What’s in the Middle?

I’ve talked about mind maps before, I think, but these things are always worth a review.

Ask yourself what it is you want to be or to create or to set a goal for. Your answer might be one word, or an image, or perhaps a picture would better represent what you’re thinking. Put the word, image, or picture in the middle of your mind map. This could be a blank piece of paper or a white board or a screen on your computer.

Suppose, as in my case, you want to publish a novel. Write down the words or a picture that represents writing a novel to you – a favorite author or a book cover you like – and post items that relate to writing a novel on your map.

You might want to start a home business. Write that down in the centre of your map and post things relating to your interests around it. Maybe your goal is to get in better physical shape, or to come up with new ideas for your job, or you want to pursue that career you never got the chance to have. What are the things you have to do to make your goals become reality?

Have fun with it. Make a big pile of images, words, and phrases. Go through the pile and put favorites on the board. If you add new ones, eliminate those that no longer feel right.

As you get things on your map, you’ll get a sense how they should be laid out. For example, you might want to categorize or assign a theme to each corner of the board, such as “What I have,” “What I will have,” “What I need,” and “How to get what I need.” 

There’s no time limit on completing your map. And you’re allowed to add or subtract from it whenever you want.

Have your map somewhere you can see it every day. Study it and work on it. You’ll discover that the map will add clarity to your desires, and feeling to your visions, which in turn will generate an awareness of the things in your environment that can help you realize your vision. You will begin to see things that you did not see before, and just as importantly, will become aware of the blanks and holes in your vision.

This is simply another way to put your vision before your eyes. To keep it real. To see it come to pass.

Try it. Write down the first word. In the middle.

“Write this. Write what you see. Write it out in big block letters so that it can be read on the run. This vision-message is a witness pointing to what’s coming. It aches for the coming—it can hardly wait! And it doesn’t lie. If it seems slow in coming, wait. It’s on its way. It will come right on time.” Habakkuk 2:2 (The Message)