establish the logic of the narrative. The programs have the ability to create a presentation - this will help you visually present materials for the planning meeting;
• Make a strategy. Cards, in my opinion, are an ideal option. They help to go from the general to the specific;
• Brainstorm. Some programs even have a special mode.

...in training:

• Write down the key ideas of the seminar or lecture. Such a note will help you remember the teacher’s train of thought;
• Organize your information. You always have free space to add an important thought.

...in everyday life:

• Plan. I use cards to create plans for the week, month, and prepare for important events;
• Make lists. This could be a list of books, movies, webinars, purchases, gifts, or just a list of things that need to be done at some point;
• Write notes on the books you read. One main branch - one chapter. Brief thoughts, theses, and main points fit perfectly into the map format. In addition, some programs have the ability to take hidden notes. Hover your mouse over a specific block and a window will open with a detailed description of what is written in the block.

We evaluate

I chose 15 programs (+3 from the editors) for creating mental maps. The selection includes popular drawing services and little-known ones. They differ in design, export capabilities, and ease of management. Some programs are more suitable for personal use, while others help you plan work and study effectively. The description applies only to free versions. Read the review and choose the program that is convenient for you.

For your convenience, I have also prepared a comparative table of the capabilities of all programs presented in the table.

MindMeister

Features of MindMeister:

Rates:

1. Free basic package. There are only 3 cards in it. They can only be exported as text; you can also receive one card per invited friend;
2. Personal tariff ($4.99). Unlimited number of maps, multiple page printing, export to drawing, PDF, priority support;
3. Tariff Pro ($8.25). Everything in the previous plan plus Login to Google Apps for Domains, multi-user licensing, export to .docx and .pptx, custom map themes for the entire team, receiving statistics and reports;
4. Business tariff ($12.49). Everything that is in the previous tariff plus the creation of groups within the program, the creation of a custom domain for logging into the system, support for exporting and creating backup copies, priority support around the clock.

My impressions

The program is worthy of attention if you have small requests. MindMeister, even in the free version, has quite a wide functionality: different styles and colors of blocks, changing the color of text and its style. A small menu appears on the right and you use the switch buttons to change the design mode. Convenient, compact, simple. Maps are easy to draw: select the block from which the next rays should come and click on the plus sign. If you want to color the blocks and add icons and emoticons, that will work too.

MindMup

Features of MindMup:

• All the basic capabilities for creating high-quality design are present;
• Simple controls;
• Free export to PDF (link available within 24 hours);
• Maps are synchronized if there is one account on the devices;
• Import pictures from disk or cloud in 2 clicks.

Rates:

1. Free package. Users of the free version can create public maps up to 100 KB for a period of 6 months;
2. Individual Gold ($2.99/month). Unlimited number of cards, up to 5 messages in mail, card capacity up to 100 MB, storage on Google Drive;
3. Team Gold ($50/year for 10 users, $100/year for 100 users). Unlimited number of maps, work with Google/GAFE;
4. Corporate Gold ($100/year). Unlimited number of users and maps created by them, work with Google/GAFE.

My impressions

MindMup is ideal for beginners because there are no complicated steps involved. You can insert a picture or edit an inscription with two clicks, create new blocks or delete them with one click. At the same time, the map looks aesthetically pleasing, it is clear and logical. It can be personalized by adding photos. At the time of adding, you can easily change the size of the image, place it under the text or on the side.

Mind42

Features of Mind42:

• Only basic functionality: adding icons, notes, main and additional nodes;
• Laconic card design;
• Export in JPEG, PDF, PNG and several more formats;
• You can add your map to general Mind42 groups or view other people's maps;
• Possibility of collaboration on the map;
• The priority of the block task is set. You can easily view the priority by hovering over the special icon.

My impressions

It seems that the creators of the program have already decided a lot for me. For example, they established their own order in which the branches would be located, and offered only one type of font and blocks. But you can set the priority and progress of tasks. In general, the capabilities of Mind42 are modest, like young girls in ancient Rus'.

XMind

XMind Features:

• A large number of templates: fishbone, business plans, SWOT analysis and other useful things;
• Stylish design, bright design - background for the entire map or separately for blocks, large selection of styles, lines, colors and shapes;
• Conducting a brainstorming session;
• Convenient creation of presentations.

Rates:

1. Free. All types of charts and synchronization with the cloud.
2. XMind: ZEN Desktop ($4.58/month). Fully functional desktop version.
3. XMind: ZEN Desktop + Mobile ($4.99/month). Desktop + mobile versions.
4. XMind: ZEN Mobile ($1.24/month). Mobile version.
5. XMind 8 Pro ($129). The PRO account offers export in PDF, PPT, SVG, OpenOffice, more than 60,000 icons, Gantt charts, presentation and brainstorming modes.

My impressions

XMind is definitely worth using. I was thinking about a paid version, but for now the stripped-down free version is enough for me. The program has a lot of possibilities. Choosing it for simple drawing up of plans or notes is like driving a Ferrari through the village. The program is more suitable for professional team work. I like XMind for its design and ease of drawing.

MindJet Mindmanager

Features of MingManager:

• Templates are divided into categories - meetings and events, management, strategic planning, personal productivity, problem solving, flowcharts;
• In terms of design options, it resembles Word - it’s just as simple and easy to select text color, flowchart shape, fill, font, alignment, bulleted lists;
• Prioritizing actions. You can set the order of task completion, set beacons such as “risk”, “discuss”, “postpone”, “expenses”, “for”, “against”;
• You can brainstorm, build Gantt charts, and link cards together. Easily switch between map tabs;
• There is a MindManager Plus web account for saving files in the cloud;
• Transfer data from Microsoft Outlook.

Rates:

Perpetual license. For Mac it costs 13,000 rubles, for Windows 25,000 rubles. Creating interactive maps, setting time frames for completing tasks, exporting maps in different formats.

My impressions

Mindmanager offers a lot of training materials and a technical support service. The card design can be as simple as it is playful if you want. The controls are simple, all the necessary buttons are at hand. If you study this program thoroughly, you can easily use it for home and work. Data from Excel, Outlook can be inserted into the card, and other cards can be attached. Personally, I don’t need so many functions yet.

PersonalBrain

Features of PersonalBrain:

• From the design, you can only change the theme;
• Most features are available after purchasing paid work packages;
• Complex program management;
• Shows a 3D image of the mind map.

Rates:

1. Basic paid package ($219). Printing, adding files, links, pictures, notes are available;
2. Pro packages ($299). Integration of calendar and events, spell checking, saving reports, multi-page printing, and exporting maps are provided. The difference between the Pro License, Pro Combo, TeamBrain packages is the presence of a desktop version and cloud storage.

My impressions

I didn't like it. First, I went through the application installation quest, put checkmarks and dots in the required fields. Then I opened the map and was disappointed in the controls. If you click in the wrong place, the central block changes and you are disorganized. Well, the design is gloomy. In general, I didn’t make friends with her.

iMind Map

Features of iMindMap:

• The program offers 4 modes: recording ideas and thoughts, brainstorming, creating mind maps, converting data into 2D and 3D presentations, PDF files, tables and other formats;
• About 130 styles;
• There are hints at the beginning: click on the icon, use Tab and Enter;
• There is a spell check;
• Very bright animated presentations;
• You can make notes for each branch, use icons from the series finance, transport, arrows, calendar, communications, flags, numbers, people, etc., change flowchart formats, set deadlines and priorities, add audio files;
• Time Map;
• Import files in IMX, Doc, Docx, IMM, MM, MMAP formats;
• Export files in PDF, SVG, 3D image, table, web page, project, audio, DropTask, Power Point presentation, zip file.

Rates:

1. For home and study (80€). Create and edit maps, add images, create art projects, add links and notes, 30 days of use, one license;
2. Maximum (190€). Adds to the capabilities of the previous package brainstorming, creating presentations, exporting videos from YouTube, integration with DropTask, three-dimensional image, conversion to different formats, a license for a year and 2 computers;
3. Maximum Plus (250€). Adds to the capabilities of the previous package books and discs by Tony Buzan, the founder of mental maps.

My impressions

One of the best programs I've used. I would put XMind and MindMup next to it. Very easy to operate. Easily switch between capture, brainstorm, mind map and time map modes, draw blocks and relationships between them. If you want to recreate the atmosphere of drawing with markers on whatman paper, then in iMind Map you can draw branches by hand.

Bubble

Bubble Features:

• The controls are not very convenient, you need to get used to it;
• Only the general color scheme changes; you cannot change the font, text color or node shape separately;
• 3 cards are created for free;
• The map is saved in JPEG, PNG, HTML formats.

Rates:

1. Premium ($4.91 per month). Create an unlimited number of maps, track the history of changes, add files and images;
2. Corporate rate. It has multiple licenses available, user account management, user branding creation. The cost of the corporate plan depends on the number of accounts and subscription period.

My impressions

Nothing special. The controls seemed a little complicated to me, the design seemed ordinary. Who needs a business style card - welcome!

Comapping

Comapping Features:

• There is only one type of card;
• Small design options;
• Maps can be sent by e-mail, saved in SVG, PDF, Xmind, Freemind, MindManager formats;
• The service is used for brainstorming, event planning, and training.

Rates:

Paid versions are based on the number of licenses and the version: online or desktop. One online license costs $25 per year, desktop costs $49, and the maximum package of 100 licenses costs $612 and $1,225 is the discounted price.

My impressions

Nice program, but I don't like this map structure. I like it when the main idea is in the center. The design didn’t work for me either. Why is she nice then? Its simplicity, unobtrusive design. I liked how the marks on the map, for example, “competitor analysis,” are highlighted in gray. They do not distract attention, but provide benefits.

MindGenius

Features of MindGenius:

• Well suited for team work, educational process. Emphasis is placed on working with enterprises;
• The design possibilities are optimal - the size, color, font type, background fill color, and block shapes can be changed;
• Add pictures, links, notes - this function is also available;
• There are mobile applications for iOS and Android;
• Export maps in MS Office applications, JPEG, PNG, PDF, HTML
• There are a large number of different templates, there are Gantt charts, Swot analysis, and training guides are provided for each type.

Rates:

1. MindGenius2019 by subscription ($160/year, from the second year – $56/year). Includes the program itself and a subscription to the online version + updates.
2. MindGenius2019 lifetime ($256). Includes perpetual software license and one-year online subscription. After a year, the latter can be renewed for $42.
3. MindGeniusOnline ($16/month or $160/year). Subscribe to the online version.

My impressions

Nice design, clear controls, great capabilities - a good program, in general. If I manage a company, I will take MindGenius into account.

Mapul

Features of Mapul:

• Unusual design. Bright rich colors of lines and blocks;
• Maps are saved in JPEG, SVG formats;
• Small selection of colors and fonts;
• Not very convenient controls. The lines are difficult to change after drawing, the text jumps along them and is difficult to read.

Rates:

1. Free version. One card and 4 images;
2. Premium package. The number of cards is unlimited. Premium can be purchased for 3, 6 or 12 months. Accordingly, $25, $35, $49.

My impressions

The design simply captivated me: bright, juicy, unusual. But the drawing process let us down. I want to align the line - instead the program draws me an additional branch. In general, if you get used to it, Mapul can become your favorite.

Mindomo

Features of Mindomo:

• Three accounts: teacher, businessman, student;
• 24 card templates available;
• Possibility of collaboration on the map by several users. When the card is changed, notifications are sent by email;
• There is a backup option;
• Audio and video recordings, images, hyperlinks, icons, symbols are added;
• The priority of tasks is set, comments are added to blocks.

Rates:

Purchased for six months. All plans include an unlimited number of mind cards, backup to DropBox and Google. Disk, adding audio and video, password protection of cards, desktop version, synchronization between devices, 7 import formats.

1. Premium ($36). It has 8 export formats, 1 GB of memory, 1 user;
2. Professional ($90). It has 12 export formats, 5 GB of memory, 1 user;
3. Team ($142). It has 12 export formats, 15 GB of memory, 5 users.

My impressions

After working at Mindomo, there is some kind of pleasant aftertaste. Drawing is easy - just click on the button next to the block. Pictures are inserted easily and immediately in the optimal size. I liked that you can make notes for each block in the form of simple text or lists - very convenient.

Coggle

Coggle Features:

• Tooltips in English;
• A kind of management. New branches, for example, appear with a double click, a color scheme appears with a right-click;
• There is only one map in the free version;
• Export in PNG, PDF formats;
• Working together on a map. There is chat and comments;
• History of changes. The slider moves along the scale, returning the map to the desired editing segment;
• More than 1600 icons;
• A gallery of other people's maps is available;
• Synchronization with Google Drive, account required.

Rates:

1. Amazing. $5 per month or $50 per year. Unlimited number of cards, presentation mode, shared folders, high-resolution image uploading, wide choice of color schemes;
2. Organization (corporate). $8 per month. Added a separate workspace, consolidated billing, user and deadline management, and corporate identity.

My impressions

I didn't like the design at all. It’s not very difficult to understand the controls, the tips are nearby. Lines and blocks are easy to create and change direction. The slider for undoing changes to the map is a real lifesaver.

ConceptDraw MINDMAP

Features of ConceptDraw MINDMAP:

• There are ready-made themes. The design capabilities are standard: the size of the letters changes, the background of the text and the map itself is filled;
• The map is converted into a text list and vice versa;
• Hyperlinks, notes, icons, tags are added;
• Extensive presentation creation options;
• Maps are imported from Xmaind, FreeMaind, MindManager, Word, Power Point programs;
• Export to PDF, web pages, MindManager, Word, Power Point formats. You can export a checklist file with completed and uncompleted tasks;
• You can demonstrate presentations on Skype, post on Twitter, send by email and save in Evernote;
• In addition to maps, you can draw diagrams and various flowcharts, manage projects;
• By default, the map is saved on your computer in the “My Documents” folder.

Rates:

This program has complicated pricing. It depends on the number of users plus additional functions are taken into account. For $199 you will purchase the simplest version for 1 license, an update to the program costs $99, a package for corporate use costs $299, and 10 licenses for educational purposes cost $638.

My impressions

There are many useful functions in the program. In addition to the service for creating mind maps, there is also a line of programs for creating business graphics and project management. In general, this is a huge set of tools specifically for business.

LOOPY

Features of LOOPY:

The service allows you to create “live” diagrams in which elements move between blocks. This allows us to illustrate some cyclical processes.

Rates:

The service is free, no registration required.

My impressions

Very few possibilities for card design. The main thing is that the maps turn out to be “live”; with their help it is convenient to depict dynamic processes. The resulting diagram can be inserted onto the website as an interactive element.

Draw.io

Features of Draw.io

• No registration required. When you first log in, choose where to save the files. If to the cloud, then authorization is required through the appropriate service.
• The files are not saved in Draw.io, but in your storage - Google Drive, OneDrive, or your computer's hard drive.
• Multifunctional tool. In addition to mind maps, you can make flowcharts, simple infographics, visualize business processes, and even design page layouts.
• There are online and desktop versions, as well as integrations with many tools, including Jira and Trello.

Rates

The tool is free without any restrictions. Except when you need to deploy the product on your server.

My impressions

There are too many functions and capabilities for a quick sketch of thoughts and plans. Because of this, the service is more complex than those designed specifically for mind maps. It may take longer to create. But this is an excellent option when you need to make a diagram for a presentation and other similar tasks - complete freedom of action will allow you to draw it exactly as you need it and design it in the corporate style and colors.

WiseMapping

The tool is free without any restrictions. If you install the program on your server and some functions are missing, you can contact the developers.

My impressions

The first impression is confirmed - the tool is very simple and without frills. Features include adding emoji, links and notes. You can also change the block style, background and border colors, text style and color. In my opinion, the tool is well suited for personal use and quick sketches.

SimpleMind

Features of SimpleMind

• Works on different platforms: Mac, Windows, iOS, Android.
• The page size and number of elements are practically unlimited.
• The free version has quite a few restrictions - no export, you cannot add media files, links and emoji, and the ability to edit the appearance of cards is limited.
• There is no online version, you need to download it to your computer.

Rates

1. Free basic version. Supports standard mind map functionality and several design styles.
2. Full version (from €24.99) All the functionality of the program without restrictions.

My impressions

Let's compare

For convenience, I have prepared a comparison table of services for you. Click on the image below to download it.

We use

For drawing simple cards with daily plans, lists and ideas, these are good options:

• MindMeister,
• MindManager,
• MindMup,
• Mind 42,
• Wisemapping,
• Comapping,
• mapul,
• SimpleMind.

The programs are easy to use, all the necessary functions are right at your fingertips.

Looking for a convenient tool for teamwork or strategic planning? Create presentations and assign tasks to the entire department using mind maps. Choose:

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In the new millennium, when the volume and nature of information have become colossal, new methods and programs for their rapid assimilation have become urgently needed. Such methods soon appeared and were called "mind maps". Their creator is Tony Buzan, and the author of many books on self-improvement and thinking. His most famous work, the book "Super Mindset", created together with his brother, is a hit and a fulcrum for many of his followers.

What is a mind map for?

(from English mindmap, or - is a creative way of revealing a topic, concept, idea, any object of thought or even a story. They will help you in:

Intellectual maps from Tony Buzan have gained wide scope due to the simplicity of their implementation. Their effectiveness lies in increasing work productivity, often on a fairly large scale.

How to create?

A smart map is very easy to create - all you need is a pen and a piece of paper, you can also use the screen of a computer, tablet, or laptop. The brain absorbs a multi-colored and multidimensional mind map more easily than a regular gray outline with diagrams and tables, so it is better to use multi-colored pens or pencils.

As you can see, the smart map can be easily supplemented with additional branch elements and associations, is easy to read, and easy to understand.

How does the brain work?

In order to understand how the mind map works, we first need to understand the principles. We all know: the brain consists of two hemispheres, each is responsible for a functional set unique to it. For example, the left hemisphere is responsible for logical meanings and sequences, words, numbers, formulas, diagrams and analysis. While the right is the perception of rhythm and space, imagination and representation of images. Most people rely mainly on the left hemisphere when solving their problems, and constant load on only one lobe of the brain atrophies the second, as a result of which the entire brain loses, since the main potential is not used.

Maps overload the whole brain

The brain functions perfectly when both hemispheres are connected, which is what Tony Buzan tried to achieve when creating his new method. Drawings connect the right hemisphere to work, and the connections between them connect the left hemisphere; a competent relationship between both allows you to use those reserves that were not previously in demand. This way, a mind map will help your entire brain work, and its constant use will make working with images habitual, which is a key point in all areas of life. T

So, many people note that after working with cards for a long time, they notice that they are completing them in their heads when reading or communicating, and this does not introduce chaos, but, on the contrary, increases understanding. By using your brain with such intensity, you will be able to ensure its normal functioning and performance.

Smart cards: programs

Nowadays, special programs are very popular in the world, with the help of which you can quickly and competently create mental maps. About two hundred different programs have now been created in the world in different categories:

• paid;
• free;
• online services.

Working with them is quite simple: first you need to go to the editor menu and start with “Create a new mind map”. A convenient option will immediately arise in which you will need to start creating a mental map by introducing a keyword - the program will immediately create a colored central symbol with your word. After this, you will need to enter additional keywords that will be responsible for the branches emanating from the central symbol. The program will draw and color each branch itself, and you can edit all aspects, from color to the structure of all branches. You can also copy and propagate branches, move them, delete them as desired. Very convenient, isn't it?

What are the advantages of the programs?

A smart map will help you correctly distribute all the information and outline its key points. But what to do if the volume of information is simply enormous and cannot be included in standard schemes written on a sheet of paper? This is why the programs have gained such popularity - they will help you create three-dimensional and multidimensional maps, with large amounts of information and sections.

Megamind maps are large-scale intellectual maps, examples of which you can find in an editor program or online service. This method is popular in industry and large companies, but it can be useful for anyone who uses this technique. They will help you improve your performance, and your map will acquire hyperconnections with multi-level information, the development of idea centers for new maps - after all, each such mind map will be part of a larger whole, created to help you in any endeavor.

Olga Pavlova

The Mind Mapping Method was created by American scientist and businessman Tony Buzan. In English it is called "mind maps". Literally, the word "mind" means "mind", and the word "maps" means "maps". The result is “mind maps”. But most often in translations the term “mind maps” is used.

Mind maps came to the world of preschool technologies thanks to the candidate of pedagogical sciences V. M. Akimenko, who proposed using this method for the development of coherent speech in children.

Smart card is a unique and simple method of memorization

information, with the help of which both creative and

children's speech abilities and thinking is activated.

The mind map method helps awaken a child's ability to

images of the surrounding world, help to structure the information that the child has to learn, breaking it down into specific figurative units.

Useful properties of mind maps

K. D. Ushinsky wrote: “Teach a child some five words unknown to him - he will suffer for a long time and in vain, but connect twenty such words with pictures, and he will learn on the fly.”

Visibility. The whole problem with its many sides and facets

appears right in front of you, you can take it in at one glance.

Attractiveness. A good mind map has its own aesthetics,

looking at it is not only interesting, but also pleasant. Tony Buzan

Memorability. Thanks to the work of both hemispheres of the brain, the use

The images and colors of the mind map are easy to remember.

In teaching practice, mind maps can be used as follows:

Consolidation and generalization of material. Creation of generalized intelligence

maps can be the final work on the topics studied. This work is carried out both individually and frontally.

Development of coherent speech. Compiling stories using a mind map.

While completing this task, children independently and consistently

express their thoughts, become more active in conversation,

develops the ability to answer questions in a common way, vocabulary

becomes precise and varied. This work is carried out in groups

classes on the development of coherent speech.

General requirements for drawing up any intelligence map.

Only colored pencils, markers, etc. are used to create maps.

The sheet is positioned horizontally.

The main idea is outlined in the center of the page. To depict it, you can use drawings and pictures.

For each key point, diverging from the center are carried out

branches (in any direction). Each main branch has its own color.

Only one keyword is written above each line-branch.

It must be written legibly in capital letters.

Each thought is circled; you can use drawings, pictures, associations about each word.

Symbols and illustrations are added during the modeling process.

Visualization is presented in the form of objects, objects, drawings, etc.

The sequence of work when drawing up a mind map to consolidate and generalize the material of the studied topic:

Option 1:

1. The topic of the lesson is indicated (fruits, pets, flowers, etc.)

2. Children name noun words and depict what relates to

3. Attribute words are selected for each noun.

Option 2:

For each noun, words-attributes and words-

actions.

According to the compiled intelligence map, children in any option make up

offers.

We started making mind maps in the older group. At first, these were maps that were small in content, reflecting one topic, and had in their structure only a classification in some areas.

We found all the necessary pictures in used workbooks, cut them out, classified them, pasted them, and made “branches”.

At the end of the senior group, the guys built quite complex intelligence maps, such as: “Continents”, “Planet Earth”, “Green Kingdom”.

Thanks to this work, children's associations develop, vocabulary is replenished and activated, the meaning of a word is formed, and fantasy develops. A child, working with mind maps, progresses in his development from simple logical operations: comparison, juxtaposition of objects, location in space, quantitative determination of common and integral parts to the ability to analyze, differentiate, and classify objects. Of course, I plan to continue working with children in this direction. Thank you for your attention!

Bekhterev S. Fragment from the book “Mind Management: Solving Business Problems Using Mind Maps”
Publishing house "Alpina Publishers"

Tony Buzan remembered Newton and Einstein, who were struggling from bad to bad at school, and asked important questions: “Do we know how to learn? Are we using our brains correctly? Having applied his method in practice, the author decided that it can be effectively used in any intellectual activity, and especially in business. After all, what is business if not the ability to quickly collect and analyze information from different sources (about competitors, customer needs, suppliers, the market, prices, trends, forecasts, etc.), make a quick and correct decision based on it, and then ensure its implementation? This is how the book “Use your head” was born. In it, Buzan popularly described the method of mind maps. He based it on the basic principles of how the human brain works, explained that we use our biological computer called the “brain” inefficiently, and proposed a way to improve this efficiency.

Mind maps have become successfully used in many areas of intellectual work. With the spread of computers, the first programs for building them in electronic form began to appear, which opened up additional opportunities for corporate use and solving business problems. The creative abilities of people who used this method began to unfold more strongly, which inevitably increased their effectiveness. Mind maps have become the main tool for completing tasks for many knowledge workers, including now in Russia.

Rules for constructing mind maps

It is most convenient to explain the rules for constructing mind maps using... the mind map itself (Fig. 1).

Rice. 1. Rules for constructing mind maps

Let us comment on the presented rules in more detail.

1. The main thing!

1.1. Start from the center. In the center is the most important idea, the purpose of building a mind map. Start with the main idea and you will have new ideas to complement it.

1.2. Read clockwise, starting from the upper right corner. Information is read in a circle, starting from the center of the card and continuing from the upper right corner and then clockwise. This rule is adopted for reading all mind maps. If you specify a different sequence, indicate the reading order with ordinal numbers.

1.3. Use different colors! The colors we choose always have more meaning than they might seem. We perceive color instantly, but it takes time to perceive text. Different colors can be perceived differently and have different meanings in different cultures and to different people. This is discussed in more detail below.

1.4. Always experiment! During his practice, the author has seen many mind maps. And each of these cards had its own unique individual style. Since each person’s thinking is unique, the map as a result of thinking also turns out to be unique and inimitable. Don't be afraid to experiment, try, search and find the best ways to present information that are most suitable for you.

2. Central image

One of the key concepts in creating mind maps, without which it is impossible to create key associations from which the mind map will be built. The central image should be the most striking object for you, because it will be your focus, the main purpose of creating a mind map. To do this, set the task as clearly as possible, use the most “catchy” colors and designs that inspire you at the moment when creating a central image.

3. Design it!

Draw! If you are in doubt whether you should draw or not, then the choice is obvious - draw! A visual image is remembered for a long time, perceived with maximum speed, and forms a huge number of associations. Our brain is designed in such a way that we almost instantly form a visual association for any word. Draw this first association. As a rule, then to perceive information from a mind map, you will not even need to read what is written there - you will just have to look at the pictures, and the necessary information will immediately pop up in your head.

Color it! Each color has its own meaning, and often it is very individual for each person. The meaning of a particular color for an individual depends on factors such as personal preferences, previous experience, and cultural influences. In different cultures, the same color can have completely different meanings. For example, in Russia the color of mourning is considered black, and in Japan it is white. Depending on the meaning attached to color, it can significantly simplify and speed up the perception of information. It takes a moment to understand the prohibitive color of a traffic light. In the same way, you can read information from a mind map if you understand the meanings of the colors used in it. You can come up with your own notations or use the author’s interpretation below.

Use keywords! There should be few of them so that they do not add up to a complete sentence. As you will see below, information presented in the form of keywords visually linked to each other makes the brain work as quickly as possible. When you read only keywords, you get a sense of incompleteness, which causes many new associations that continue the mind map.

If you are creating a map by hand, use block letters, as handwritten text takes much longer to read than printed text.

Refer all new associations that appear to further branches of the map or write them in comments around map objects (topics), which, when written on paper, are conveniently done on stickers.

Connect your thoughts! The use of connecting branches helps our brain structure information at maximum speed and create a holistic image.

Use no more than 7±2 branches from each object, and better - no more than 5-7, since even a tired person can easily perceive such a map.

Color	Meaning	Speed ​​of perception
Red color	The most quickly perceived color. Maximum focus. Informs about dangers, problems that may arise if you do not pay attention to it
Blue color	Strict, business color. Sets up for efficient long-term work. Well received by most people
Green color	The color of freedom. Relaxing, calming color. Positively perceived by most people. But its meaning strongly depends on the shades (“energetic emerald” of the eyes or “melancholy green” in Soviet-type hospitals)
Yellow	The color of energy, the color of leadership. A very annoying color that you can't help but notice.
Brown color	The color of the earth, the warmest color. The color of reliability, strength, stability, confidence
Orange color	Very bright, provocative color. The color of enthusiasm, innovation, excitement, energy, dynamics. Excellent attention-grabbing
Blue	The color of tenderness, the color of romance. Great background color. In English there is no separate word for this color (blue is understood as both blue and cyan). In Russia, this color usually means freedom of movement: to the sea, to the sky, to a dream.
Black color	Strict, limiting color. Ideal for writing text, creating borders

Show connections of the main topic using a line, thickening it at the base and gradually narrowing it at the subordinate topic.

If topics from neighboring branches are connected to each other, connect them with arrows.

Use grouping to indicate groups of the same meaning.

Sometimes you will feel that you need to add more, for example, two branches, but you will not be able to formulate their names. In this case, it is recommended to draw branches and leave them empty. At this point, you will have an unfinished action and your brain will become hypermotivated to fill out these branches and come up with the necessary ideas.

Try building your first mind map by completing the first lesson.

When the technology of mind maps was created, convenient personal computers were not yet in mass use, and the first maps were built manually using ordinary paper, colored pencils and felt-tip pens.

The author of this book has more than once met people who generally do not recognize the creation of mind maps using computer programs and build all their maps on paper. And the author himself, although the laptop has long become part of his body, sometimes also gladly rolls up his sleeves, takes large sheets of paper, pencils, felt-tip pens, stickers, tape and begins to draw.

Because this method has its wonderful advantages (as well as disadvantages).

Drawing mind maps are characterized by a reformulation of Murphy's law: “A mind map always takes up exactly as much space as it is given, and a little more.” The author has more than once been convinced of the validity of this law when sheets of A1 and even A0 format were completely filled out.

Therefore you will need:

• clean white sheets, preferably at least A3 format. The A4 format may simply not be enough for the riot of your associations;
• colored felt-tip pens, or better yet, colored pencils, as they can be erased with an eraser, so you can make adjustments and see your train of thought. The more colors the better;
• eraser;
• stickers, preferably in different colors and sizes;
• scotch. If one sheet of paper is not enough for you, you can attach another one to it.

It is best to place the sheet horizontally. If the sheet is large, you can immediately attach it to the wall with tape.

Below is an example of constructing a “Great summer vacation with the whole family” mind map, where you can see how such an urgent problem was solved.

Alexey Bashkeev, Head of Analytics, Incore Media

After I became acquainted with the mind mapping method during the training, I began to apply it in all areas of my life. Below is an example of a map our family drew to solve such an important task as a great summer vacation for the whole family.

First we drew the central image. Then each of us wrote down 10 vacation options on stickers, one for each sticker. After that, we placed them on the map, connected them with each other, and the result shown below was obtained (see Fig. 2).

Surprisingly, all the options received seem quite obvious, but it is easier to make a decision when you see them presented in a clear structure.

We hung this map in the kitchen and over the summer we tried the best of the options listed. Now we have compiled a similar mind map for winter holidays!

Rice. 1.2. Results of the family brainstorming session “Great summer vacation for the whole family?”

As you'll notice, hand-drawn mind maps rely heavily on drawings. This greatly simplifies the memorization and perception of information, since the drawings are remembered for a long time.

Often at trainings we are told: “But we don’t know how to draw!” We have to constantly prove that this is not true. What have you done before in your life: drew a person or wrote the first number? Did you color the sun or write a word? Fortunately, learning to draw is much easier than learning to write. We can draw! It’s just that over time we stop using this great opportunity to record information. Let's remember and learn again!

You will have a visual association for each word almost immediately. Draw exactly this association! Because then, remembering a visual symbol, your consciousness will easily retrieve the word associated with it from the unconscious.

Mind maps have gained popularity in many developed countries. But why does this technology work this way? Why is this way of presenting information so effective? What principles of the human brain is this technology based on? It is based on two principles of the human brain.

Principle one. Left- and right-hemisphere thinking

Mind map technology was originally based on the principle that the right hemisphere perceives information according to different laws than the left. The difference in the functioning of the hemispheres is shown in Fig. 3.

At one time, Tony Buzan rightly noted that most information is presented in the form of numbers and letters, convenient for perception by the left hemisphere (just remember the linear representation of information in Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, Lotus Notes - office applications with which most office employees work) .

Rice. 3. Hemispheres of the brain and the “division” of labor between them 1

The mind mapping method allows you to present information in such a way that it can be perceived by both the left and right hemispheres at the same time.

Thanks to the use of colors, patterns and spatial connections, any information begins to be perceived, analyzed and remembered much faster and more effectively than with its usual linear representation in the form of numbers and letters. Thus, humanity has the opportunity to make maximum use of the huge reserves of the right hemisphere.

Do we use the creative capabilities of the right hemisphere in our everyday life? Yes. Of course yes. And all without exception.

Imagine the following situation. You are trying to explain to your interlocutor something quite complex or information-intensive (the concept of a new project, launching a product on the market, the strategy of a new direction, the structure of a new book or article, the current state of business processes, etc.), and this cannot be done in any way. words, and next to you is a pen and a sheet of paper. What will you do? 100% of those to whom the author asked this question answered unequivocally: “Let’s start drawing.” And often without even imagining what will be drawn in the end, we just start drawing. Why? Because in many situations, this step allows you to find a common language much faster and convey the necessary thoughts. For example, such an explanation often results in diagrams like the one shown in Fig. 4.

Or here’s another question: what do you do when you’re talking on the phone about some unpleasant or difficult topic, and next to you is the same pen with a sheet of paper? Most answer: “Well, we’re drawing something.” But why? After all, the one with whom we are talking does not see us. The answer is simple. We draw in order to connect the creative zones of the right hemisphere of the brain to thinking through the best answer options and thereby use a larger volume of the cerebral cortex, which will increase the number of possible answer options and increase their originality.

How many exact postal addresses can you remember where you have ever been, for example, st. Profsoyuznaya, 33, apt. 147? None of the participants in our trainings could name more than 10 addresses. And how many addresses can you visually remember where you have ever been in order to get there if necessary (for example, here behind the temple turn left, then at the fork to the right and in the courtyard there is a third entrance, a polished black door)? The number of such addresses is impossible to count, and as soon as most people find themselves in a place where they have already been, they will immediately remember how and where to get out of there. This example also shows how the left hemisphere (physical memory of addresses) and the right hemisphere (spatial memory) work.

There are a huge number of examples around us in which the cerebral cortex of our right hemisphere works.

Rice. 4. A typical diagram obtained during spontaneous drawing to explain complex information-intensive issues 1

1. Traffic light

This is perhaps one of the most striking examples of visualization. Do you know why red was chosen as a prohibitive color? Because our brain perceives it faster than any other. And the green color is perceived longer than other colors, which is very important before crossing the road: you will have time to think carefully and look around. That is why we relax when we are in nature among green trees. Green color “slows down” our attention. A modern innovation in traffic lights is the use of special signs indicating that you need to walk or stand.

By the way, imagine if the traffic lights instead of colors had simple inscriptions:

And all these inscriptions would light up in one color, for example blue. How would you navigate? The majority answered this question in order: the top signal is on - stop, the bottom light is on - go. You see, even here we engage the faster right hemisphere.

2.Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Outlook is the favorite email organizer for many users, including due to its advanced visualization capabilities, which are significantly less in its closest competitors: Lotus Notes, The Bat, Thunderbird, etc.

For example, a company employee only needs a few seconds of viewing the consolidated calendars of consultants to understand who is doing what and what free zones there are for scheduling a meeting. It’s enough to know that according to the corporate standard for using Outlook, off-site meetings are colored orange, tightly scheduled meetings within the office are blue, and budgeted tasks that do not have a strict start and finish are colored in green. Knowing this, you can look at Fig. 5, very quickly understand that one employee has three off-site meetings scheduled for November 11, and he will only be in the office at 17.00, but at this time he already has an internal meeting scheduled with the sales department. You can also quickly understand that his colleague has two budgeted tasks planned, and he can safely schedule a consultation or training for November 11th.

Rice. 5. Visualization in Outlook 2007 Calendar

Rice. 6. Plain non-rendered Outlook 2007 Calendar

Looking at this consolidated calendar, you can quickly understand that it is unlikely that it will be possible to gather all the consultants together on November 11 and that you need to look for another day for this.

Look at fig. 6. Will you be able to come to the same conclusions with the same speed if you analyze a non-visualized Calendar?

3. Cockpit

Pilots experience a huge information load. In the cockpit there is a huge number of different instruments, the indicators of which must be monitored. Additional stress is caused by the cost of any mistake, because pilots are responsible not only for their own lives.

Correct visualization of the control panel is key: the pilot must quickly analyze all incoming information (Fig. 7).

Note that modern cockpits do not have as many monotonous sensors as older models that rely primarily on the analytical left brain. In modern cockpits, color codes for key controls and instruments are displayed on LCD monitors; electronic display systems and an integrated information signaling system are used to the maximum, which display flight and navigation information on the status of the power plant and general aircraft systems on the displays. Previously, all this had to be imagined using a variety of monotonous dark instruments, as in the figure above (information taken from the website www.ifc.com)!

Rice. 7. Cockpit of the obsolete TU-154 (top) and modern IL-96 (bottom)

4. Map of the general battle

Imagine this picture: at army headquarters, generals stand at a wall on which information about all armies is written only using numbers and letters: coordinates and descriptions (number of units, condition) of tank, air force, infantry, artillery, support units, such the same information about the enemy according to intelligence data, the latest information about the allied forces. No map, no spatial arrangement - just numbers of coordinates and letters of description. It's hard to imagine, isn't it?

It is not difficult to guess how valuable every second is in order to have time to analyze all the information, develop a strategy and make a final decision on the method of attack.

It is not surprising that the military has been using diagrams, maps, symbols of divisions, detachments and armies, their own and others, since ancient times. Otherwise, it would be impossible to process huge regularly received flows of information with coordinates, new information about losses, retreats and attacks, and even more so to quickly coordinate actions with each other (Fig. 8).

Rice. 8. Map of the general battle. Strategy development by army headquarters

Principle two. Associative thinking

Have you ever wondered what the word “consider” means? We often call someone smart, but what does that mean? What is the deep essence of this amazing Russian word?

A smart person is a person who is able to build correct images in his head based on incoming information, that is, identical to the images of the author of information, storyteller, etc. (at a lecture, while reading a book, article, letter, conducting business negotiations, etc.). And vice versa, we call a person incompetent, to put it mildly (or dull, to put it mildly), if he does not understand information the way we would like, or does not understand it at all (although the problem may be in the inconvenient format of the information itself).

I remember an anecdote about teachers of higher mathematics and experimental physics.

Colleague, how can you be in a good mood after this group? There are only stupid people there!

Really? And in my opinion, they are very capable, even brilliant students. Especially when you stop telling them and start showing them...

Any incoming information must first form an image in our head. Once we understand something, we form an image in our head and remember the information much easier and for a much longer period. Information that has not been converted into images is “empty” information that has no meaning and is easily forgotten (remember cramming at school).

Alexander Romanovich Luria, a famous Soviet psychologist and physiologist, noted that “the basis of verbal memory is always the process of recoding the reported material, associated with the process of abstraction from unimportant details and generalization of the central points of information...”

Rice. 9. How verbal information is perceived1

Natalya Petrovna Bekhtereva, an outstanding Russian scientist, called the process of understanding information schemes: “Schemes can be different... We call a person talented or even brilliant if such a scheme, idea, concept turns out to be correct... when disparate facts fit into a coherent system and complex It turns out that it is possible to present events simply, present them in the form of a diagram, and even predict something based on it.” In order to understand how images are formed in our heads, it is enough to see the features of storing information in our brain. To do this, let's look at an enlarged picture of the structure of our brain (Fig. 10).

As you know, our brain consists of approximately 1,000,000,000,000 cells called neurons. Their number does not increase throughout life, but can decrease under the influence of severe stress, alcohol intoxication, trauma and other unfavorable factors. But if the number of neurons does not increase from the moment a person is born, then where is all the incoming information stored and processed?

Rice. 10. Illustration showing the interconnections of neurons. The drawing is simplified a thousand times and corresponds to a microscopic part of brain tissue

Each neuron is connected to others by a huge number of branch connections that are formed throughout a person’s life. The more intense a person’s information life, the greater the number of such connections between brain cells. This amount changes throughout a person's life. Moreover, the more intense his intellectual life, the more such connections are created, the more developed the person’s brain and, accordingly, the person himself.

All information that is distributed in the brain is associatively transmitted between neurons at the speed of electric current, and the greater the number of such connections, the more capable the brain is of perceiving new information.

When we take in information, whether it's reading a book or listening to a lecture, all the many neural connections in our brain are activated to help us form an image. Once we form an image, we understand the information. It is difficult for us to read a book or perceive someone's story if we cannot quickly build images based on the information we receive. Or we may simply not have enough previous experience and training (that is, the number of connections between neurons) to understand the new information. It is extremely difficult to understand something at a seminar on financial management (no matter how talented the teacher is) if you do not know how to count, multiply, divide...

PERCEPTION AND MEMORIZATION THROUGH IMAGERY REPRESENTATIONS

Remember how at school we learned by heart many words, sentences and definitions, without ever understanding their meaning. What is verbal memory and does it exist at all? Here is the definition of verbal memory given by psychologist Luria (to whose work Tony Buzan especially refers): “When receiving verbal information, a person remembers the words least of all, trying to retain the textual impression that has reached him.”

To demonstrate what verbal memory is, try memorizing the following 10 words:

night-forest-house-window-cat-table-pie-ringing-needle-fire.

It's difficult, isn't it? Let's complicate the task. Now try to remember the whole story.

“At night in the forest, a cat climbed into the house through the window, jumped on the table, ate the pie, but broke the plate, which caused a ringing sound. He felt that the fragment stuck into his paw like a needle, and he felt pain in his paw, as if from fire.”

Oddly enough, there were more words, and it became easier to remember them. Why? Because we have translated the language of words into the language of images and impressions, which is more understandable to our brain and much easier to perceive.

Now it becomes clear why we cannot think linearly, especially in unclear situations. Our thoughts “jump” from one to another, and at the next moment in time, completely unexpectedly for us, we are already thinking about something else.

For example, when we think about something, many associations related to this topic appear in our minds. We start thinking about how to spend the New Year, and a whole fountain of ideas immediately appears in our heads: “Buy more cognac! Organize more competitions! Think about where to store drunks. How to get everyone to the place? Who to choose as the presenter? How can you keep it all in your head?!” - and we automatically reach for a pen and paper and begin to write everything down in order to somehow structure everything and not lose valuable thoughts.

The principle of associative thinking is that our brain, due to its structure, works with information associatively, and not linearly. At the same time, images are created in our heads, thanks to which we understand the information.

Based on this principle, Tony Buzan proposed recording information not linearly, as is customary in most cases, but associatively (radiantly), connecting thoughts with each other in space, rightly suggesting that this form would be the most convenient for perception, since the brain needs will carry out a minimum of work to create an image, that is, understanding the information.

Information presented in the form of mind maps is perceived faster, more efficiently, and is remembered faster and for a longer period, as this corresponds to the natural associative nature of our thinking. It's just the way our brains work.

So, according to the two principles stated above, any information is perceived by us in the form of images that are formed on the basis of the information received. And the more volume of the cerebral cortex we use when perceiving and analyzing information, the faster we can build the desired image, that is, understand the information.

Mind management technologies are built on these features of the brain.

Mind management algorithm

A mind map is one of the best ways to increase the efficiency of intellectual work, that is, the creation of intellectual products. What is an intellectual product?

Intellectual products include writing texts, implementing any projects, training, analysis, goal setting for the quarter, year, life, personal development, solving problems and non-standard tasks, strategic planning, etc. and so on. In essence, all knowledge workers are engaged in the creation of intellectual products. What is the most common problem?

During our consulting practice, we have repeatedly observed how the natural laws of intellectual work are violated, when they first do something, come up with ideas while doing it, and after they do it, they exclaim: “But we forgot the most important thing!”

The creation of any intellectual product (writing a book, preparing a presentation, developing a strategy, and even planning and realizing a dream) most effectively occurs in five stages, each of which has its own clear goal, which, most likely, you know at least on an intuitive level. I called these stages the mind management algorithm.

1. Birth of an idea

What time do you usually have brilliant work-related ideas? Most people we ask this question usually answer something like: “In the shower. On holiday. During sleep". Sounds familiar, doesn't it? And for some reason the best ideas related to your personal life come at work.

The birth of an idea is perhaps the most mysterious stage. You never know when it will emerge from the depths of the unconscious. When this moment comes, it seems that the brilliant insight will remain with us forever and we will never forget it... But no. As soon as the phone suddenly rings or the dog barks, a painful, painfully familiar thought appears: “Oh, what was this brilliant thing I was thinking about?!” About something bold and new...” And it’s not always possible to remember, right?

Take care of your ideas, remember the basic principle of time management (the principle of materialization) - write it down! Don't foolishly waste brilliant ideas that can change your life. The first advice that Vladimir Mayakovsky gave to aspiring writers was to buy a notebook, always have it with you and write down all observations, which can then form the basis of the plot.

2. Brainstorming - creating chaos for the mind map

So, when the idea is successfully caught, we are faced with the task of developing an intellectual product. For example, write an article on a new topic. What do most people do in this case? Naturally! Take a blank sheet of paper or open Word and start writing. Or rather, try to write. Since you constantly have to stop, look for the right thoughts in the associative chaos and drive away the unnecessary ones (although how useful they would be in the next section!). Here it is, the associative nature of thinking!

It turns out that we are trying to do two jobs at the same time: write a specific part of the text and continue to think about others, which contradicts the associative nature of our thinking and, naturally, reduces the efficiency of work. We need to concentrate on one task, and at the moment when useful thoughts swarm in our minds, we need to catch them all as quickly as possible, because it is unknown when they will appear next time.

The main task at this stage is to conduct a brainstorming session, the purpose of which is to write down all the associative ideas that have arisen related to the intellectual product being created. If you have a chaos of useful and interesting thoughts, you yourself can determine the moment when you need to start organizing them.

3. Mind Map Creation / Analysis

It is impossible to bring order to a completely empty room, just as it is impossible to create the structure of an intellectual product without having in front of you the chaos of thoughts associated with it. This is proven by the very practical method of limited chaos proposed by Gleb Arkhangelsky in the book “Time Drive”.

At the structuring stage, the main goal is to understand the logic, that is, to form an image of an intellectual product, which is achieved through structuring, for example in the form of a mind map. Do you know the pleasant feeling when you suddenly suddenly understand how to respond to an unpleasant letter you received a few days ago, or when you understand where you want to go on vacation? This happens when the brain has processed the information received and offered you the most suitable solution.

The same thing, only much faster, happens when you structure (best in the form of a mind map) the results of a brainstorming session, for example, on writing an article. At one point, there is an understanding of what this article will be like, that is, its image is formed. You clearly see the structure, you know where to write what and what data and pictures to place, you understand what information the reader will take from the article and how he will generally perceive it.

At the moment of achieving an understanding of the formation of the image of the future intellectual product, you can move on to action.

4. Action

If you have successfully completed the first three stages, achieving the goal of each of them, then the process of implementing your plan will proceed with maximum efficiency. The chaos of thoughts, ordered into a structure, will no longer bother you, and you will be able to concentrate all your attention on achieving your goal. And if another necessary thought comes to you that was missed during the brainstorming stage, then you can easily fit it into your structure. Mind maps allow you to do this with maximum speed.

At the action stage, the main goal is to implement your plans according to the structure you created.

5. Result

The natural consequence of achieving the goals of the first four stages is obtaining results. It doesn’t always meet our expectations at the first stage, but that’s the beauty of smart products: if you follow the natural logic of their creation, that is, the mind management algorithm, the result usually exceeds all expectations.

Let's see how the mind management algorithm was used to solve such a pressing problem for many Russian managers as the restoration of vital resources.

Natalya Sosnovskaya, project manager of one of the large telecommunications companies

The understanding that life resources must be managed and forced to rest properly has, of course, always been there. “You need to rest”, “you look bad” - you can often hear from colleagues and friends. But for some reason, no one tells how to properly restore vital energy, effectively spending the time allotted for rest. The situation became clearer during the time management training, when we came to the topic of managing life resources, and everything turned out to be very simple: for effective recovery energy, you need to force yourself to rest properly, restoring physical, emotional and intellectual strength. The regularity of recovery should occur in accordance with the rhythms of a person’s life - daily, weekly and annually. Moreover, if you do not recuperate effectively today, you can greatly lose in your work efficiency tomorrow. The same is true for weekly and annual holidays. It would seem that everything is clear, but there is no answer to the question: what exactly needs to be done to restore your strength and acquire new ones? There is an idea of ​​the problem. There is motivation to solve it. There is no solution.

And here came the answer from the business coach: “You should come up with activities that restore your physical, emotional and intellectual resources for yourself. What works for one person may not work for another.”

A brainstorming session was conducted to identify such activities. The group was divided into three subgroups, each of which had to find the maximum number of ways to restore vital resources on a daily, weekly and annual basis.

Each participant was given 10 stickers, on each of which they had to write one way to restore vital resources. After everyone completed the task, it was possible to structure the ideas received and analyze the information.

Taking sheets of A1 format, the participants in their subgroups began to combine the thoughts they had received. A sticker with an idea was attached to a similar area if it was already marked on a sheet of flipchart, and if it was not, then a new area was created (Fig. 11).

We saw before us many different ways to restore resources every year, from which each one chose the one that suited him.

After we had an overview of possible ways to restore vital resources and realized that this, too, can and should be planned, all that remains is to proceed to the most difficult thing - to force ourselves to do something.

Thanks to the fact that the bright mind maps constantly attract attention, I had to regularly ask myself the question “What am I doing with what is written there?” And the more often I asked myself this question, the more often I forced myself to act! And little by little the result began to appear...

Rice. 11. Results of grouping the results of the brainstorming session “Annual restoration of vital resources”

As soon as I began to consciously plan for the restoration of my vital resources, I noticed an interesting feature: my body allocates much more energy to perform the assigned tasks if I know that they will be followed by a guaranteed, pre-planned restoration of energy. And the more interesting the vacation is planned, the more energy is released, the more tasks can be completed!

Rice. 12. Mind map for daily resource recovery

Definition of mind management

So, our intellectual activity is subject to the following clear working principles.

• We cannot operate with more than 7±2 objects of information at the same time.
• Any thought can be immediately lost and supplanted by another, not always more important and priority thought.
• We underutilize our brain's ability to perceive grouped and related information that contains semantic colors, pictures, patterns, and typical connections.
• Information is perceived the better, the larger the volume of the cerebral cortex is connected to its perception.
• Our brain thinks associatively, building connections of thoughts and a logical structure from the information received (based on our and only our logic or experience), after which we form an understanding of the information, that is, an image appears.
• In order to quickly achieve the result of a planned intellectual product, you must first collect all your thoughts, structure them in order to understand what exactly needs to be done to achieve the result.

The ability to properly structure information is becoming a necessary skill in the modern world, since the average office employee now receives 90% of information in electronic form, the amount of which doubles every few years.

And since the majority of electronic information is received and processed through such common office programs as Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, Power Point, Lotus Notes, etc., which mainly involve the perception of the left (analytical) hemisphere, then for most modern office workers The picture shown in Fig. is typical. 13.

Rice. 13. Linear information flows attacking an office employee

In the absence of the necessary structuring skills, information received in electronic form is one of the main time sinks, and the role of the ability of a modern employee to quickly process electronic information, analyze it and make decisions based on it is one of the keys in increasing the efficiency of his work.

You can acquire such skills and learn to use modern technologies for using the enormous resources of our brain with the help of discoveries in the field of mind management (Fig. 14).

Mind management is a technology for presenting information flows in a form that requires minimal time and psychophysiological resources for search, analysis and understanding

Rice. 14. Mind management. Information flow management

At one of the trainings in a consulting company, at the beginning of the financial crisis, a very pressing problem was voiced - how to reduce costs during the crisis?

During a 10-minute brainstorming session and subsequent structuring of the ideas received, a visual mind map with a lot of interesting workable options was obtained (Fig. 15).

We analyzed each of the received options for adequacy, canceling some, accepting others and planning the next actions for the third. According to the client's feedback, after two months, with the help of specific actions based on the created mind map, they managed to reduce costs by more than 20% - here is the result.

A frighteningly large number of ideas pop into our heads when we begin to think about such large-scale tasks and problems as “reducing costs.” If you grab the first ideas you come across and start taking action, you are unlikely to achieve the desired result. But if you strictly follow the stages of the mind management algorithm and form an image of the problem, the result will not be long in coming!

Rice. 15. Mind map “How to reduce costs in times of crisis”
(Click on the picture to enlarge)

Buzan, T. and B., Superthinking. Minsk: Potpourri, 2003. - P. 11.

Quote by: Buzan T. and B. Superthinking. Minsk: Potpourri, 2003. - P. 31.

Quote by: Luria A.R. Lectures on general psychology. St. Petersburg: Peter, 2007. - P. 211.

Arkhangelsky G. Time drive: How to have time to live and work. M.: Mann, Ivanov and Ferber, 2005.