Mind Map Inspiration » Mind Maps

No Snow No Snowman

Paul — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 09:02:03 +0000

Resisting reality is like wanting to build a snowman when there is no snow and then worrying about it.

When the snow is there, hurray, build a snowman. Of course, when the snow is there you also have a choice whether to build or not; the luxury of options. When the sun is shining and no snow falls, you have no choice – you cannot build a snowman of snow. Resistance, worry, upset, anger – all pointless as reality is reality. No snow, no snowman.

Naturally, you could build a snowman out of another material; create your own “snow”, yet it would not be a true snowman made of snow. If you can afford it you might travel to snow to build a snowman or even ship snow to you in order to build a snowman. Some things have to wait, like it not, some parts of reality, like the weather, remain way out of our control.

When the snow falls and you build your snowman, more resistance to reality can enter – I don’t want it to melt. I want my snowman to last forever; the insanity of wanting what isn’t or chasing the impossible.

Unless you are fortunate enough that you can afford to change or buy an alternative reality, the only thing for it is to accept existing reality; accept none other than the present moment. Wait for the snow – then build the snowman.

No snow, no snowman – true reality

I hope you enjoy viewing my Mind Maps – there are hundreds more planned here at the Mind Map Inspiration Blog plus ongoing creativity and drawing tips. If you are not already subscribed, why not do so now via RSS or Email

Also available: E-Books designed to help you create stylish and artistic mind maps of your own.

If you know someone who would enjoy this post and others here at the Mind Map Inspiration Blog please share with them.

Follow me on Twitter @mindmapdrawer

I am me

Paul — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 08:52:49 +0000

I am me

I am not you. I don’t walk like you, I don’t talk like you, I don’t draw like you, I don’t write like you. I walk, talk, draw and write like me, because I am not you – I am me.

I am not you. I can’t sing like you, I can’t dance like you, I can’t laugh like you, I can’t dream like you. I sing, dance, laugh and dream like me, because I am not you – I am me.

I am not you. I don’t dress like you, I don’t smell like you, I don’t hear like you, I don’t see like you. I dress, smell, hear and see like me, because I am not you – I am me.

I am me. I might be big, small, short, tall, young, old, hairy or bald. I might be loud or quiet, sensible or silly. I might be some of these things or all of these things, be it past, present or future. I might be healthy, I might be sick, I might be slow, I might be quick – whatever I choose to be – and whenever I choose to be it – I am me.

I am not you – I am me.

You are not me – you are you.

I am me. You are you.

I know you are you and I know I am me. I know I am not you because I know I am me. You are different to me and that’s how it should be as you are you and I am me.

That’s how it should be – I am me.

I am me. I am me. I am me. You are you and I am me.

Congratulations on being you.

I am me.

Also available: E-Books designed to help you create stylish and artistic mind maps of your own.

If you know someone who would enjoy this post and others here at the Mind Map Inspiration Blog please share with them.

Follow me on Twitter @mindmapdrawer

Going for gold

Paul — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 09:21:13 +0000

There is not a single athlete entering the Olympics who is not aiming at giving their best performance. Every one of them will train for peak fitness and optimum skill. Many will have their sights set on winning a medal; some will be going for gold.

It’s the desire, the dream, the aspiration, the achievement that drives them, whether finishing first or last. Thousands of athletes striving for their best – the best they can be and every single one of them knows they can’t all win a gold.

It’s the sport that counts; that and following their passion. Even those finishing last are world-class competitors; best on planet – or they wouldn’t be there.

Gold medal? Silver medal? Bronze medal? World record? Nicest legs? They are all by-products of the main event – participation at the highest possible world and individual level. In my eyes they are all winners. They all deserve a medal for competing and in a way they get one – the inner accomplishment of being there. Competing, going for gold – the shared ‘gold’ is the inner achievement of entering, after years of practice and dedication, the training and the injuries, the setbacks, heartaches and disappointments.

Not one athlete will give anything other than their all – now that’s something to fail for as well as win for. They can’t all win gold – and nor do they need to. Going for gold – it’s the going that counts.

See also:

Olympic potential Mind Map

Also available: E-Books designed to help you create stylish and artistic mind maps of your own.

If you know someone who would enjoy this post and others here at the Mind Map Inspiration Blog please share with them.

Follow me on Twitter @mindmapdrawer

Dream Vision

Paul — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:55:15 +0000

This mind map draws inspiration from an outstanding book called “Innovate like Edison” by Michael J. Gelb and Sarah Miller Caldicott. Michael J. Gelb is the author of “How to Think like Leonardo da Vinci” and many other books. You can follow him on Twitter @MichaelJGelb and visit his website at http://michaelgelb.com/ Sarah Miller Caldicott is the great-grandniece of Thomas Edison. Visit her website at http://www.powerpatterns.com/

I’ve called this mind map Dream Vision and it covers hints and tips, inspired by the book, for getting your message across to an audience, be it a presentation, sales, marketing, ideation or innovation and more. How might you excite and incite? Dream Vision offers suggestions for catching the eye and interest plus areas to consider in order to create influence and impact. “Innovate like Edison” is a fascinating read and this mind map covers only a few of the many comprehensive ideas within the book – I highly recommend reading it.

In the Dream Vision mind map I have used an acronym of the word “Dream” to explore 5 key areas for inspiring interest and action.

“D” stands for “Desire” – Finding ways to tap into human qualities and experiences; what people can relate to. It suggests focussing on needs by identifying what people are looking for and how and why they need what you have to offer.

“R” stands for “Reason” – Exploring ways you can interest the mind, encourage curiosity and also excite the heart by connecting to and evoking feelings.

“E” stands for “Emotions” – Connecting feelings to knowledge, raising the memorability factor by tapping personal meanings and associations and encouraging the desire or reason to act or do.

“A” stands for “Action” – Converting the needs, feelings and desires to an outcome, solution or answer; moving from interest to feeling compelled to act or do.

“M” stands for “Memorable” – Creating an exceptional experience, an unforgettable hook or message; unique, outstanding, original, creative and extraordinary. Often simple yet unusual enough to create impact and guarantee recall.

The acronym again:

D – Desire
R – Reason
E – Emotions
A – Action
M – Memorable

A quote from the book – “Your ability to influence others in a memorable way, as Edison did, will dramatically improve your prospects for success in every endeavour”

A quote from Thomas Edison – “To have a great idea, have lots of them”

A quote from me – “Read the book “Innovate like Edison”

Also of interest, check out my own E-Book for encouraging ideation called “Idea Creation” – this illustrated E-Book contains over 20 mind maps.

Also available: E-Books designed to help you create stylish and artistic mind maps of your own.

If you know someone who would enjoy this post and others here at the Mind Map Inspiration Blog please share with them.

Follow me on Twitter @mindmapdrawer

Look again

Paul — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:13:41 +0000

Truth and illusion; both thought-based; both require identification with thought. Illusion is a script, a story; truth has no “story” it just “is”.

A tree is a tree – that’s truth. If I tell you all about a tree and about everyone who comes and goes and sees the tree, that is a story – or stories about the tree. The tree is only an example; it might be a rock or a flower or anything. The name of the tree is a label; another story – the tree is a tree whatever it may have been labelled by our ancestors. Even the word “tree” someone had to label. The labels come and the mind thinks it “knows” – knows what the tree is, knows all about it and so the enquiry is over.

Beneath the labels of names and stories the tree is a tree and you are you. Labels come and go – one day the tree might be a brown tree, another day it might be a green tree – still a tree. One day you might be a painter or an electrician or a doctor or a vet, yet you still remain you beneath the titles. The you beneath the labels.

Once the mind has a label for something, it rarely looks any further because it thinks it knows. There is so much more to life than a label. Before a label curiosity and intrigue, after the label potential ignorance. The danger of a label is we say that is a daisy and look away and then forget to actually see the daisy. To embrace the daisy and simply look without thought then you see the daisy for real; possibly even for the first time.

To sit with a tree and simply observe, that is a true connection with nature. To meet another person or an animal without a barrage of labels that is a real connection; beneath the labels, beneath the analysis, beneath the stories of who or what the person “is”, or what the animal “is”.

So today, what might you meet with for the first time however many occasions you have seen it before?

Today, who might you connect with and really truly meet, possibly for the first time?

The before and after of what you know; the before and after of what you “think” you know.

Look again and perhaps for the first time ever you may see

Also available: E-Books designed to help you create stylish and artistic mind maps of your own.

If you know someone who would enjoy this post and others here at the Mind Map Inspiration Blog please share with them.

Follow me on Twitter @mindmapdrawer

Mind Map Inspiration » Mind Maps

No Snow No Snowman

Related Posts:

I am me

Related Posts:

Going for gold

Related Posts:

Dream Vision

Related Posts:

Look again

Related Posts: