Whenever you are looking for great ideas, new insights or you are just looking for answers, you should consider using a Mind Map for getting results. Of course there are other forms of visual mapping you could consider as well. Let's focus on the Mind Map today. I'm confident you can apply these thoughts on different mapping methods as well.

There are two things you have to consider when you are capturing and overviewing your thoughts. Here they are.

Your Mind Creates Ideas, The Mind Map Creates Overview This is very easy to understand. You have these amazing ideas stored in your head. The Mind Map is only a format that shows you what you already know.

Most people who are Mind Mapping believe it is the Mind Map that creates the ideas. Understand that the Mind Map is only a tool that lets you overview the thoughts you have on one sheet of paper. A Mind Map cannot do anything without you. It may only give you a fresh perspective on familiar thoughts.

By seeing all the thoughts, ideas and concepts on one sheet of paper, your mind may find new angles on a problem or topic.

When you create a Mind Map, whether this is on paper or on your computer, you need to be quick and precise.

You must act quickly in order to capture the flow of ideas on your sheet. Don't start to draw images in the beginning. Don't try to find the best suited structure or format for your Mind Map. In this stage, it is all about thought capturing.

You need to be precise because your mind gives you the information in a certain order (most of the time). It is up to you to create branches, sub branches and relationship lines.

When you capture the right concepts and thoughts and you put these on the right place, you can use the map to create more wonderful ideas.

This is where you use the overview to dive deeper into your own mind.

The practical side of Mind Mapping on paper: a good overview During my training courses, I ask people to create notes on a short presentation I give. After the presentation, they learn how to Mind Map and they create their first Mind Map.

9 out of 10 people who create their first Mind Map on paper do this the same way. They:

* use the entire sheet of paper
* write much large than they normally do

So many people fill their sheet from left to right and top to bottom. They cover every inch of the sheet with lines, images and words. They are learning to use a new tool and they are totally getting into the drawing aspect of the Mind Map. When I ask them to add new information to their freshly created Mind Map, this creates a problem for most. They used the entire sheet of paper and lack room for additional information.

This is usually the moment they start to see problems for the usage of Mind Maps...

It is really interesting to see that they don't notice that their Mind Map sheet is twice the size of their original sheet. Also, they use less information in the Mind Map... When you want to get the most out of your Mind Maps, I would like to advise you not to write too big. Yes, you have lots of space, yet this has to be filled with information, not big letters and drawings.

1. Disappointment with God
So many have a wrong understanding of God`s plan for us and we therefore become disappointed as a result. Their prayer life is full of unanswered requests and they fail to appreciate the wider aspect of this discipline, which is primarily about a relationship with Him. This involves both talking and listening and developing an intimate engagement with God through time spent with Him. The spark can be lost as frustration sets in, because our needs are not met. We see God as someone who should be providing all the time, instead of someone we can love and enjoy.

2. Upset in the Church
The church is meant to be a living expression of who God is and a place of support, blessing and growth. This is very often far from our experience as we battle with each other for position, value and recognition. We feel let down by leaders and others in the church who promise so much and deliver so little. Sometimes what we read in the Bible is such a contrast to what we see in the lives of those who share our faith. The can be spark lost as we struggle with feelings of being hurt, which often results in leaving the church and going it alone.

3. Testings, Trials and Tragedy
The difficulties we face in life cause much pain and unhappiness as we juggle with issues that challenge our faith. We want to be comfortable and major on the truths of joy, peace, fulfillment and completeness in Christ. We are bombarded with success driven literature and are taught to be inspired by those who are successful. Whilst none of these paths are wrong in themselves, we have got to embrace the other side of suffering and hardship. God uses these to shape our personality and the Bible is full of accounts of those who were heroes of the faith through much tribulation and thus entered the Kingdom of God. Our spark can be lost because we are looking through the wrong pair of glasses.

4. Lack of Spiritual Maintenance
Any machine, house or animal needs looking after if it is to function properly and perform to the best of it`s capabilities. Our lives are no different. It is amazing how many think they can run on empty and have a close encounter with their creator when little effort has been made. The Sunday service continues to be the highlight of the week and the main provision for our journey. A spiritual MOT is needed to find out what needs strengthening, repairing or replacing. The spark is lost when there`s nothing in the engine to feed the system, resulting in our lives grinding to a halt.

Innovative thinking is a natural trait which makes you different from others. But, you can practice innovative thinking through doing things different. Successful people do not do different things; they do things differently. There will be always a path which was not at all followed by anybody in the past. Search for that kind of path to create your success. Do not walk on the road laid by others. Create your own road to success. If you are not following routine path to success; you have to face more obstacles which were never faced by anybody.

Society will never accept innovative ideas in the beginning. Galileo said that planet earth is round, but people branded him mad. Galileo is a winner and his thoughts have become the base of research around the world. Many people are following the routine formula for the success of cinema; but Spielberg thought innovatively and created Jurassic Park and Titanic. He has broken the jinx of routine thinking and created history to be followed by many.

It is not easy to think innovatively and follow different path from others. Innovative thinking is not just limited to corporate world or literary world or other creative fields. You can think innovatively irrespective of your field of functioning. When you understand the routine roads taken by successful people, then you can lay down your own path towards success. Studying the old keenly will help you grow on new path. You have to research and work hard to delve deep into the ways of successful people. You have to develop innovative bent of mind to attract success.

In the beginning, it is very irritating to follow the path where you do not find any fellow travelers. But it will give you great results in the long run. Even if someone discourages you while following the unknown path, do not get disappointed. The following tips may help you to take firm decision to follow innovative thinking.