Mind Mapping for Goal Setting

Mind Mapping for Goal Setting
A mind map for goal setting is a great tool for brainstorming your wishes and desires.


To do a Mind Map for goal setting, all you need is a large piece of clean paper. Make sure there are no lines on it (as that will impose a 'structure' on your thinking, which we don't want) or if there are lines, turn the paper so that the lines are vertical.


In the center of the page, draw a circle and write in it in capital letters something like "My Life". This is the key thought for the Mind Map. Now, draw lines radiating out from this circle and at the end of each one of lines, write the name of a life aspect you want to consider. Leave lots of space so you can start to fill it in.


From here it's just a matter of jotting down whatever comes into your mind for each of the life aspects - this is the brainstorming bit!


The thoughts and ideas you need to get down in this Mind Map for each life aspect are:

• The things you don't like about your life as it is.


• The things you like about your life.


• What you want to happen/ have.


• What you don't want to happen/ have.


• The 'gap' between your current life and your 'perfect' life.

As you jot down all your thoughts, you will see some common threads - connect these with lines and arrows (use colour so it's easy to follow).


This is an opportunity to reflect on where your life is and better still, get excited about the things you want to do and where you want to take your life. That's the whole point of effective goal setting - by making it personal, it really IS interesting and you should get a real buzz just thinking about the endless opportunities that await.


It's important to keep your Mind Map for goal setting handy - after all, it is a map of your inner most thoughts and desires. Keep it in a prominent spot and refer to it regularly.


Mind Maps have many other uses too - so it's a good skill to learn.

Mind Map Video Training - and it's FREE!
If you want to learn how to use Mind Mapping techniques effectively, then register for this FREE Video Training Course from NovaMind. It goes through the 18 main uses of Mind Mapping and gives you in depth information about how to benefit from using Mind Mapping for each of those purposes.
The course covers:

• How to take notes effectively using Mind Mapping


• How to prepare and deliver great presentations using Mind Mapping techniques


• How to create Mind Mapped to do lists


• Problem solving using Mind Maps - from simple to complex problems


• Decision making - how to make great decisions confidently, no matter how difficult the decision is


• Information and knowledge management and how to get the most out of what you know


• Project planning and management using Mind Maps


• Creative thinking and brainstorming


• How to write articles, technical documents and books using Mind Maps


• Business and strategic planning using Mind Maps


• Life management and goal setting

Did I mention it's FREE? Register here.

NovaMind has also written a comprehensive book on the 'HOW TO' of mind mapping. This book is not just for NovaMind mapping software but is designed for anyone who needs to be more organized and efficient at life or who is looking for something to help them with their problem solving or pitching ideas. The book does refer to the NovaMind software for examples, but you can apply the principles in this book to other mind mapping software and to the good old hand drawn versions too!


You can get a copy of the book here.

Mind Mapping Software
A Concept or Mind Map is a useful tool not only for goal setting but for planning of any home or work project - and you can prepare one on the back of an envelop, on a whiteboard or in a notebook.


But if you haven't got the knack of drawing the map yourself (don't worry, a bit of practice and you'll get there), here is some great software you can use.


NovaMind is an excellent graphical tool for mind mapping and works wonderfully simply in a way that almost hides its complexity and wealth of intuitive features. It provides excellent value for money and is under active continuous development and improvement. You'll have no regrets buying this software for your mind mapping needs. And you get great support from the company too!


And best of all, you can get a 30 day free (and obligation and risk free) trail - just click here.

Mind Mapping on your iPhone or iPod
For all you iPhone and iPod addicts out there, it is now possible to prepare mind maps on your portable with iBlueSky Mind Mapping for iPhone and iPod Touch integration with NovaMind.


The first release of the integration is being rolled out in two stages - firstly with the ability to create your Mind Maps in iBlueSky and send them as NovaMind files that you can open up directly in NovaMind to use the full power of NovaMind. The second stage is expected to be available soon, and will include the ability to also send a NovaMind file to iBlueSky, so there will be a two way round trip possible between the two applications.


Having a great Mind Mapping application in your pocket, available at any time is great for ad-hoc Mind Mapping, making your to-do list on the go, brainstorming new ideas wherever you are, taking notes in meetings, and so on.


But the real power comes in when you combine it with a fully featured Mind Mapping program like NovaMind so that you can enhance the Mind Maps with great graphics, full color control, different branch shapes, and add to the depth of the data with branch notes, hyperlinks to web pages and other supporting documents, as well as task information, and you have all the ways of using the Mind Maps like using the NovaMind presenter, exporting to MS Word, Powerpoint, Keynote, Merlin, MS Project etc.