How do I reflect on who I am?
There are many ways one can explore who you are. Some may choose journaling, some may choose mind mapping, some may choose talking to others. Here are some tips to dig deeper and get to know who you are through mind mapping.
MIND MAPPING
WHY: This is a tool we use in design thinking and life design to help people get unstuck. I also use mind mapping to help me through checking in with myself, to find focus and to help me decide on how to move forward. It is also a great tool to help me be in touch with myself.
HOW: To start mind mapping, get out a piece of paper and follow these steps:
- Remember, you are in a great place to move forward as you have decided to take action on checking in with yourself.
- Write “My Curiosities” in the center of the page and draw a medium circle in the center
- Create spokes to the map outside of the center circle with your responses to the prompts below.
- What are you curious about? What are your hobbies, things you do for fun? What problems do you want to solve? What are 3 core values? What are 3 salient identities?
- After you have spent about 1-2 minutes thinking about the above prompts, think about the WHY in each of your responses.
- Then see if any of the areas connect.
- Take a breath and review.
TOOLS / EXAMPLES: Examples of mind mapping can be found through:
- Find examples and a template on OneDrive: Public Link | JHED Authentication OneDrive (Single Sign-on).
- Talking with a Life Design Educator during drop-in hours so we can work with you to create one. Check out when on our LDL website.
- Enroll in the asynchronous Embrace Your Story Pathway on OneHop by submitting this form or emailing CliftonShambry@jhu.edu.
CALL TO ACTION
- Enroll in the Embrace Your Story Pathway today to explore how you can embrace your own story by submitting this form!
Review the other blog posts on reflection: Journaling | Mind Mapping | Talking to Others. Also, feel free to connect with your Life Design Educator to help with mind mapping.
Written by Clifton E. Shambry Jr.
