Mind Mapping: A Good Practice of Self-Reflection

Introduced in the 1960’s by Tony Buzan, Mind Mapping is a graphic technique which provides a universal key to unlock the potential of the human brain. It harnesses the full range of cortical skills – word, image, number, logic, rhythm, colour and spatial awareness – in a single, uniquely manner.

Nowadays, mind mapping is considered by many as the most powerful thinking too for our times. It can be applied to every aspect of our lives. Through mind mapping, we are able to do self-reflection and apply critical thinking.

Recently, in the only class that I have this intersession semester at Ateneo, the Creativity and Problem Awareness class, we were asked by our professor to create a mind map. At the end of the activity, we are expected to come up with a graphic image showing where our finances go and how we manage our money.

At first, I was hesitant in doing the task. Honestly speaking, I really think that the activity is fitting only for the younger ones. I guess it is because I am not really into any form of drawing and I think the different colors of pen made me think more that the activity doesn’t really fit my way of thinking and my personality as well. It is because I always prefer things to be just in black and white. But, while I was doing it, I realized that I was completely wrong for mind mapping suits the needs of all ages.  

As you can see, there are five specific areas that I give so much significance in terms of financial management and these are the following:

- Needs (food, family expenses, and bills)
- Emergency (unexpected circumstances)
- Future (heath insurance, properties - car and house)
- Savings (investments, bank)
- Personal (travel, education, leisure, events)

In my mind map, I only used four different colors - black, red, blue and green. If given the choice, I would have used one or two colors only. It is because I really prefer things to be simpler and in a way, more formal.

Mind mapping is indeed a good way of planning and putting things in the right places. It is also a good way of evaluating yourself and checking if you’re on the right track. I can say that because of the realizations that I had after finishing the activity.

I realized that art isn’t really my forte and that’s something that I have already accepted a long time ago. As much as I love art, art seems not to love me at all. Hahaha! But seriously, I really think mind mapping would be more effective for people who are blessed with innate skills in graphic designing. 

To my surprise, my output made me realize that I am living my life the right way although, for obvious reasons, there are still a lot of things that I have to improve in terms of managing my finances. That is why while I was doing the task, I thought of cheating. I planned to put things in my output even if in reality, my money doesn’t go there. It is because I think that as a young adult, these things should be part of my concerns already.  

Mind mapping can make a person feel good and at the same time, feel bad, for himself. This is what I felt after doing the activity. The activity is indeed a good practice of thinking, reflecting and evaluating.