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Introduction

For those of us who are blessed with the gift of sight, it is easy to understand how critical and important it is to our daily life, decisions and actions. Our visual organs bring forth into our conscious mind a world of color, intrigue, movement and depth. We perceive our reality to be real and true based on our personal perceptions and interpretations of this visual and breathtaking world. Not only do we live within a reality of pictures and moving images, but what is even more profound, is that we dream and think in pictures 24/7. In fact, our entire existence revolves around the concept of visual images passing through the recesses of our mind like clouds moving across the sky. So is it really surprising that mind mapping is considered to be the key to Accelerating our Learning Potential?

Today’s discussion will focus around the concept of Mind Mapping and how it can be applied to the process of accelerated learning. The first branch of the IQ Matrix focuses on the benefits of Mind Mapping. We discuss how it can be utilized for business, academic purposes and our daily life undertakings. The second branch of the IQ Matrix delves into describing and expanding a number of visual mapping methods that you can utilize to clarify, learn and expand upon your ideas. The third branch of the IQ Matrix presents you with a number of informative IQ Matrix reading examples. These will help you better understand how to read through the IQ Matrixes available through this site. The final branch of the IQ Matrix provides you with a number of Mind Mapping Study Tips for homework help as well as for examination purposes. By following this process, you will effectively gain an edge on others and drastically reduce your study time and effort, while Accelerating Your Learning Potential.

Mind Mapping In Perspective

Mind Mapping is an ideal tool that will help us to Accelerate our Learning Potential in a variety of ways. However, its applications have a far wider reach than one might initially have expected. Within this branch of the IQ Matrix we will discuss these applications in some detail. You will discover how Mind Mapping can be applied into a business context, into everyday life management, and into academic circles. However, we will begin our discussion with the benefits of Mind Mapping and the consequences that will result from its application into your day-to-day thinking, decisions and actions.

Benefits of Mind Mapping

The benefits of Mind Mapping are far reaching and therefore somewhat difficult to measure accurately. In fact, the benefits of Mind Mapping extend into just about every area of our lives, helping us to think more effectively and grow exponentially as a result of the improved efficiency of thought they bring forth into our daily reality. The discussion that follows will provide you with an introduction to Mind Mapping and how it can be applied to specific life areas. In a future Mind Map we will break down in detail how you can specifically apply Mind Mapping to Problem Solving, Brainstorming, Goal Setting, Organizing Information, Creativity, Critical thinking and much more.

Provides Global Perspective of Ideas & Information

One reason why chunks of information are difficult to understand is that we fail to see these chunks from a global perspective. It’s like trying to piece together that the earth is round from the ground. It’s only when we pan out and into space and view the earth as a whole, do we begin to comprehend the nature of our spherical and magnificent planet. The same is true of the information we are attempting to learn. Many times we get lost within the details and fail to see the larger picture. Hence, if we are able to somehow zoom out and view this information from a global perspective we will then be better able to see all interconnected pieces interacting with each other in a multitude of ways. For instance, even though this post presents you with a lot more information than you will find within the IQ Matrix, it however presents this information in an ordered manner with very little interlocking between topics, thusly making it more difficult to fully comprehend in one reading. On the other hand, simply spending a few moments over-viewing the IQ Matrix will present you with a thorough global perspective of the subject matter.

Improves Problem Solving Ability

The better you are able to manage and organize your problem within a Mind Map, the more connections you will likely find between seemingly disjointed fragments of information. As a result, this will help you to find answers that normally may not have been evident. To learn more about the process of problem solving, have a read of Awaken Your Problem Solver from Within.

Improves Creative & Critical Thinking Ability

Our ability to think Critically and Creatively is built upon the foundation of how effectively we can piece together seemingly unrelated bits of information within our minds. Mind Mapping is one of the best tools and processes you can utilize that will enhance and encourage the development of this type of thinking. To learn more about the process of creativity and critical thinking, have a read of Unlocking Your Creative Genius Potential and Becoming an Outstanding Critical Thinker.

Improves Concentration

Reading or learning information in a linear fashion puts a lot of pressure on our brain. In fact over extended periods of time it can become quite draining on our mental resources, which can further lead to fatigue and cause our concentration levels to suffer as a result. Many times when you read through chunks of linear information, you will forget most of what you have just read because it fails to excite and enliven the mind. Mind Mapping on the other hand presents your brain with an enlivening stimulus filled with interconnecting pieces, colors, images, symbols and words that work together to energize the brain and improve concentration.

Improves Photographic Memory

Because we think, dream and predominantly imagine our world in pictures, it just makes sense that a Mind Map would in fact help us to improve our photographic memory. If I asked you to think of a donkey… actually close your eyes and think of a donkey… do it now… when done continue. Did you see the words “DONKEY” in your mind? Or did you actually envision an image of a donkey? Most people would see the image of a donkey as this is consistent with the process of how we think about the information in our lives. A Mind Map interlocks and associates words with vivid colors, symbols and imaginative images. When it comes time to recall your Mind Map from memory, you normally won’t first see the words come to mind, instead you will envision the colors, symbols and images that created a lasting impression on your long-term memory. And all this works together to help improve your photographic memory and recall of information.

Improves Flow of Ideas

When we are able to understand the associations, connections and interaction between different pieces of information, this naturally brings forth a spurt of creative and unique ideas that we normally would not have been able to piece together by utilizing a linear process of thinking. This is the primary reason why Mind Mapping is one of the most effective tools for brainstorming ideas.

Improves Ability to Manage Information

It is easy to become overwhelmed with the amount of information that we are required to assimilate into our psyche these days. Have you ever attended a seminar where they provided you with a wealth of information that completely overloaded your brain? I have personally been in that situation. It’s not a pleasant place to be, as it makes you feel inadequate, incapable and extremely frustrated. The solution for this is to utilize Mind Maps to better manage all kinds of information in your life. Undertaking this process consistently from the very beginning, will provide you with a sense of control and confidence, helping to improve your effectiveness and efficiency at school, at work and in life. We will discuss specific Mind Mapping strategies on how to go about this process of information management at another time.

Improves Confidence

When you are able to effectively utilize Mind Mapping for all the above, than you will naturally radiate confidence that will further help you to excel with your management of information as you move into the future.

Business Applications of Mind Mapping

Mind Mapping will help you to improve your effectiveness and efficiency in the day-to-day management of your business activities in surprising ways. Not only will it help you to clarify your thinking, but it will also save you time and reduce the overwhelm that we can experience when too much information is thrown our way. Some of these concepts will be broken down in much more detail in a future post.

Communicating Message & Ideas

You may like to utilize Mind Mapping when you are finding it difficult to explain a concept or idea to one of your workmates.

Planning Time

You may like to utilize Mind Mapping to better manage, overview and structure your time around your important and urgent activities and priorities. When you have a global perspective of where you need to spend your most important time, than you will feel more in control and secure in the knowledge that time is relative – it’s what you make of it that counts.

Planning Meeting Agenda

You may like to utilize Mind Mapping to better structure, plan and organize your meetings. Sometimes we come into a meeting a little unprepared and as a result fail to discuss relevant matters that were critical to the meeting. However, when you take the time to draw up a Mind Map of the agenda, you will effectively piece together a comprehensive picture of the issues that need to by addressed and discussed throughout the meeting. This Mind Map may also help others to draw unique insights and ideas that will further enhance the effectiveness of the meeting.

Planning Company Trainings

You may like to utilize Mind Mapping to organize and prepare company trainings. When you are training someone for the first time about specific topics, it is easy to skip over important pieces of information that are necessary for the trainees understanding. By following along with a Mind Map, not only will you be better able to present your knowledge to your recruits, but they will also be better prepared to understand the concepts from a global perspective.

Planning Speeches & Presentations

You may like to utilize Mind Mapping to prepare and present your speeches and presentations. Sometimes we rush, skip-over or forget to present critical components of our presentations due to a variety of factors. Mind Mapping will help you to piece together your speech or presentation in a structured and focused manner.

Planning Negotiations

You may like to utilize Mind Mapping before and throughout the negotiation process. As you are negotiating a deal, simply doodle a diagram of the deal in a Mind Map format on paper. This will help you to gather a global perspective of the issues under negotiation, which may likewise provide you with unique insights and answers that will assist you to pull the deal off to your satisfaction.

Academic Applications of Mind Mapping

Mind Mapping is best known for its application within Academic circles for Accelerating Learning and dramatically enhancing photographic memory. Let’s take a closer look at some of these benefits and how they apply to Academia. Some of these concepts will be broken down in much more detail in a future post.

Used as Revision Tool

Mind Mapping can be utilized as an effective revision tool for class notes. Because Mind Mapping provides a global perspective about a topic, it helps students to build the foundations of strong associations between interconnecting chunks of the subject matter. More about this in the forth branch of the IQ Matrix.

Used for Exam Preparation

When it comes to preparing for examinations, there is no better tool than Mind Mapping. We will discuss the process of how to study and prepare for your examinations within the forth branch of the IQ Matrix.

Used for Improving Memorization of Information

Because Mind Mapping naturally mimics the brains cognitive processes, this makes it an ideal tool for memorizing large chunks of information. When something you are studying is consistent with your patterns of thinking and remembering, it becomes easy to learn and recall.

Used for Overviewing Links & Connections

Mind Mapping interlocks, links together and associates seemingly unrelated fragments of information in a way that makes them easy to remember and recall at a later time. It is therefore the most comprehensive and ideal tool that will help you to gather a global perspective and overview about the subject under study. More about this a little later on.

Used for Accelerated Learning Purposes

Mind Mapping is one of many tools that are critical for accelerated learning. To learn more about the process of accelerated learning have a read of the 7 Intelligences of Accelerated Learning, Accelerated Speed Reading Study Skills and Advanced Multi-Sensory Study Skills.

Life Applications of Mind Mapping

Mind Mapping and daily life management practices don’t usually go hand-in-hand for most people. We understand how it can be applied to Academics and for Business purposes, however we struggle to comprehend how we can implement and utilize it within our day-to-day lives. Moreover, we struggle to see how it could potentially enhance our lives through a process of simplification and better organization. Hopefully this section will assist you in overcoming some of these misconceptions, and will provide you with a few simple guidelines that will help you to apply the process of Mind Mapping into your day-to-day undertakings. Some of these concepts will be broken down in much more detail in a future post.

Used as a Brainstorming Tool

Do you have a sudden problem? Do you need immediate inspiration? Are you trying to work out how to manage a task or activity more effectively? Simply break out some crayons and a piece of paper and Mind Map your thoughts and ideas in magnificent ways.

Used to Organize Lists

Do you have a long list of things that you must accomplish? Do you become easily overwhelmed with all the things that you must remember to do throughout your day? If the answer is “Yes”, than you might find it helpful Mind Mapping your lists on paper in a way that will better organize, arrange and structure them in your mind. Once things are organized and arranged, you will feel a great burden lift off your chest. This new found clarity of thought will enhance your memory and ability to think more effectively about the tasks at hand.

Used to Organize Events

Planning and organizing events can fatigue even the most hardy of souls. It’s sometimes difficult to predict everything that is required, who must be invited, and what must be accomplished at any one moment in time. All of these responsibilities can easily overwhelm and overload our minds. However, with the help of a simple Mind Map you will more effectively be able to manage, plan and organize your event the way you envisioned it within the recesses of your mind.

Used for Lifelong Rapid Learning

I hope that this discussion about Mind Mapping has helped you realize that Mind Mapping isn’t a skill that one learns and utilizes occasionally. It is rather a lifelong commitment you make to yourself that will help you to increase the speed and effectiveness of all your learning as you progress through the transitional cycles of life. With it, the world is your oyster. Without it… well let’s say that there are no pearls if we remain ignorant of this accelerated learning process

Visual Mapping Types and Methods

Mind Mapping is just one of several methods of mapping out information and ideas that one can utilize. Our brains think in unique and exponential ways. Each and every piece of information is best studied and memorized through a structured process of learning that assimilates each chunk of information in the most effective and efficient manner that naturally mimics the brain’s cognitive thinking patterns. Within this branch of the IQ Matrix we will discuss some of these types of maps and their purpose. We will also delve into the computer generated and hand drawn methods of Mind Mapping that you can utilize on a daily basis.

Visual Mapping Types

The following is a quick break down of 7 unique mapping types that can be utilized to effectively represent the information you are learning. How you apply these maps will vary in accordance to the structure of the information you are learning, and upon your purpose, objectives and goals. See the IQ Matrix for visual examples of each of these map types.

• Cyclical Maps – Are used to represent key terms within stages in a cyclic process.
• Radial Maps – Are Mind Map type structures with sub-topics radiating from a central image or word.
• Converging Maps – Are used to represent causes that lead to a single effect.
• Hierarchical Maps – Are used to represent key terms as smaller and smaller parts of a larger topic.
• Interacting Maps – Are Concept Map type structures that interlink with each other in a variety of ways.
• Comparison Maps – Are used to compare two or more things with each other. The central interlocking part represents the object’s shared components or characteristics.
• Linear Maps – Are Flowchart type structures that represent linear stages of a process that has a beginning and an ending.

Mind Mapping Methods

The following is a break down of two popular Mind Mapping methods you can utilize to represent your ideas and the information you are learning. There are benefits and drawbacks to each method, so it is important that you take into account your purpose, goals and objectives before deciding upon the method that you would like to utilize for your learning. However, keep in mind that in some instances one method will be more effective than the other. Therefore sometimes it is best to choose the method you will utilize based on the time you have available, the information you are learning, and the resources you have on hand.

Hand Drawn Mind Maps

Personally, I have been creating hand drawn Mind Maps for years since my University days. I found them to be of great benefit, as they allowed me to expand my thinking and understanding about the topics I was learning in exponential ways.  However, throughout my experimentations with hand drawn Mind Maps I did come across a number of drawbacks that eventually convinced me to make the switch to computer generated mind mapping for specific purposes. Here is a break down of some of the benefits and drawbacks pertaining to this method of Mind Mapping.

Benefits

Hand drawn Mind Maps are flexible in nature allowing you to bend, squiggle and flex the map any way you wish. This enhances the Mind Map’s organic structure making it far easier to remember and utilize as an accelerated learning tool. Another benefit of a hand drawn Mind Map is that it is personal in nature. You physically design it utilizing your gifted artistic talents It is this personal touch corresponding to your natural thinking patterns that will help you to assimilate the information you are mapping out far more easily.

Drawbacks

Hand drawn Mind Maps are limited to the amount of space that is available on the sheet of paper you are working from. Personally I used to always cram the information I was mapping out right near the edges of the page I was working from. Another drawback is that it is time consuming. Hand drawing your Mind Maps with appropriate pictures, symbols and colors can take a great deal of time depending on how thoroughly you design you maps. Within the same period of time you could have potentially created a handful of computer generated Mind Maps.

Examples

Some profound examples of superbly and meticulously hand drawn Mind Maps are available from the Mind Map Inspiration Website. Paul Foreman is one of the most gifted Mind Map artists you will find. His website is chock full of quality Mind Maps about spiritual transformation, personal development, effective thinking, inspiration and health. A couple of months ago he wrote an interesting guest post on the IQ Matrix blog about De-Cluttering Your Life, Environment and Mind. He has recently pieced together a collection of his 60 greatest Mind Maps, which are now available in an eBook format from his website. Please be patient with the loading time of his web page. The welcome page takes a few seconds to load.

Computer Generated Mind Maps

This method of Mind Mapping has generated a lot of interest over the past 5 years. Today there are more software applications for Mind Mapping available than ever before. And it seems that almost every single month there is a new player on the market. Each piece of software or online application has their own benefits and drawbacks. However, for the purpose of this discussion let’s take a quick look at the overall picture, and compare how today’s Mind Mapping software stacks up against hand drawn Mind Maps.

Benefits

Computer generated Mind Maps are collapsible, expandable, structured, multi-dimensional and quick to put together.

Drawbacks

Computer generated Mind Maps are impersonal and rigid. Meaning that you cannot always do what you envision in your mind.

Mind Mapping / Concept Mapping Software Leaders

The following is a list of the Mind Mapping Software market leaders (the first 3 are the major players in the marketplace). Every software package has a number of drawbacks and benefits. Your best option is to try these software packages out for a few weeks (depending on their trial period) and decide for yourself if they serve your purposes.

• Mindjet MindManager – 30 day free trial available
• NovaMind -  30 day free trial available
• iMindMap – 7 day free trial available
• FreeMind – Completely free to download and use
• ConceptDraw Mind Map – 30 day free trial available
• Visual Mind – 30 day free trial available
• Inspiration – 30 day free trial period
• OpenMind – Free trial period available
• Xmind – Free trial period available
• MindMapper – Free trial period available
• SmartDraw – Free trial period available

3D Mind Mapping

The following is a list of 3D Mind Mapping software that is available on the internet. The 3D packages absorb you into the world of your content, and help you to understand the information from an insider’s perspective. You really have to download the trial version of the software to truly grasp a comprehensive idea of what these packages can do.

• Topicscape – 30 day free trial available. Student Edition is Free.
• Nelements – Free paid versions available

Online Mind Mapping Applications

The following is a list of online Mind Mapping and Flowcharting applications that you can utilize to create your own Maps, or to collaborate with others. Each of them have slightly different features, so it is important that you settle on an online software package that best fits your needs.

• MindMeister – Free and Premium versions available
• Bubbl.us – Free
• Mindomo – Free and Premium versions available
• CoMapping – 30 day free trial available
• Mind42 – Free trial period available
• Mapul – Free trial period available
• FlowChart – Online flowcharting in your browser
• Gliffy – Free online diagramming software

Lesser Known Mapping Applications

The following are some of the lesser known Mind Mapping and Concept Mapping software packages available online. Some of these packages are new and have a number of interesting and revolutionary features. While others have been around for a few years and haven’t quite been able to get a foothold within the Mind Mapping Market. However, please don’t discount these software packages. Some of them do have interesting features and may well be worth checking out.

• Cayra – Free trial period available. Concept Mapping software.
• TheBrain – Free and Professional versions available
• Mind Visualizer – Free trial period available
• Pocket Mindmap – Mind Mapping on your pocket PC
• Mind Genius – 7 to 21 day free trial available on 3 versions.
• Cornerstone – 21 day free trial available
• MYmap – Free trial period available
• MindPlan – Combines Mind Mapping and Project Management
• HeadCase – 28 Day free trial period
• MindPad – 30 day free trial period
• BrainMine – Free trial period available
• SparkSpace – 30 day free trial available
• MindCad – Free trial period available
• i2Brain – Free trial period available

IQ Matrix Reading Guidelines

I have somewhat described the process of how to go about reading a IQ Matrix within IQ Matrix 101 – Advanced Mind Mapping Strategies. However, I feel that there are a number of things that I should still clarify and expand upon. Hence, this branch of the IQ Matrix will focus on expanding your understanding about the IQ Matrix reading process. I am hopeful that by reading through this section you will be better able to follow and comprehensively understand each branch of a IQ Matrix more thoroughly. I will not bog you down with details here, but rather just provide you with the critical components that will help you to read each IQ Matrix more effectively and efficiently.

Blockers

At times on a IQ Matrix you will notice small RED DOTS placed onto branches. These are known as “Blockers”. They basically work as punctuation fullstops. Whenever you reach one of these “Blockers” it is important to pause and then continue reading along the branches as though you have started a new sentence.

Colors

Colors are utilized to segregate key chunks or topics of a IQ Matrix from other chunks and topics. They help to distinguish segments of each IQ Matrix making it far more easier to remember and recall.

Images

Images are utilized as a tool to enhance your photographic memory and awareness of key words and pieces of content. I endeavor to include as many pictures as I can within each IQ Matrix without overloading it too extensively. Each and every image utilized within a IQ Matrix is linked to and associated with a key piece of content within its proximity. The images can represent the content either literally or metaphorically. Let’s take a look at the screen-shot above to describe how some these images are used:

• Blockers - An image of a hand is seen as though in the process of halting traffic. Hence, it represents the word “blocking”.

• Colors – An image of a cartoon figure holding a paint pallet filled with different colors represents the word “colors”.

• Distinguish – This one is a little trickier to understand. A cartoon figure of what appears to be a distinguished gentleman is utilized to represent the word “distinguish”.

• Branches – An image of a twig with leaves is used as a representation of the word “branches”.

• Hierarchical – An image of a business woman standing high on podium with others looking up at her is utilized to represent the word “hierarchical”.

• Structure – An image of a pyramid type donut structure is utilized to represent the word “structure”.

• Read – An image of a child reading a book represents the word “read”.

• Following – An image of man (could be the Pide Piper) with a flute. Behind him are three sacks of money following his lead. Hence the image represents the word “following”.

• Arrows – An image of an arrow representing the word “arrows”.

• Path of Branches – An image of a man sitting on and trying to chop off a long branch. The image represents a combination of words “path of branches”. The branches make a path that the man is sitting on.

Think of each image as a landmark on a road. You are traveling in a foreign country by car. You have no idea what the street signs say, however you do have exceptional perceptive abilities and take instructions well. You ask a local for directions (thankfully they speak English). They tell you that in order to reach your destination you must continue down this road until you reach the color pallet. From here you must turn left. When you reach the distinguished gentleman you must take a right turn and continue until you hit the branches, and so forth. By simply remembering the images (landmarks) and the “right” and “left” directions you will be able to reach your destination without any problems. The same is true when it comes to our thinking. As you learn from an IQ Matrix you will discover that you will far more easily recall the images rather than the words. Yet, the images (because they are associated with the words) will help trigger the content of the IQ Matrix as a whole. 

Guidelines for Reading an IQ Matrix

Reading an IQ Matrix is relatively simple and easy to do if you follow a few simple rules. First of all you must begin reading out from the central image into one of the external branches. As you read along the BLACK branches, gently glide your eyes over them as though moving your eyes down a water slide. When you reach a word or phrase just wash over it with your eyes taking into account any associating images, connector words (the white words posted on the branches) or symbols within it’s proximity. Continue reading down the branch into the thinner branches until you reach an ending, and stop. Also be sure to follow the arrows. They will lead you in the right direction if you are confused at any time. As a general rule you should not jump over broken branches otherwise you could lose the meaning of the information. Another important general rule is to move your eyes from thicker branches to thinner branches and not the other way around. There are however some exceptions to this rule that we will discuss another time. For further information about this reading process, please download the free IQ Matrix Beginner’s Guide from the IQ Matrix Store.

Mind Mapping Study Tips

While I was at University, I managed to perfect a method of studying from a Mind Map that dramatically Accelerated my Learning Potential. My learning became easier, was more effective, efficient and for the first time ever, I developed my capacity to achieve photographic memory. This branch of the IQ Matrix details the Mind Mapping methods I utilized using Mindjet MindManager software. I would have loved to show all of you the Mind Maps I created back then, unfortunately I don’t have those files any longer. However, as an alternative I would like to draw your attention to the Litemind website.  Luciano regularly creates some absolutely breathtaking Mindjet MindManager Mind Maps summarizing best selling personal development and business books. Please download his latest Mind Map in order to get a thorough and comprehensive understanding of the capabilities of this software package.

Mind Mapping Software for Homework Help

As discussed above, for the purpose of this example and the discussion that follows I will refer to Mindjet MindManager. However, please bear in mind that there are alternatives available to this software package that are equally as effective and will likewise help you to structure your Mind Maps in a similar fashion. A few other leading examples are NovaMind, Xmind and FreeMind.

Homework Help Mind Mapping Study Tips

The following process represents the Mind Mapping and note taking methods I utilized on an ongoing basis each semester that effectively prepared my mind for photographic memory and recall. This steps outlined here require that you take your laptop (notebook) with you into class.

Before Class Preparation

Find out what topic you will be discussing in your upcoming class and which textbook chapters you are required to read. Once this has been established, spend some time Speed Reading through the chapters picking up on major heading and important pieces of information that standout in your mind. When finished, begin preparing your Mind Map utilizing your Mind Mapping software package. All you are doing at this stage is mapping out the Major Headings, Sub-Headings and the Keywords that standout in your mind. Be sure to organize and arrange them in a way that helps you to better understand the topic you are about to study.

During Class Expansion

Take your laptop / notebook into class and add notes, expand the branches of your Mind Map even further based on the topics discussed within class.

After Class Assimilation

This should be accomplished the very same day if possible. Simply begin by thoroughly reading through the topic chapter within your textbook and handouts. As you read update your Mind Map with additional notes, headings, sub-headings, keywords and personal opinions. Once you have meticulously pieced this Mind Map together, you are now ready to enhance your memory of this Mind Map to another level. Simply begin by adding the following information to your Mind Map:

Memorable images to your keyword, major headings and sub-headings.

Links to relevant computer files such as Word Docs, Excel Spreadsheets, and PowerPoints.

Links to relevant websites and other information.

Links to your calendar and tasks (if required).

Transform your Mind Map by adding different colors to the branches.

Add relevant symbols that will help you to better identify specific pieces of content.

Add highlights to specific sections to indicate their relationship or importance.

Add font differentiations by altering the size, style, look and feel of words. Use Bold, Underlines & Italics.

Modify the thickness of the lines and give them an organic look and feel.

Modify the structure of the “word boxes” by changing them into circles, rectangles, etc, as appropriate.

When you are done you might get something looking like this:

This Mind Map is take from the Medici Effect, available as a free download from the Litemind website.

General Guidelines

It is important that you do not follow the content structure of the lecture notes or textbook you are summarizing within your Mind Map. The purpose of a Mind Map is not to simply regurgitate what your lecturer said or the information that the textbook outlined. Instead, your objective is to organize this information in a way that is easy for you to remember and recall. Hence, you might feel the need to connect topics of different chapters in a way on the Mind Map that makes most sense to you. Other times you might in fact decide to copy the same topic into two sections of your Mind Map because this will help you to better understand and comprehend what you are learning.

It is also important that you combine your entire semester’s work (including your lecture notes, assignments, essays, tests, and textbook notes) into one Mind Map. By having all this information in one place, will encourage greater memory and recall of information. However, don’t just settle on throwing this information together every which way. Actually take time to piece it together, to combine seemingly unrelated pieces, and to structure it in a way that is best suited to how you understand the topic. Hence, your final Mind Map should in essence be a reflection of your thoughts and the process of how you think about this subject, and not a regurgitation of what your lecturer said or your textbook presented.

If you are finding this process difficult to understand than please feel free to ask me further questions about it within the comments section of this post.

Mind Map Examination Study Tips

Having thoroughly prepared your Mind Map based on the instructions presented above, you are now ready to begin the process of revision and study for your examinations. At this stage, you should have everything you need meticulously presented within your Mind Map. All it takes now is to thoroughly go through each of the branches and absorb the content into your long-term memory.

Read through Mind Map Thoroughly

Your first step is to read through your Mind Map thoroughly and meticulously. Go through each branch and follow a similar reading process as was discussed above when I presented you with reading guidelines pertaining to a IQ Matrix.

Introduction to the 3R+T Mind Mapping Study Process

The 3R+T Photographic Memory Mind Map Study Process will help you to thoroughly piece together each branch of your Mind Map in the most effective and efficient manner possible. As you work your way through this process you will slowly but surely (for some people it will be quite rapid) develop the capacity for a photographic memory. As a result, when it comes time to take your examination, you may be pleasantly surprised how proficient you have become at remembering everything you needed to know to excel within this subject area. Let’s break down this process step-by-step, and guide you through its application.

Read

Select one branch of your Mind Map and read it in it’s entirety. As you are reading pay attention to the colors, highlights, symbols, font size, images, etc. Your goal is to associate as much of the content as possible to these physical landmarks on your Mind Map. The more thoroughly you focus and concentrate upon this process, the more effective your results will become. It is also helpful here to set a time limit for this step of the 3R+T Process. This is after all an accelerated learning method, and time constraints are important as they will force your brain to think more efficiently about the material you are studying.

Recall

Now that you have thoroughly read through the first branch of the Mind Map, your next step is to recall it from memory. Simply close your eyes, and picture within your minds-eye the branch you just read through in all its glory. Picture all the landmarks along this branch (images, colors, symbols, highlights, font sizes, etc) that make it standout clearly within the recesses of your mind. Approach this mental journey as though you are walking along a familiar comforting path in a relaxed manner. As you are mentally gliding along this branch see it vividly in your mind and begin describing this journey to yourself out loud. The more emotion you integrate into this process through your mental images and words, the greater amount of neural associations you will stimulate within the recesses of your mind. Again, it is important to set a time limit for this process so that you can move through the entire Mind Map in good time.

Review

Once you have completed your mental journey, simply return to your Mind Map branch and glaze over it with your eyes taking into consideration the segments and sub-branches that you had the most trouble remembering. You may find it helpful at this stage to highlight the sub-branches or words that you found difficult in a vivid and memorable color. This will help these ideas standout in your mind the next time you move through this branch. Take a little time to ponder the branch as a whole before moving into the “Test” phase. Again it is important to set a time limit for this stage.

Test

Once you have reviewed your Mind Map branch, you are now ready to test your knowledge. Testing your knowledge can be accomplished in three ways:

Answering Questions – Here you ask yourself a set of questions about the branch and test to see if you can remember the answer. If you are finding an answer difficult to recall, than simply search for it within your Mind Map, read it over and answer it in your own words. By following this method you will be better able to recall where this answer lies within your Mind Map the next time you transition through this process.

Sketching Mind Map Branch – You can quickly sketch out your Mind Map branch on a piece of paper. This method will help you to stimulate your kinesthetic or physical intelligence, thusly assisting you with far more rapid assimilation of the material you are learning. While you are sketching out your Mind Map pay attention to images, symbols, font differentiations, branch thickness, colors, etc. It is also important that you keep stimulating your auditory senses by talking through your sketch out loud (use a big, emotional and memorable voice). Again, please set a time limit for this process.

Expanding Mind Map Branch – This can only be achieved by utilizing your Mind Mapping software. Most software packages allow you to expand and collapse each of the branch levels. To begin with, collapse all the branch levels so that you can only read the very first major heading. Now recall from memory the sub-headings branching off this major heading. Once recalled, expand the second level or layer of this branch and recall from memory what sub-headings and chunks of information lie within the third layer. Continue this process through the 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, etc layer until you have expanded all of the branches successfully. In conclusion, as you are moving through this process, it is okay to go back and forth to try and remember difficult chunks. But be sure to highlight these difficult to remember sub-branches so that you can return to them at a later time.

Repeat 3R+T Process

Once you have completed one branch, simply continue rotating through all the other branches of your Mind Map moving in a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction that same day. Repeat the process for a period of 7 days until fully assimilated – making sure to shorten the “learning time intervals” for each section every day. From personal experience I can confidently say that you can effectively assimilate an entire 500 page textbook (achieving 80% to 99% perfect recall) within a few days of implementing the 3R+T process. If my explanation of this process hasn’t been thorough enough, than please forward me your questions in the comments section below.

Below you will find a jpg file of the rough draft I created about this topic in Mindjet MindManager. The draft doesn’t always reflect or mirror the completed IQ Matrix, however it will provide you with the pattern of thinking that I went through during the creation process. If you have any questions about this, than please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Final Thoughts

Mind Mapping is an extraordinary journey of awakening that can dramatically transform the way we manage and process information on a daily basis. It will enhance your photographic memory, recall and dramatically improve your chances of Accelerating your Learning Potential. However, having said that, there is no doubt that Mind Mapping isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. If for instance you have a preference for auditory learning (see Advanced Multi-Sensory Study Skills for further information), than Mind Mapping will seem very tedious and somewhat difficult to manage and understanding. That’s completely fine. It just means that your brain has been hardwired somewhat differently. You may like to create your Mind Maps and then talk about them aloud as though conducting a presentation. This will help with the integration process of the information you are learning.

For kinesthetically inclined people who like to utilize their hands and get involved in their learning – computer generated Mind Mapping may not be your best and most ideal solution. However, hand drawn Mind Maps may provide a better and far more absorbing alternative that will help you Accelerated your Learning Potential. And as for the rest of us who are visual learners – Mind Mapping is the key to our continued growth, development and progress as we move through the complexities of daily life. Cultivate these principles and assimilate them into your daily habits and patterns of thinking, and you too will benefit as I have from the extraordinary process of Mind Mapping.

I hope you enjoyed this post. Please feel free to share your questions, comments or experiences about Mind Mapping below. I would be interested to hear your insights and perspectives about Mind Mapping and how you utilize it on a daily basis in life, business and academically.

Spotlight on the MasterMind Matrix

The process of Mind Mapping for Accelerated Learning is an important and indispensable component of the MasterMind Matrix.

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The MasterMind Matrix is a Psychological Chart of Personal Success and Achievement. It is used as an effective Self-Coaching tool that will help guide you through the personal obstacles, setbacks and limitations that may stand in your way as you progress towards the attainment of your goals and objectives in the field of academics, business, career, sports, or life in general.

Each IQ Matrix Mind Map that is available through this website represents a single cell fragment of the MasterMind Matrix. For more information and images, visit the MasterMind Matrix page.

How to Mind Map | Tony Buzan

Click here to view the embedded video.

Free Articles & Online Resources

Here are a number of highly recommended free articles and online resources that will further help expand your understanding about this topic:

• What is Mind Mapping? (and How to Get Started Immediately) @ Litemind
• How to Mind Map @ JCU
• Using Mind Maps Effectively @ Illumine Training
• How to Mind Map for Study Success @ Learning Fundamentals
• Solve Problems, Study, and Brainstorm Using Mind Maps @ WiseBread
• How to Use a Genius Tool for Writers: Mind Maps @ Write to Done
• Mind Map Directory @ Topicscape
• Mind Map Director @ Mappio
• Mind Map Search Directory @ Mind Map Search
• Mindjet MindManager Map Directory @ BiggerPlate
• Mindjet MindManager Enthusiasts Network @ Ning
• Hand Drawn Mind Map Directory @ Mind Map Inspiration
• Software vs Hand Drawn Mind Maps @ Mind Mapping Software Blog
• Business Decision Making Software @ Bcisive
• Mind Mapping for Productive research & Writing @ Geekpreneur
• Using Mind Maps to Solve Maths Problems @ Visual Mapping
• Mind Map Organic Study Technique @ DT Creative Support & Training Services
• Combining iMindMap & Artwork @ DT Creative Support & Training Services
• Learning Mind Mapping Linkfest @ Alec Satin
• WikIT: The Mind Mapping Wiki @ Topicscape
• Using Mind Maps to Learn a Niche @ Geekpreneur
• How to Make a Mind Map at WikIT @ Topicscape
• Mind Mapping with Wikipedia @ Mind Map Blog
• Making it All Work with MindManager @ Mindjet Blog
• Getting Projects Done with MindManager 8 and Google Docs @ Mindjet Blog
• 7 Mind Mapping Examples in 1 Map @ Timeless Information
• 50 Useful Mind Mapping Tools for College Students @ Associate Degree
• For more Mind Map resources, please see the links on the sidebar

Recommended Mind Mapping Software

Feel free to try out this software to see if it suits your needs. All of these companies offer a free trial period.

• Mindjet MindManager – Mind Mapping Software with 30 Day Free Trial Period.
• Topicscape – 3D Mind Mapping Software with 30 Day Free Trial Period.
• iMindMap – Tony Buzan’s Mind Mapping Software with 7 Day Free Trial Period.
• NovaMind – Mind Mapping Software with 30 Day Free Trial Period.
• Xmind – Mind Mapping Software with Free Trial Period.
• FreeMind – Free Mind Mapping Software.

Recommended Books

• The Mind Map Book: How to Use Radiant Thinking to Maximize Your Brain’s Untapped Potential by Tony Buzan & Barry Buzan
• Mapping Inner Space: Learning & Teaching Visual Mapping by Nancy Marqulies & Nusa Maal
• Idea Mapping: How to Access Your Hidden Brain Power, Learn Faster, Remember More, and Achieve Success in Business by Jamie Nast
• Mindmapping: Your Personal Guide to Exploring Creativity & Problem-Solving by Joyce Wycoff
• Mind Maps at Work: How to Be the Best at Your Job & Still Have Time to Play by Tony Buzan
• Visual Thinking: Tools for Mapping Your Ideas by Nancy Marqulies & Christine Valenza
• Thinking Visually: Business Applications of 14 Core Diagrams by Malcolm Craig

If you would like to download a copy of this IQ Matrix, it is available from the IQ Matrix Shop.

| Buy Poster | IQ Matrix Gallery | MasterMind Matrix | FAQ |

Introduction

Creativity is the hidden capacity to think about ourselves, others, objects, events and circumstances in original and unique ways. Moreover, creativity allows us to overcome great odds, problems and challenges that maybe standing in the way of the success we desire to attain in life. Yes, creativity is indeed a powerful and yet somewhat mystical ability that brings with it a vast array of opportunities and skills that enhance and better our lives. With it, we can move mountains, part oceans and attain the heights of success. On the other hand, without it the challenges of life become more difficult and arduous to bear.

The discussion today will focus on identifying, growing and heightening creativity in order to allow us to further our success in any field of endeavor. The first branch of the IQ Matrix will break down our capacity as creative individuals. We will essentially expand on the concept of creativity and analyze the effect it has on a variety of different – and seemingly disconnected – aspects of our lives. We will also focus our discussion upon the evolution of creativity through childhood, including the process of identifying a creative thought.

The second branch of the IQ Matrix will delve into the mind of a Creative Genius. We will take a look at the indispensable characteristics, belief systems, self-talk and the actions that creative people cultivate on a daily basis.

The third branch of the IQ Matrix will analyze a collection of common Creativity Roadblocks that can sabotage our thought process without a moments notice. We will specifically look at external and internal roadblocks that undermine the creativity process.

Finally, the forth branch of the IQ Matrix will break down some creativity enhancing strategies that will help promote and stimulate creative thought for academic, business, career and life success.

This article post is part of an Effective Thinking Series of IQ Matrix Mind Maps that are designed to help you successfully deal with the problems and challenges confronting your daily life reality. Topics within this series include:

• Part 1: Strategic Life Questioning Tactics
• Part 2: Unlocking Your Creative Genius Potential
• Part 3: Awaken Your Problem Solver from Within
• Part 4: Becoming an Outstanding Critical Thinker
• Part 5: 6 Thinking Hats: Solving Life’s Complex Problems

Unlocking Your Creative Genius Capacity

Our creative ability is very difficult to measure because it can manifest in so many surprising and unexpected ways. As we go about our daily lives, our creativity comes to the forefront to assist us to overcome the problems and challenges that bring excitement and new experiences into our lives. Every time we successfully break through these obstacles we grow and expand our awareness about ourselves, others, circumstances and the world around us. Within this branch of the IQ Matrix we will delve into the dramatic influence that our creative capacity has on our quality of life and daily undertakings. We will also touch upon the evolution of creativity and how it grows and develops through childhood and eventually begins to decline as we grow older, and supposedly wiser. Finally we will quickly touch upon the concept of creative inspiration, and pinpoint some methods that will help you to identify your bursts of creativity.

Our Creative Capacity has a Wide Circle of Influence

In a lot of ways, I feel that we as a society underestimate the value and influence that our creative capacity has on a variety of different aspects of our lives. Our creative capacity is in fact so far reaching that you could effectively come to the conclusion that the quality of our lives is basically determined by the quality of our creative thinking. Let’s now look into this in a little more detail:

Determines Academic Success

Your creative capacity effectively determines your academic success, ability, effectiveness, efficiency and your flexibility of thought. There is no doubt that at school our Logical Intelligence is looked upon with high regard. The better capacity you have to remember key concepts, ideas and make sense of the information you are learning, the better marks you will achieve. However, in the classroom, creativity is in fact as important if not more important than your intellectual capacity. Your intellect might help you to understand key concepts and ideas, however it is your creative capacity that will help you to think in unorthodox ways, – somewhat outside the box – helping you to learn more efficiently, effectively and flexibly at the same time. Intellectuals are somewhat like computer programs that are fed information and data. On the other hand, creative individuals shift, change, expand, and alter this data in ways that will help them to improve their effectiveness and efficiency of learning. To put it another way, an intellectual will follow the instructions of the book to the letter without wavering or making a mistake. However, a creative individual will come up with brilliant ideas and methods that will help them to improve their speed of learning, reading, comprehension and proficiency.

Determines Career Advancement

Your creative capacity effectively determines how quickly you will advance your way up the career ladder. Almost anyone with a passion for a specific niche area, can learn and develop the skills to become proficient and reliable. Companies like to hire these types of people because they have a good sound knowledge base and understanding of their work responsibilities. However, in order to advance up the career ladder it takes a little more than a solid base of knowledge and experience. It actually requires the creative capacity to think outside the box about methods, tactics and strategies that will improve efficiency, effectiveness, grow profits, and enhance customer loyalty. It essentially doesn’t matter where you are currently positioned within your company. If you develop enough creative momentum you can climb up the corporate ladder in very quick succession with only a few groundbreaking creative ideas.

Determines Quality of Life

Your creative capacity effectively determines the quality of your life. First of all, the success you experience within any segment of your life is based upon the flexibility of thought you utilize to overcome daily life challenges. Secondly, your happiness is a direct reflection of the fulfillment and satisfaction you obtain from attaining your life’s goals and ambitions. So effectively, our success, happiness, fulfillment and living out our true full potential as human beings, builds the groundwork and foundation for the quality of our lives.

Determines Quality of Thinking & Idea Generation

Your creative capacity effectively determines the quality and process of your thinking. Our whole lives are build upon the foundations of idea generation. The more creative we are in coming up with clever ideas that will help us get what we want most in life, the better off we will be. The greater the creative capacity we cultivate and grow within ourselves, the better the ability we will have to expand our understanding and awareness about everything that life throws our way.

Determines What we have Access to

Your creative capacity effectively determines your access to information, opportunities and resources. As we expand our minds and begin thinking outside the box, we start to understand and comprehend things from unique angles and perspectives; that we probably never considered before. As a result, this naturally brings forth into our field of awareness new pieces of information, unexpected realizations and opportunities that were previously hidden from our sensory experience.

Determines Our Intrinsic Ability

Your creative capacity effectively determines your intrinsic ability to learn and effectively overcome problems that confront your daily reality. Because of our “web-like” interacting society, it is easy to understand that people will not always agree, that things will not always go as planned, and that unexpected surprises may be lying behind every corner. Given this, we must learn to adapt and adjust our daily tactics and methods of behavior in ways that will get us what we want despite the challenges and obstacles in our wake. This essentially requires a period of learning and adjustment that can only come through our creative thinking process and capacity. Hence, the more creative we are while tackling our daily life problems and obstacles, the faster we will learn and master the challenges that life throws our way,

Evolution of Creativity through Childhood

Science has shown that we are all indeed born with the capacity to think creatively about the events and circumstances of our lives. However, over time this capacity seems to diminish and decline. Why is that? Are we doing something that naturally pushes our creative expression out of our daily life and interactions with others? Or is it something that is done to us by others? Let’s take a look at this in a little more detail:

Expansion of Creativity through Pre-School

For most of us, pre-school was a place where we predominantly had fun and played games. Yes of course, there was no doubt that it was also a place for learning, however the learning didn’t seem difficult or arduous as we were always entertained and involved within a myriad of clever and unique activities that got our creative juices flowing. We also tended not to suffer from the stress, anxiety and overwhelm that riddles our life experience today. Why is that? Maybe it was because we had a childlike approach to every new sensory learning experience. Or maybe it was the encouragement, support and freedom for creative expression that brought about our stress-free existence.

Decline of Creativity through High School

As we grow older and more mature we progress through to high school where suddenly we find our creative capacity squashed against a wall of criticism, judgment and punishment. One of the biggest drawbacks of our current high school system is in its inability to help students develop and expand on their creative capacity and intellect. Within the high school system students are punished for their mistakes, they are judged for their thinking and processing of information, and they are criticized for their weaknesses. All of this leads to a stressful learning environment that predominantly provides group attention and limits learning to only the visual and auditory sensory organs. Psychological studies have revealed that during pre-school 9 out of every 10 kids show a capacity for creative thought. However, as they progress through to high school, that number drops to 3 out of 10. What in the world is happening to our creative capacity? What are we doing wrong? How are we hurting our kids with our teaching methods? This is a long, deep and thought provoking topic that we may discuss in further detail another time.

Identifying the Creativity Spark

Creativity is something that at times seems so very illusive and out of reach. It is something that can come to us without a moments notice, and yet it can also instantly be lost if not harnessed in the correct manner. We will discuss strategies on how to stimulate creativity a little later on. however for now it is important to become aware of our creative tendencies so that we are better prepared for the messages that they send our way. For starters it is important to understand that creativity comes to all of us in a variety of different ways. For some people it comes as a burst of joy, excitement, inspiration or energy, while for others it may come through a subtle means that is more difficult to recognize. In the end, it doesn’t matter through which methods or mannerisms creativity comes to you, the most important thing is to learn to recognize and understand your body’s patterns of communicating the subtle messages that often get obscured by reality. Many creative ideas are lost before they even have an opportunity to harvest within our minds, because we simply fail to recognize the obscure patterns of their subtle messages. The solution lies hidden within our habitual patterns of thinking and behaving. By learning to watch and observe these subtle patterns, you will naturally condition your body to take notice of the creative messages that are coming your way.

Unlocking Your Creative Genius Mindset

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to journey into the mind of a creative genius?

Creative people have a somewhat unique way of thinking about things that allows their creative intellect to come to the forefront when they need it most. These creative individuals essentially work on cultivating certain characteristics and belief systems within their personality that proactively expand their understanding and awareness of the world around them. They also have a tendency to talk to themselves in a specific manner, that naturally encourages their creativity to expand and evolve as they go about finding solutions for their daily life problems and challenges. Finally, creative people take certain daily steps and actions that help them to expand their ability to think in new and unique ways. This branch of the IQ Matrix will specifically target these areas, helping us to gather a thorough understanding of the workings of a creative mind.

The Characteristics of a Creative Genius

A creative genius naturally cultivates within their personality certain and specific characteristics which are essential to the process of expanding their creative capacity. Let’s take a closer look at this creative mind by breaking down each of these characteristics one step at a time:

Flexibility in Thought, Opinion & Decision

A creative genius is flexible in thought, opinion and decision because creativity requires an open mind that takes many perspectives and opinions into consideration at one time. It is from this information that the creative mind is then able to piece together all of the essential ingredients that are required to bring their unique ideas into the physical world.

Possibility Thinker

A creative genius thinks that everything and anything is possible given enough time, thought and reflection.

Risk Taker

A creative genius naturally takes risks in thought and action, that help them to overcome the challenges they face in surprising and seemingly unexpected ways.

Focused Awareness

A creative genius sets clear goals and objectives that naturally enhance their focus and awareness as they progress along their journey towards manifesting a brilliant idea. Through the act of focus they are better able to direct their minds on the most important thoughts, concepts and ideas that will help them attain their end goal and objective.

Courageous Disposition

A creative genius is courageous in thought and action. Being courageous usually requires breaking the rules while going against orthodox methods of thinking and acting. They understand that the fastest way to a brilliant and unique idea is through the process of going against the grain. This is the philosophy they live by each and every day of their lives.

Imaginative Mind

A creative genius cultivates, grows and expands their imaginative methods of thinking each and every day. They understand that to successfully overcome the problems and challenges in their lives, that they must always be thinking in unique ways from a variety of different angles and perspectives. The creative strategies of brainstorming we will discuss later within this post will help you to get a deeper insight and understanding into this imaginative thought process.

Intuitive Perspective

A creative genius understands that the most brilliant ideas don’t usually come from the conscious mind, but rather from deep within the unconscious recesses of their intuitive mind – which is connected to the collective consciousness of all of humanity that is, was and ever will be.

Playful & Curious Nature

A creative genius has a curious and playful nature which naturally expands their ability to think about events, objects, other people and circumstances in unique and creative ways. They effectively approach every problem from a child-like perspective that is innocent (not constricted or limited by past thoughts and experiences) and reflective (always asking insightful questions about their current circumstances and reality).

Persistent

A creative genius understands that the answers won’t always reveal themselves in the first instance. They acknowledge the fact that it may be some time before the perfect idea comes to mind. As a result they approach each challenge as an unfolding journey of learning and experience that must be tackled in a persistent and patient manner.

Independent

Even though a creative genius takes other people’s ideas and opinions into consideration, they are essentially independent thinkers and doers. Through the process of independence they are in essence able to step away and effectively reflect upon the information they have gathered – from others and the world around them – and piece it together without the external pressure that the average populace experiences. Not being swayed by masses of opinion, allows them to think critically about their problems, thusly attracting better and more insightful solutions that will help them to attain their goals and objectives.

Dedicated

A creative genius is completely dedicated to their outcome. Through a dedicated spirit they are able to get more done in less time and with less effort.

Proactive

A creative genius always makes proactive decisions and takes proactive action. Yes, they can sit on their thoughts and ideas for long periods of time – allowing them to cultivate and grow within their minds. However, once an idea has been effectively crystallized within their mind, they will not hesitate, and will take immediate action to bring their thoughts into the physical world.

The Beliefs Systems of a Creative Genius

A creative genius essentially lives by 3 fundamental belief systems that direct all of their daily habits, thoughts, decisions and actions. These 3 belief systems essentially lay down the groundwork for the personality traits that were discussed above.

Belief in Personal Ability

A creative genius has an unshakable and an undeniable belief in their ability to think creatively and overcome any obstacle or problem that stands in their way.

Belief in a Higher Power

A creative genius believes that there is a higher power, a Godlike figure or energy within the Universe that helps to trigger and stimulate their creative potential. They also believe that this High Power connects all living things and matter into a Collective Consciousness of sorts that each and everyone of us can tap into at any moment in time. They utilize this Collective Consciousness to spark creative ideas and solutions to the problems confronting their reality.

Belief that there is No Failure, Only Feedback

A creative genius wholeheartedly believes that there is NO Failure, ONLY Feedback. Every decision and action has an outcome which brings with it specific consequences that we must learn to live with. If the resulting circumstances lead to negative consequences, than the average person will usually perceives these events as mistakes or failures. However, a creative genius only sees the process of Feedback taking shape. Everything that happens, just provides them with a greater array and variety of feedback to help them better their thinking, decisions and actions as they progress into the future. It took the great inventory Thomas Edison approximately 10,000 individual experiments before he successfully found a method that would make a light-bulb light up for an extended period of time. Throughout the course of his research he saw no failure, but rather only a feedback loop that provided him with a deeper insight and understanding into the process of “How NOT to develop a Light-Bulb”.

How a Creative Genius Talks to themselves

A creative genius has a habitual process of talking to themselves (externally and internally through their thought patterns) that naturally enhances their ability to think creatively under significant amounts of pressure and difficult circumstances.

The Language of Creativity

A creative genius’ language is always optimistic and focused on finding solutions to the challenges that are confronting their present reality. Their language is also very reflective in nature which stimulates deep thought about their present life circumstances. Questions are an essential component here, which we expand upon below.

Questioning Tactics of Creativity

A creative genius utilizes Strategic Questioning Tactics to help them think creatively about events and circumstances. These questions are focused on solutions and they always expand the possibilities of reality. It is ONLY through effective questioning tactics that a creative genius is able to bring forth the necessary creativity that allows them to manifest unique and clever ideas. Here is a typical question a creative genius would normally ask:

How can I get the most from every mistake I make?

The Simple Actions of a Creative Genius

A creative genius takes specific conscious habitual actions throughout their day that naturally enhance their creative thought process. Here is a closer look at some of these patterns of behavior:

Incorporating Journaling & Mind Mapping Tactics

A creative genius enjoys journaling or mind mapping their thoughts, ideas, learnings and experiences as it effectively helps them to trigger new insights and concepts that may not have been evident to them before. They understand that only through the process of turning a thought into a written word or diagram can they effectively take control of the vast amount of ideas that are continuously flowing in and out of their mind.  One of the greatest inventors of all time, Leonardo da Vinci was an avid note taker. He understood that it was very difficult to make sense of his ideas if they weren’t concretely presented on paper and laid out in front of him in a logical manner. It is through this diligent and dedicated process that he brought to life some of his most famous and well known inventions.

Proactive Learning

A creative genius understands that the process of creativity requires the constant and proactive habit of learning from every person, event, circumstance and experience. They diligently take time each day to learn new things and pick up unique perspectives and ideas from other people and their environment. All of these new insights and learnings help them to further expand their creativity and awareness on a daily basis, thusly improving their ability to successfully overcome the obstacles and challenges in unique and far more creative ways.

Process Orientation

A creative genius has an objective or goal in mind at all times, however, they are not fixated on their outcome, instead they focus their energy on the process of creation and the journey of transformation. They meticulously absorb themselves within the present moment or task they are currently working on. All of their thoughts, questions, energy and actions go into improving this process and bringing forth the ideal outcome that is consistent with their goal and objective.

Expanding Lucid Dreaming Ability

A creative genius understands that dreams can unlock doors to magnificent insights and ideas that the conscious mind cannot even comprehend. Moreover, they realize that only through the process of tapping into the unconscious mechanics of their inner mind, can they effectively solve the pressing problems that are confronting their reality. Given the importance of dream mechanics, they have taught themselves the process of Lucid Dreaming to help them tap into the unlimited reservoir of resources and ideas contained within their unconscious mind. We will discuss the process of Lucid Dreaming in a future Mind Map. If you are not familiar with the process of Lucid Dreaming, than please read this article.

Common Roadblocks Sabotaging Creativity

When it comes to stimulating creative thought, it’s sometimes not what you do but rather what you refrain from partaking in that will most heavily influence the creative thinking process. Within this branch of the IQ Matrix we will discuss some common external and internal roadblocks to creativity. As you read through these roadblocks, identify which ones are most applicable to your present circumstances or frame of mind. Most of them have already, or will be broken down in some length within a future IQ Matrix. However, for the purpose of this discussion let us quickly identify some of these roadblocks to help you better understand the obstacles of creativity that may currently be hindering you along your journey.

External Roadblocks

These are roadblocks that come from the external environment. Let’s take a look at 3 common creativity culprits.

Messy Environment

A messy disorganized environment leads to a messy and disorganized mind. We think with a greater clarity of thought when the environment we work, live and play in is spotless and systematized. In order to spark new creative insights the mind needs to be sharp and focused on only the process of attaining its goal and objective. If the external environment is messy, this leads to an overwhelming amount of sensory distractions that lead to ineffective thinking and unproductive habits.

Too Much Clutter

Clutter is closely intertwined with the previous point. However, the difference with clutter is that it can actually be organized and systematized in a way that improves our effectiveness and work efficiency. Yet, from another perspective, clutter can also become an overwhelming distraction because it forces our minds to work through too much “stuff”, which undermines the creative thinking process. A creative mind must have clarity of thought. It must have the ability to think freely and openly without falling into the web of a cluttered lifestyle and environment. Decide today to clear the clutter from your life, and you will open the doors to new creative insights and ideas.   

Sensory Distractions

A creative mind cannot think in creative ways if all it thinks about are the sensory distractions that get in its way. To enhance your creative output, make sure to remove all sensory distractions from your external environment. Sensory distractions could be people, unnecessary movement of objects, unpleasant smells, sounds, and even inappropriate temperature settings that lead to discomfort and inefficiency of thought. Have a read of Developing Smart Study Habits for further information.

Internal Roadblocks

These are roadblocks that come from internal thoughts, habits and patterns of behavior. Let’s take a look at some of the most common creativity culprits.

Fear of Criticism

We cannot think creatively when we fear that others will criticize us for our thoughts and ideas. Avoid this fear at all costs.

Fear of Making a Mistake

We cannot think creatively when we fear that we will make a mistake. This fear will literally paralyze our process of thinking and therefore lead to hesitancy and doubt, which sabotages the creative thinking process.

Fear of Breaking the Rules

We cannot think creatively when we are afraid of breaking the rules. A creative genius does not worry about standardized rules of thinking, acting or behaving. In fact, they acknowledge and understand that without breaking the rules, they will fail to develop their full creative potential.

The Emotion of Frustration

We cannot think creatively when we are suffering from the emotion of frustration. Frustration informs us that we have the ability to think and do things in a specific way, however due to unexplained circumstances, we cannot seem to get what we want when we want it most. Learn from your frustrations and alter your methods, strategies and tactics in order to help you achieve your desired outcome in quick succession.

The Emotions of Anger

We cannot think creatively when we are suffering from the emotion of anger. In many instances anger manifests as a result of ongoing long-term frustrations that we just cannot seem to overcome. Manage anger through a process of deduction. Simply identify the source of your anger. Next, develop some simple strategies that will help you to better manage and control these objects, people or events. And finally work on logical and tactical methods that will move you forward in a proactive and productive manner. We will discuss the process of managing anger in a future Mind Map.

The Emotion of Overwhelm

We cannot think creatively when we are suffering from the emotion of overwhelm. We become overwhelmed when we are dealing with too many tasks, have too many responsibilities or lack clarity through our thoughts and actions. First of all, take some time to gain clarity on the outcomes that you would like to achieve. Secondly, chunk your tasks and responsibilities down to make them easier to manage, delegate or let go of. And finally, systematize, learn to manage your time more effectively and take timeout to rejuvenate and clarify your thinking in a proactive manner that will help you to stimulate creative thought. We will discuss how to take charge of emotional patterns of behavior in greater depth in a future Mind Map.

Thoughts of Indecision

We cannot think creatively when we are indecisive. Indecision comes from a lack of clarity. Do some research, set some goals and objectives, and gain clarity on the outcome you would like to achieve. Once clarity has been obtained, indecision will tend to wane, and your creativity will flourish. We will discuss the process of Effective Decision Making in a future Mind Map.

Thoughts of Pessimism

We cannot think creatively when we are riddled with pessimistic thoughts. A creative mind constantly thinks about possibilities, solutions, and seemingly improbable answers that help them to break down obstacles and barriers with a string of creative ideas. Work through your pessimistic nature by beginning to focus ONLY on solutions, answers and possibilities to the problems that are currently shaping your reality. We will discuss strategies and tactics on how to cultivate a Positive Mental Attitude in a future Mind Map.

Practical & Logical Thinking

We cannot think creatively if we continue to think about things practically. A practical mind attempts to break down the validity and feasibility of an idea. This tends to stifle and paralyze creative thought, essentially limiting the flow of ideas and inspiration that creativity brings forth into our minds. To move through this roadblock successfully, simply ask yourself possibility questions that will help you to focus on solutions and answers.

Premature Judgment

We cannot think creatively if we persistently judge or jump to quick and rushed conclusions about the ideas that are harvesting within the recesses of our minds. To help you move through this roadblock it is important to remember not make quick judgments or conclusions before having fully allowed an idea to grow and cultivate within your mind.

Following the Rules

We cannot think creatively if we just follow the standardized rules of thinking and doing things. Instead think outside the box, think creatively about every event, object and circumstance in a way that hasn’t been thought of before, and break every rule within the rulebook along your way.

Lack of Belief

We cannot think creatively if we have a lack of belief in our own creative abilities. Your belief systems effectively determine the decisions and actions you make on a daily basis. This is why it is absolutely critical that you work on building an abundant amount of references (personal experiences) that will help you to gain confidence about yourself and your personal ability to be creative at all times. We will discuss methods, tactics and strategies on how to cultivate and develop empowering belief systems in a future Mind Map.

Lack of Confidence

We cannot think creatively if we lack confidence in our ability to bring forth a creative idea. The foundations of confidence effectively evolve from the quality and strength of our belief systems. Transform and grow your belief systems, and they will help you to build the self-confidence you need to unleash your creative potential. Confidence is also closely tied to our self-concept, which we will discuss in further detail in a future Mind Map.

Lack of Inspiration

We cannot think creatively if we suffer from a lack of inspiration. Inspiration comes through us in a variety of unique and individualistic ways. Whether you find inspiration in music, nature, within other people, while watching plants grow, going to the movies, reading a motivational book, or through the simple process of smelling flowers – it simply doesn’t matter. What matters is that you are able to tap and unlock this inspiration within yourself when you need it most, thusly enabling you to stimulate instant creativity. The NLP process of Anchoring is also another great method for stimulating the electricity of inspiration within your body. It basically involves the process of creating an emotional bodily anchor (through the process of touch) that automatically triggers an inspirational state of mind to help stimulate your creative abilities. We will discuss the process of Anchoring in further detail in a future Mind Map.

Lack of a Concrete Vision

We cannot think creatively if we lack clarity about the future outcomes we would like to experience within our reality. This doesn’t mean that we must be meticulously specific about our approach towards obtaining these outcomes. In fact, in order to stimulate more profound creative thought, it is actually recommended that we are flexible with our approach, while at the same time being specific with the outcomes and visions we would like to realize within the physical world.

Lack of Energy

We cannot think creatively if we lack the physical energy to get out of bed in the morning. If you suffer from this unfortunate habit, than have a read of Keys to Creating Abundant Energy.

Simple Strategies that Enhance Creativity

The creative process is a very personal experience. In fact, the creative methods of thinking that work well for one person, may indeed lead to a great deal of frustration for another person. This is why it is so important to develop your own personal style of thinking that will help you to expand on your thoughts and ideas in creative and unique ways. However, if at the moment you do not believe that you are very proficient in expanding your creative processes of awareness, than the following suggestions will hopefully help you to gain a few unique insights and understandings that will encourage you to think creatively. As you are reading through these strategies, be sure to expand upon and restructure these methods in your own unique way. By taking ownership of these strategies you will effectively work through any problem and challenge that confronts your reality with greater proficiency and speed.

Conscious Stimulation of Creativity

As you go about your day it is important to stay focused and centered on your creative visions and objectives. In order to help you with this process, here is a list of some simple methods you can utilize to stimulate your creativity throughout your day:

Day Dreaming

This is a wonderful method of bringing forth creative ideas to the forefront of your mind. Simply write down a question you are seeking an answer to on a piece of paper, then rest back on your chair and close your eyes. Clarify the question within your mind by repeating it over and over again in a variety of ways. After a couple of minutes just settle back and relax without longing for an answer. For the next 20 minutes or so, Just enjoy the pleasant thoughts that flow across your mind like clouds floating through the sky. If you create enough focus and intention, you will usually find that fragments of the answers you are looking for come to you as visions within your mind. Sometimes these visions will be somewhat obscure or metaphorical in nature. However, they will no doubt hold hidden clues to the answers you are seeking.

Pleasant Music

Music that relaxes and calms our mind naturally disarms us and stimulate the natural flow of creative thought. Whenever you seek inspiration, simply remove yourself from all external distractions, close your eyes and play your favorite piece of music. As the music plays, reflect on a pressing question that you seek answers to. Once the question has been posed, just lay back and simply pay attention to the patterns of the music that is absorbing every cell of your being. Believe it or not, you may actually find that your answers will come to you in visions reflected within the music you are listening to.

Laughter

Laughter is a great stimulator of creativity because it essentially relieves stress and the built-up tension that we carry around within our body. Therefore find as many ways as you can to laugh and be happy throughout your day.

Gaining Clarity

If in doubt, your creativity will not sprout. Therefore constantly work on gaining clarity about the outcomes you desire to experience throughout your day. The greater your clarity the more effectively you will think about the events and circumstances within your life, and this will likewise help to stimulate the creative spark within your mind.

Challenging Assumptions

As we go about our day, we tend to make an infinitesimal amount of assumptions about the events and circumstances of our lives. Assumptions that are not questioned or challenged effectively setup roadblocks that prevent us from progressing forward with our lives. The worst part about this, is that we are blinded by many of these roadblocks because we never questioned them in the first place. Hence, begin today by questioning even the most obvious of circumstances, and you will effectively open the doors to a surge of creative energy.

Thinking Like a Child

As previously discussed, children are very inquisitive, and this naturally stimulates a creative flow of energy that they bring forth into their daily actions. In order to keep this creative flow of energy circulating throughout your body, it is important to cultivate a constant and persistent curious nature as you go about your day. This will assist you to overcome the problems and challenges that are confronting your life, and help raise your emotional levels of awareness about the world around you.

Thinking in Metaphors

Metaphors are essentially the windows to the creative mind. Many times we will fail to fully comprehend an idea when it is presented to us in a logical manner. On the other hand, when the idea is articulated within a story focused on metaphorical concepts that are familiar to us, than it is instantly assimilated and understood. This takes practice, however, the more often you think about the problems and challenges within your life from a metaphorical perspective, the greater your capacity for creative thought will be realized.

Thinking in Possibility Questions

As you go about your day you MUST cultivate the habit of thinking in terms of possibilities. The best and most effective way to do this is by repeatedly asking one simple question:

What if…?

Enhancing Creativity Through Strategic Questioning

The problems and challenges we face every single day are nothing more than perspectives of our judgmental minds. They are only problems because we do not yet perceive them as being anything else. They are in fact overwhelming aspects of our lives, because we feel as though we lack control, the willpower and skill to deal with them in an effective manner. However, what most of us probably don’t realize is that our problems can easily be overcome if we just learn to ask ourselves the right kinds of questions that will expand our understanding and awareness about the problem from a variety of different angles and perspectives. We must essentially obtain a full 360 degree overview of the problem before unleashing our creative juices. This process involves a 3 pronged attack that we briefly discuss below:

Identification Questions

These questions help identify the circumstances of the problem, which help you to see it from a variety of different angles and perspectives. Here you would essentially ask Who? What? When? Where? Why? and How? questions to assist you in identifying the circumstances and events that created the problem.

Time Specific Questions

These questions help identify the Time Specific effect of the problem. They essentially delve into the Past? Present? and Future? impact of the problem under question. The more thorough of an understanding we have about the Time Specific circumstances and impact of the problem, the more creatively and effectively we will be able to manage it.

Awareness Questions

These questions help to identify the personal impact that the problem has upon the individual – given the skills, resources, and tools that the individual has at their disposal. The questions focus on the Spiritual? Mental? Emotional? and Physical? impact of the problem under question. When we have a comprehensive understanding of the problem’s impact on our “being” – given everything we have at our disposal – than we will be better prepared to clear the path for the creative solutions that must follow.

Once you have completed this Strategic Questioning Process, you are finally ready to take the plunge into the Creative Cycle which we discuss below.

The Creativity Cycle

The following is a quick summary of a recommended process of creativity that will help you unlock a deep reservoir of creative ideas:

Settlement Phase

In order to bring forth creative inspiration, your first objective is to settle yourself within a motivational and relaxing environment that naturally stimulates the creative thought process. For further insights and ideas on how to create this environment, have a read of Developing Smart Study Habits.

Rejuvenation Phase

Once you are settled and relaxed within your creative environment, you must now close your eyes and bring forth into your mind past creative successes and achievements that will help inspire and put you into a state of “creation”. The greater the emotional intensity you bring forth here, the more inspiring the surge of creative energy you will feel expanding outwards from your body.

Creation Phase

At this point you are now ready to apply some of the creative strategies we will discuss below in order to bring forth unique, ingenious and brilliant ideas that will spark instant creativity. It is important here not to judge the concepts that you bring forth into your mind. Instead become a possibility thinker who persistently expands upon their ideas in many surprising and unexpected ways. Take out a piece of paper and mind map the creative visions that are forming within the recesses of your mind.

Synchronization Phase

Having already conceptualized some brilliant ideas, you are now ready to draw out a plan of how you will bring these ideas into the physical world. Begin now by thinking logically about your thoughts and ideas in ways that will help you to make sense of them in the real world. This stage essentially involves drawing up a plan of action that will help you to implement your ideas with great proficiency within the final stage of the Creativity Cycle.

Implementation Phase

Having conceptualized an idea and drawn up a plan of action, you are now ready to take the necessary steps that will help you to bring your ideas into the physical world. In order to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of your plan, it is important that you stick to a flexible approach and constantly expands your thinking and awareness about the possibilities and opportunities that you could take advantage of at any moment in time. For more information, please read Awaken Your Problem Solver from Within IQ Matrix.

The SCRAMPER Technique of Creative Thought

SCRAMPER is a creative problem solving technique that will help you ignite new insights and ideas about the daily challenges and obstacles you face. This post will only provide you with an introduction to this process. If you seek further insights into this technique than please have a read of Creative Problem Solving with SCAMPER. Luciano has put together a very thorough analysis of this technique. As a bonus he is also giving away a free downloadable reference Mind Map and provides a link to an online questioning strategy tool that will help you overcome your daily life problems and challenges.

Before proceeding with this method of creative thinking, bring to mind a problem that is currently causing you a little difficulty. As you read the questions one at a time, keep in mind that your goal is to stimulate creative thought, new insights and understandings that will assist you to view the problem from a unique angle and perspective. Every step of the SCRAMPER technique will bring to light some intriguing solutions that you must further develop and expand upon in order to attain the outcome you are after. Hence it is paramount that you do not stop at this technique, but rather utilize all the strategies discussed up to this point.

Substitute

Here your creative goal and objective is to replace a part of your problem with something else. You can effectively change things, places, people, ideas or even your emotions. Each and everyone of these “substitutions” will effectively provide you with a new insight and understanding that will help you reach an effective and creative solution to your problem. Here are some questions you may like to ask:

How can I replace or change the parts of this problem with something that will best help me attain my desired outcome? What effect would that have? How would it effectively transform my perspective about the problem?

How can I somehow replace the people involved within this problem? What effect would that have? How would it effectively transform my perspective about the problem?

How can the rules be changed in someway in order to make this work? What effect would that have? How would it effectively transform my perspective about the problem?

How can I change my feelings and attitude towards this problem? What effect would that have? How would it effectively transform my perspective about the problem?

Combine

Here your creative goal and objective is to combine different aspects of the problem in a unique and imaginative way that will help you to effectively solve the dilemma that is confronting your reality. The key here is combining seemingly unrelated ideas and concepts with the problem under question. Here are some questions you might like to ask:

What ideas or parts of this problem could I potentially combine? What effect would that have? How would it effectively transform my perspective about the problem?

How can I shift and combine different aspects of this problem in a way that will provide me with a solution? What effect would that have? How would it effectively transform my perspective about the problem?

How can I merge this problem with other objects in a way that will provide me with a solution? What effect would that have? How would it effectively transform my perspective about the problem?

Random Input

(This is an addition to the standard SCAMPER process) Here your creative goal and objective is to essentially input random attributes of other objects, circumstances or problems in order to reach an effective creative solution. Here are some questions you might like to ask:

How can I utilize the attributes of a newspaper (or any other object, circumstance, problem or person) to efficiently solve this problem? What effect would that have? How would it effectively transform my perspective about the problem?

As an example, a newspaper has the following attributes: has a large area, is printed, is flexible, is made up of separate pieces, is soft, light and porous. Now, your goal is to take each of these attributes and randomly input them into your problem. Remember that your outcome is to stimulate creative thought, it’s about finding an effective solution at this moment. Moreover, you have to keep in mind that as you move through this SCRAMPER technique that it’s not one single idea that will lead you to a solution, but rather a combination of ideas that will spark the answers you need, to overcome this problem successfully.

How would I effectively deal with this problem if it was larger than I initially expected?

How would I effectively deal with this problem if it was flexible in nature?

How would I effectively deal with this problem if it was made up of separate bits and pieces? etc…

Adapt

Here your creative goal and objective is to adapt an existing idea in such a way that it will help you to successfully solve your problem. Here are some questions you might like to ask:

What else is like this? How could I use it? What effect would that have? How would it effectively transform my perspective about the problem?

Is there something similar to my problem, but in a different context?

What solutions does the past bring to light about the current problem?

What could I copy, borrow or steal from other approaches that were made in an attempt to solve this problem? – these approaches individually may not have worked. However if you combine a few of them together you may be surprised by the results.

Whose characteristics, strategy and methods could I model or emulate in order to successfully overcome this problem? What effect would that have? How would it effectively transform my perspective about the problem?

Magnify

Here your creative goal and objective is to figure out ways you could effectively magnify or exaggerate your problem in a way that could potentially bring to light some weaknesses or unique insights and perspectives. Here are some questions you might like to ask:

How can I magnify and make this problem larger? What effect would that have? How would it effectively transform my perspective about the problem?

How can I exaggerate and overstate the problem? What effect would that have? How would it effectively transform my perspective about the problem?

How can I increase the frequency of this problem? What effect would that have? How would it effectively transform my perspective about the problem? What hidden solutions may this bring to light?

How can I duplicate this problem in another area of my life? - the process of duplication may bring to light some amazing insights as you try and replicate the “creation process” that initially triggered the problem.

Put to Other Uses

Here your creative goal and objective is to see how you could potentially put the problem to other uses from alternative perspectives. Here are some questions you might like to ask:

How can I utilize this problem to my advantage in order to bring forth an effective solution? What effect would that have? How would it effectively transform my perspective about the problem?

How would a child effectively approach this problem? What effect would that have? How would it effectively transform my perspective about the problem?

What other potential perspectives could exist that would provide me with effective solutions?

Eliminate

Here your creative goal and objective is to eliminate or minimize different parts of the problem. Here are some questions you might like to ask:

How can I simplify this problem right down to its basic skeletal structure? What effect would that have? How would it effectively transform my perspective about the problem?

What parts of the problem can I control and effectively remove or eliminate altogether? What effect would that have? How would it effectively transform my perspective about the problem? Could it lead to a solution?

Rearrange

Here your creative goal and objective is to rearrange your problem in such a way that effectively spins the problem on its head and provides you with a unique and different perspective.  Here are some questions you might like to ask:

How can I rearrange the problem in such a way that I successfully minimize its negative consequences? What effect would that have? How would it effectively transform my perspective about the problem?

Can I change the speed, time, or location of this problem in order to successfully minimize its negative consequences? What effect would that have? How would it effectively transform my perspective about the problem?

What potential solutions come to light if I viewed the problem back-to-front? What effect would that have? How would it effectively transform my perspective about the problem?

What potential ingenious solutions could I bring to light if I did the exact opposite of what I thought? What effect would that have? How would it effectively transform my perspective about the problem?

Final Thoughts

From an outsiders perspective, creativity can seem like an omnipotent ability that is somewhat mystical in nature. The great thinkers of this world make it seem so easy and natural as they go about their daily lives bringing seemingly impossible concepts into physical reality. Yet there is a lot more to creativity than at first meets the eye. It is effectively a habitual process of thought and reflection about the world, that brings to light new learnings, perspectives and understandings. It is also a structured process of ongoing development, that is at the same time very flexible in its nature. And yet it is simply a “process”, that can be learned, mastered, and perfected.

I hope you enjoyed this post. If you have utilized any of these creative thinking strategies, or would like to share some of your own, than please feel free to comment below.

Spotlight on the MasterMind Matrix

The process of Creative Problems Solving is an important and indispensable component of the MasterMind Matrix.

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The MasterMind Matrix is a Psychological Chart of Personal Success and Achievement. It is used as an effective Self-Coaching tool that will help guide you through the personal obstacles, setbacks and limitations that may stand in your way as you progress towards the attainment of your goals and objectives in the field of academics, business, career, sports, or life in general.

Each IQ Matrix Mind Map that is available through this website represents a single cell fragment of the MasterMind Matrix. For more information and images, visit the MasterMind Matrix page.

Edward de Bono’s Thoughts on Creativity

Click here to view the embedded video.

Free Articles & Online Resources

Here are a number of highly recommended free articles and online resources that will further help expand your understanding about this topic:

• Your Creative Genius Mindset: The Essential Qualities for Outside the Box Thinking @ Lifehack
• Creative Problem Solving with SCAMPER @ Litemind
• 8 Ways to Spark Your Creativity @ Positivity Blog
• 5 Creativity Videos on YouTube @ Abundance Blog
• Remove Your 10 Blocks to Creativity @ Attraction Mind Map
• The 3 Pillars of Creativity @ Change Your Thoughts
• How to Create Ideas – Lessons from Idea Generators @ Life Optimizer
• 25 Audacious Creativity Tools @ Abundance Blog
• 6 Powerful Tools to Breakdown Your Idea Brick Walls @ Life Optimizer
• 9 Lessons Richard Feynman Taught Us About Creativity @ Life Optimizer
• 20 Tips for Accelerating a Creative Flow @ Scott H Young
• 21 Not So Quick Tips to Improve Creativity @ Scott H Young
• 20 Creative Thinking Techniques @ Abundance Blog
• 30 Tips to Rejuvenate Your Creativity @ Lifehack
• 4 Steps to Unleash Your Creative Genius @ The Change Blog
• Think Like a Genius @ ZME Life Tips
• 75 Creativity Quotes @ Abundance Blog
• 10 Imaginative Ways to Pump Your Mind for Ideas @ Cultivate Greatness
• How to be More Creative at Work the Homer Simpson Way @ The Daily Mind
• 45 Unforgettable Quotes about Ideas @ I Need Motivation
• 22 Great Quotes on Curiosity @ I Need Motivation
• How to be More Creative @ Illuminated Mind
• 10 Ways to Develop Your Creativity @ Schaefer’s Blog
• Develop Your Creative Genius with Tony Buzan’s Advice @ Personal Development
• 18 Ways to be Uber Creative @ Abundance Blog
• 30 Ways to Increase Your Creativity @ Abundance Blog
• 10 Great Ways to Jump-start Your Creativity @ Dumb Little Map
• 30 Creativity Cards: A Gift I Made for You @ Abundance Blog
• The Secret of Unbridled Creativity @ Abundance Blog
• 16 Top Tips for Awakening Creativity & Innovation @ Urban Monk
• 5 Imaginative Ways to Generate Ideas @ Abundance Blog
• Lateral Thinking: Think Out of the Box @ Abundance Blog
• The Powerful Link Between Creativity & Play @ I Need Motivation
• Creative Thinking Techniques: The Playful Edition @ Abundance Blog
• 100 Powerful Web Tools to Organize Your Thoughts & Ideas @ Online College Blog
• A Simple Tip for Finding Good Ideas @ Life Optimizer
• The Power of Curiosity @ Scott H. Young
• 101 Creativity Innovation Books: Your Creativity Library @ Abundance Blog

Recommended Products

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Jump Start Your Brain! – Perhaps it’s time to awaken the dormant creative spirit that lies within you! In his powerhouse program Jump Start Your Brain! 50,000 Volts of Ideas for Cranking Your Cranium and Turning Your Dreams Into Reality, Doug Hall takes you on a fascinating adventure. A journey in which your brainpower is not only awakened, but is enhanced. His counterculture approach to creativity urges you to break through existing stagnating rules with childlike abandonment – and have fun doing it.

Recommended Books

• Cracking Creativity: The Secrets of Creative Genius by Michael Michalko
• Creativity in the Classroom: Schools of Curious Delight by Alane Jordan Starko
• The Zen of Creativity: Cultivating Your Artistic Life by John Daido Loori
• Thinkertoys: A Handbook of Creative Thinking Techniques by Michael Michalko
• Creativity Revealed: Discover the Source of Inspiration by Scott Jeffrey

If you would like to download a copy of this IQ Matrix, it is available from the IQ Matrix Shop.

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Introduction

Accelerated Learning is a method of learning that helps you to organize, arrange and assimilate information at rapid speeds. If you have read through the 7 Intelligences of Accelerated Learning and the Advanced Multi-Sensory Study Skills, than you already understand how important it is to learn new chunks of information utilizing a variety of sensory cues and creative learning strategies that stimulate all 7 of our Intelligences.

Ever since the creation of the printing press, it’s hard to argue with the fact, that most of the information we are exposed to on a daily basis is presented to us in the “written word”. With the ever increasing influence and expansion of web multimedia services, the “written word” is somewhat losing a little ground, however it is still the most prevalent and popular way of presenting information in the modern era. Moreover, it is also the number #1 culprit of the societal epidemic known to us as “information overload”. This epidemic is sweeping the world and putting extensive pressure on information gatherers who are doing their very best to try and make sense of the world around them. Given this, it is critical that we learn to collect, absorb and completely assimilate the “written word” in a way that will save us time, energy and most importantly keep us “sane” within the ever expanding world of information.

This IQ Matrix will delve into the intricate details of the reading process, and help to identify its importance in relation to Accelerating our Learning Potential. Secondly, the IQ Matrix will break down the Speed Reading process of Accelerated Learning, including a step-by-step explanation on how to utilize a combination of Speed Reading and complimentary study skills to obtain a thorough and comprehensive understanding of an entire text book in rapid succession. Thirdly, we take a closer look at a subconscious method of Photo Reading, which can enhance your learning and understanding of information at a profoundly deep unconscious level of awareness. And finally, the IQ Matrix will present you with some examination, study tips and strategies that incorporate the Photo and Speed Reading Accelerated Learning principles.

Reading Facts, Stats, Methods and Benefits

From a very young age, we are conditioned and trained to assimilate the “written word” in a variety of different ways. The vast majority of us are first taught the methods of pronunciation one letter of the alphabet at a time. Next, we are introduced to short words and instructed to pronounce each letter of the word as an individual character – before verbalizing the word as a whole. As we grow older, and gain more experience with reading, we naturally progress to larger words and learn to verbalize them in “whole” chunks, which essentially enhances and improves our speed of reading. However for the vast majority of the population, this is where our reading progression essentially stops in its tracks, and this sets up a lifelong pattern of inefficient reading habits that present us with ineffective strategies for assimilating large amounts of information into our psyche.

Key Reading Facts & Stats

Here are some interesting statistics about reading which are relevant to the discussions that will follow further down this post:

• The average reader only reads 150 words per minute (wpm).
• Only 5% of readers read more than 400 wpm.
• Most of us can only assimilate what we hear when it is presented at 250 wpm.
• Most of us can assimilate what we see at 2,000 to 10,000 wpm.
• 4% to 11% of the text you read carries 80% of the meaning.

Two Methods of Accelerated Reading

Within this post we will be discussing two methods of Accelerated Reading that will help you to improve your assimilation, comprehension and understanding of the information you are studying. Here is a quick look at the two principles of Photo Reading and Speed Reading.

Speed Reading Principles

Speed Reading involves the process of skimming, chunking, identifying and filtering specific pieces of information in order to Accelerate Learning. You skim over information in a way that will allow you to acquire an overall picture of the topic without losing yourself within the meticulous details. You would chunk relevant aspects of this information together, following the same process you utilize when chunking individual letters into words. This helps to absorb sentences and paragraphs in quick succession. And you would likewise identify or filter out aspects of the information you are reading that aren’t relevant or necessary to further your understanding of the topic. Given all this, it is important to understand that Speed Reading isn’t just about reading quickly. It rather involves an analysis process of information assimilation that will Accelerate Your Learning Potential. We will discuss this in further detail in the next section.

PhotoReading Principles

PhotoReading involves a pre-conscious level of awareness that naturally stimulates creativity, rapid information assimilation while opening the doors to non-judgmental learning. While Photo Reading, you are essentially shutting-off the conscious “critical mind” from the learning cycle. Even though the conscious mind is essential for stimulating your short and long-term memory, it however can become a hindrance due to its habitual preconceived ideas and notions about the information you are learning. More about this a little later on.

Benefits of Accelerated Reading

Learning to read at an accelerated and rapid speed utilizing the methods described within this IQ Matrix, can dramatically reduce your study time and efforts, while enhancing your speed of comprehension and assimilation of new information.

Principles of Speed Reading

Speed Reading is far more than just a process of rapid reading. It rather involves an intricate method of learning that will help you to become a smarter and more effective learner. Within this branch of the IQ Matrix we will break down the Speed Reading process in detail, providing you with essential guidelines that will help you to rapidly assimilate this method of learning into your study regime. We will conclude our discussion with an overview of two processes of learning that incorporate the methods of Speed Reading to help you assimilate information at a faster rate.

Speed Reading Uses

As previously mentioned, Speed Reading is a conscious process of Accelerated Learning that is best utilized for skimming large chunks of information in a structured and proactive manner.

Speed Reading Guidelines

There are some simple yet fundamental rules for Speed Reading that we must abide by if we seek to rapidly Accelerate Our Learning Potential and get the most out of this study technique. Learn to utilize and apply each of these methods progressively and you will begin to rapidly accelerate your speed of reading to ever higher levels. The key however is to be patient. You will not learn these skills overnight. Years of reading and learning from an early age have conditioned you into specific patterns and habits of information assimilation that you will progressively need to breakaway from. It simply takes time and diligent effort. However, if you commit yourself to your desired results and objectives, than you will no doubt be rewarded for your efforts.

Read in Chunks & Blocks

As kids we learned to chunk letters into whole words. As a Speed Reader we must now take this process to the next level and begin chunking individual words into “multiple word blocks” that must be read as a whole. These “word blocks” can then be chunked further into larger “word blocks”, “sentence blocks”, and later whole “paragraph chunks” that can be read and comprehended within a single glance. If you are not familiar with this process, than it might at first seem like a daunting task. However, you must remember that when you were a child, chunking letters into words at first seemed rather difficult, however you persisted and learned how to read more proficiently. Simply begin by reading chunks of 2 words at one time. Once you become comfortable with this method of reading, take it to the next level and read in 3 or 4 word chunks. Over time, your conscious brain will adjust to this process and you will see a rapid increase in the speed of you reading. Every time you progress to a larger chunk, you are effectively accelerating your reading speed anywhere from 50% to 75%.

Utilize Incomplete Sentence Scanning Method

This method assumes that the first and last 2 to 3 words of every sentence are not significant or important to the underlying meaning of the entire sentence. You can therefore simply skim over these words without reading them, and you will still acquire a comprehensive understanding of the content. Utilizing this method you can effectively accelerate your reading speed anywhere from 10% to 20%.

Only Move Eyes while Reading

Have you ever seen a typewriter in action? It moves from left to right, and when it reaches the edge of the page, it is pushed left once again. This is in essence how some people read. They are in effect suffering from the “Typewriter Reading Syndrome”, moving their head left to right then right to left as though their book stretched across the entire horizon Did you know that any movement of your head will slow down the reading process quite dramatically? This is why it is suggested that you only move and rotate your eyes back and forth across the page while you are reading. Utilizing this method you can effectively accelerate your reading speed anywhere from 20% to 30%. You can further accelerate your reading speeds by incorporating your peripheral vision into your reading strategy. Your peripheral vision will allow you to see more of the page in one glance without having to move your eyes across the page left to right. In fact, the most proficient speed readers actually only move their eyes down the center of a page, while incorporating their peripheral vision to capture words and phrases that lie off-center.

Sweep Hand Across Page while Reading

When it comes to Speed Reading, it is important to guide your eyes across and down a page at a patterned speed and rhythm. The best way to do this is to utilize your hand as a “guiding pointer” progressively leading your eyes down the page. Think of your hand as a guide dog leading a blind person down the street. Wherever the guide dog points, that is where your eyes must follow. Establishing a rhythm is also very important here, as it will allow you to progressively increase your reading speed over time. Utilizing this method you can effectively accelerate your reading speed anywhere from 10% to 100%, depending on how effective you become in assimilating yourself into the rhythm of your hand motion.

Reduce Amount of Skip-backs

We naturally slowdown our speed of reading because of simple skip-backs, which involves rereading words and sentences over and over again. Many of us partake in this time wasting habit, because as children we were told by our teachers that we must go back and reread words that were mispronounced. As adults, even though we don’t normally verbalize these words aloud, we nevertheless still utilize skip-backs as an unconscious way of righting the wrongs of incorrect word pronunciations. Utilizing this method you can effectively accelerate your reading speed anywhere from 25% to 50%.

Reduce Fixation Time

Throughout the reading process, many of us have an unfortunate habit of staying fixated upon a word for an extended period of time. This was okay when we were children learning to read and recognize word patterns. However, as adults, this habit dramatically slows down the reading process. The next time while reading a book, identify if you have a habit of staying fixated upon certain words for longer than is necessary. Only once you have become aware of this habit, can you make the necessary changes to overcome it successfully. Utilizing this method you can effectively accelerate your reading speed anywhere from 10% to 50%.

Don’t Move Lips or Make Noises while Reading

When we were kids, we were taught to read and say our words aloud so that our teachers could hear our pronunciations clearly and make the necessary corrections accordingly. This was fine, as it taught us language skills that have since become indispensable to our ongoing growth as social connectors. However, the downside of this method of teaching is that we continue to pronounce our words internally, or through simple methods of moving our lips, while we are reading. Our eyes can recognize words and sentence structures far more quickly than we can articulate them aloud. Hence, if you are verbalizing the words you are reading inside your head or through the process of just moving your lips, than you are dramatically slowing down your speed of reading. Utilizing this method you can effectively accelerate your reading speed anywhere from 50% to 250%.

Don’t Read “Filler” Words

“Filler” words are essentially meaningless words that add very little substance to the overall sentence you are reading. These words can include “the”, “and”, “is”, “that”, “this”, “what”, “a”, and many others. Through practice and over time, you can teach yourself to quickly skim over these words without ever consciously reading them. Utilizing this method you can effectively accelerate your reading speed anywhere from 50% to 100%.

Alternate Your Reading Speed

As you progress forward with these Speed Reading guidelines, it is important to test and move out of your comfort zone by progressively challenging yourself to read at faster accelerated speeds. All of us have a natural comfort level of reading that feels just right. Once we go beyond these comfort levels our comprehension and understanding of the information we are reading naturally begins to plummet. However, we must come to understand that this is only temporary, as our brain takes some time to adjust to these increased speeds of reading and comprehension. When you were a child your initial reading speeds weren’t very impressive, in fact it might have taken you a whole 30 seconds to read a short sentence from a book. However, at the time, this felt comfortable and it allowed you to fully grasp and comprehend the information you were reading. In time, you accelerated your speed of reading to a new level of comfort that you experience today. And there is nothing stopping you from transitioning to the next level by testing and challenging your reading speeds on an ongoing basis. Utilizing this method you can effectively accelerate your reading speed anywhere from 10% to 1,000% or more.

Form Mental Visual Mind Maps while Reading

In order to improve your comprehension of the information you are reading, it is important to form ongoing visual mind map images of each sentence, paragraph, topic and chapter throughout the reading process. This topic is beyond the scope of our discussion here as it doesn’t specifically relate to the process of Speed Reading. However as a general rule, it is important to incorporate as many methods and strategies for comprehension into your Speed Reading regime.

Practice, Practice and Practice

Finally, you will not improve your reading speed by thinking about these techniques and strategies. The key is to practice, practice and practice each and everyday. Through consistent practice over time you will progressively accelerate your reading speed beyond its present capabilities and limitations.

SQ3R Process of Learning

This is a simple method of learning that will help you to assimilate the information you are studying in a more structured and effective manner. I have presented it here, because a part of this process requires you to Speed Read through the information you are learning. We will discuss the methods presented here in greater depth and detail another time, however for the purpose of this discussion, here is a quick introduction to each stage of this learning process:

Survey Stage

This stage involves taking in a thorough overview of the material you are about to learn. Here you must make sure that you have all your necessary tools and resources on hand before you begin moving through the Survey Stage. Begin by overviewing your material, taking into consideration key words, topics, headings, chapters and other important pieces of information that will be relevant to your understanding of this topic.

Question Stage

This stage involves questioning the material you are about to read and learn in a way that will expand your perspective and awareness about the topics in unexpected ways. The better and more insightful questions you ask, the more thoroughly you will prepare your mind to understand the topic under question.  At this stage, it doesn’t matter if you cannot answer these questions, all that matters is that you open your mind to the possibilities that these questions will need to be answered as you move through your learning regime. Essentially your questions must highlight important unanswered aspects of the information that are critical to your understanding of each topic.

Reading Stage

Here you will spend time Speed Reading through the material by following the guidelines discussed above and by utilizing the methods and strategies that will be mentioned within the sections that follow. As you are Speed Reading it is important to keep in mind the questions you posed yourself in the previous stage. You should essentially be looking for answers to these questions while you read through the material.

Reciting Stage

This stage involves answering any outstanding questions and organizing the information you have read in a way that will help you to further your understanding of the topic or book.

Review Stage

The final stage helps you to lock the information you have been learning into your long-term memory. Simply spend time reviewing the information you have collected utilizing your 7 intelligences or multi-sensory strategies in order to lock everything away for future recall.

Speed Reading Book Analysis Process

Finally, let’s quickly touch on a simple method you can utilize in order to rapidly assimilate the content of a single book in quick succession using Speed Reading strategies as well as other accelerated learning tactics of information scanning. It is important as you move through this process that you stick with the time constraints presented below. They are there to guide you through an accelerated form of learning that moves through time specific stages that must be adhered to for best results. This is in fact a great method for cramming before examinations, as it will assist you in assimilating large chunks of content in much less time than you normally would by reading a book from cover-to-cover.

Index Analysis Stage

Your first objective is to gather an overview of what the content of this book is about. Hence take your book and spend 2 to 3 minutes just scanning the index pages. Keep an eye out for unfamiliar words and word patterns that signify specific themes and issues that will be discussed in further detail throughout the text. As a general guideline, keep in mind that the more unfamiliar words you identify through the Index Analysis Stage, the longer it will naturally take you to thoroughly learn and grasp the topics presented within the book. It may also be a good idea to highlight some key unfamiliar words and “word theme patterns” as you move through this process.

Overview Information Stage

Your next objective is to quickly overview the contents of the book in order to grasp a thorough understanding of the information and difficulty of the material you are about to learn. This stage will also assist you in identifying important patterns within the information, thusly allowing you to take study shortcuts as you progress through the learning cycle. You should effectively spending 5 to 10 minutes quickly perusing the book from cover-to-cover. As you are moving through each page of the book, keep an eye out (even make a few notes) for key diagrams, pictures, graphs, major headings, subheadings, bolded text, bullet points, patterns within the information and its overall structure. The more thoroughly you are able to comprehend all of these elements, the quicker you will be able to assimilate all of this information into your long-term memory.

Quick Scanning Stage

Here you should spend about 7 seconds per page just scanning the content and material of each chapter in a little more detail. As you are undertaking this process ask yourself “How…? When…? What…? Why…? Who…? questions to help you to further clarify the relevance and importance of the information you are about to learn. In fact, jot down some important questions that come to mind on a piece of paper as you are progressing through this stage. The better quality of questions you are able to bring to mind about this material, the more thoroughly you will prepare your mind for the Speed Reading and learning stages that follow.

Sketching Analysis Stage

Having now overviewed the content of the book utilizing three different methods, you are now ready to begin sketching out your knowledge about the material through the use of diagrams, pictures, and mind maps. Throughout this Sketching Analysis Stage, it is still very important to keep asking insightful and thought provoking questions about the material in order to stimulate your thinking and creativity. Approach the book one chapter at a time and begin sketching out your knowledge and understanding of the material in 3 minute intervals per chapter. By the end of this stage you will have quite a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of the topics presented within the book. Moreover, the ongoing associations you are forming will enhance your ability to piece the information together far more thoroughly than you normally would by simply reading the book.

Speed Reading Stage

I suppose this stage doesn’t require any explanation as we have already discussed the process in detail. As a general rule though, you should spend about 30 seconds per page reading through the chapters of the book. You will find that your understanding of the material is quite extensive at this point because you have already gone through the book four prior times utilizing different comprehension methods. Stick to the time limits, however focus a little more time on areas that are difficult to understand or comprehend. At the conclusion of each chapter you may also like to add a little more information to the diagrams and mind maps you created within the Sketching Analysis Stage.

Review & Learning Stage

The final stage simply involves reviewing what you have learned in a way that will allow you to lock the information away into your long-term memory. This method is best achieved through utilizing your 7 Intelligences and Multi-Sensory Study Skills.

Principles of PhotoReading

PhotoReading is an Accelerated Learning method first presented by Paul Scheele. It involves a somewhat mysterious method of learning that taps into the unlimited powers and resources of our unconscious minds to help Accelerate our Learning Potential by improving our memory and recall of information. Within this branch of the IQ Matrix we will just briefly introduce you to the methods and principles behind the process of PhotoReading. This is by no means intended to be a thorough analysis, but rather an overview of an intriguing method of learning that is rapidly growing in popularity. On a personal level, I have utilized this process to some extent and have experienced some rather surprising and welcoming results. It is best not to judge the process, but rather partake within this method of learning for a few weeks or months without any preconceived expectations. The PhotoReading process only works if you let go of your inhibitions and step into it wholeheartedly with an open mind.

Before proceeding, it is important to understand that our unconscious mind remembers absolutely every single visual experience that we have ever perceived. Because we cannot remember something, does not mean that it never existed. Your unconscious mind is essentially a storehouse of all the sensory stimuli that ever touched your life experience. This is why within a deep hypnotic trance people are able to remember incredible details from their past that they never actually took the time to consciously acknowledge. This unconscious information lies dormant within our brains until it is brought forward into our conscious mind through life triggers that stimulate associative memories about people, events and circumstances. PhotoReading works on the same principles by instilling a deep learning state of unconscious awareness that can later be brought into the forefront of our minds on the conscious level. Let’s now take a look at it in a little more detail.

PhotoReading Uses

PhotoReading is best utilized for rapid unconscious level learning that expands creativity and assists with problem solving.

PhotoReading Guidelines

Before undergoing the PhotoReading process it is important to keep in mind the following set of guidelines:

Gain Clarity on Goals & Objectives

For PhotoReading to be successful you must first clarify the goals and objectives that you seek to obtain as you undergo the PhotoReading process. Only once you are clear on your primary goals and objectives, should you move forward.

Stay Focused & Relaxed

Focus and relaxation are the two key fundamental aspects of the PhotoReading process that will help you to sink into a deep state of unconscious awareness that is necessary for accelerated learning. This essentially requires shutting out all external sounds and distractions, while slowly moving beyond conscious repetitive thoughts that tend to sweep through the recesses of our minds. We will discuss strategies, techniques and methods on how to achieve deep states of relaxation in a future Mind Map.

Hold Book at 45 Degree Angle

Before beginning the PhotoReading process you must sink yourself into a comfortable seating position and hold the text book you will be PhotoReading at a 45 degree angle in front of you at a comfortable reading distance.

Utilize Photo Focus

Getting into a Photo Focus State is explained in great depth and detail within Paul Scheele’s Photo Reading audio course. However, for the purpose of this discussion it basically involves centering your focus and attention on the middle groove of the open text book you are about to PhotoRead. By “groove” I mean the middle central margin that connects all of the pages of the book together – only visible when the book is open in front of you. While your focus and attention is directed upon this groove, you must work on creating a “fuzzy vision” of sorts, while expanding your peripheral awareness of the two pages that are laid out in front of you. It is important to understand, that you will not at any time be consciously reading specific words from a page. Instead, you will be reading at an unconscious level of awareness, thusly the reason for the “fuzzy vision”. For best results, the Photo Focus State also requires that you fix your attention on the top back part of your head while you are PhotoReading.

Utilizing Affirmations

In order to help you to develop the right frame of mind, it is important to utilize a few powerful affirmations to assist you to get into a deep PhotoReading state:

As I PhotoRead my concentration is absolute.

All that I PhotoRead makes a lasting impression on my inner mind.

I desire this book to help me accomplish my purpose of…

I am fully absorbing and assimilating this material into my being.

Stick to Time Constraints

Within the next section, I will briefly touch upon the PhotoReading process. Please be aware, that some of these steps are time specific, and that it is highly recommended that you stay within these time constraints for best results.

Do Not Judge or Rationalize

Finally, the biggest drawback to standard “conscious levels” of learning is that it is riddled with rationalizations and judgments. Because we have a tendency to judge and rationalize the information we are learning, this indirectly influences our beliefs, values, self concept and the decisions we make about our learning in unexpected ways, that could essentially do us more harm than good. This drawback likewise tends to inhibit our natural learning abilities and creative expression. This is why it is very important and critical that throughout the PhotoReading process that you do not rationalize or judge the method or the potential results for even a split second.

PhotoReading Book Analysis Process

The following is an abbreviated overview of the PhotoReading process:

Preparation Stage

Before undertaking PhotoReading one must become clear on the goals and objectives one seeks to obtain by undergoing this process. You must essentially gain clarity on your most important learning objectives. Ask yourself the following set of questions:

What do I expect to know or do differently after PhotoReading this material?

How important is this information to me?

What specific value does this information have for me?

What level of detail am I seeking to gain from this material?

How much time am I willing to commit to accomplish my purpose?

Preview Stage

This stage basically incorporates the Overview and Scanning Stages described within the Speed Reading branch of the IQ Matrix. Your most important objective here is to ask insightful questions that expand your understanding and awareness about this material, while identifying 20 to 25 key “trigger” words that are essential to your comprehension of this information. Spend about 5 to 10 minutes moving through this stage. Once complete ask yourself the following three questions:

What is this information really about?

Does this information fit my current purpose and outcomes?

In what ways must I further clarify my purpose and outcome to better fit the content I am about to PhotoRead?

PhotoReading Stage

Follow the PhotoReading guidelines presented above and begin to PhotoRead through the book at a rate of 2 seconds per page. It is suggested that you PhotoRead from the front cover to the back cover, and then from the back cover to the front cover, while chanting a mantra that will put you into a deeper state of relaxation. A good relaxing mantra to begin with involves a simple yet continuous “Hmmm…” or “Ahhh…”. More about this another time in a future Mind Map when we will discuss the process of meditation in further detail.

Incubation & Activation Stage

This stage involves the process of fully assimilating the information you have just taken into your unconscious mind through the PhotoReading process. In order to encourage incubation of the material it is suggested that you sleep or meditate on the information. Utilizing affirmations that will assist you in triggering future insights and understandings are also of importance here. Here are a few examples:

I acknowledge the feelings I have used within this book.

I release this information for my body and inner mind to process.

I am curious how many ways my mind can demonstrate that this information is available to me.

I found through personal experience that activation is triggered when one enters a deep and relaxed state of meditation the very next day, and asks questions of the material one PhotoRead the day before:

What is important to me about this information?

What are the main points that I must know?

What is in here that can help me regarding…?

What must I know in relation to…?

The depth of your questions will help you to unlock deeper and more meaningful insights from the information you PhotoRead the previous day. Patience is the key, and it is critical that you also do not expect to receive immediate answers. At other times I found it helpful to ask a question and then simply physically scan the book for an answer. I was pleasantly surprised with the results.

Questioning Stage

The final stage basically involves an analysis of the PhotoReading process. Here you would ask yourself a set of question that will help you to improve your PhotoReading methods the next time around.

In conclusion, please understand that there is a lot more to the PhotoReading process than what has been presented within this branch of the IQ Matrix. It is a rather extensive and interesting topic that we may give more time and attention to in a future IQ Matrix. However, for the time being, if you would like to learn more about this Accelerated Reading Study Skill, than please visit the Learning Strategies website for further information.

Accelerated Learning Study Strategies

To finish off this post, I thought it might be appropriate to briefly discuss how you can incorporate these Accelerated Reading Study Skills into examinations and for class preparation purposes. We will be discussing this topic in great length and detail another time. However, for now here is a brief overview:

Examination Study Strategies

The way you approach your examinations must be structured utilizing methods presented within this post. You should effectively be looking for patterns within the information you are reading. Patterns will reveal hints and snippets of information that will help you to answer questions more efficiently and effectively. However, more about this another time. For now, before you begin your examination you should essentially move yourself into a deep relaxing learning state similar to the one that was presented within the PhotoReading branch of the IQ Matrix.

The second step is to begin PhotoReading your examination paper from front to back and then from back to front, all the while following the methods presented within the PhotoReading branch of the IQ Matrix. Once PhotoReading has been completed, apply the Speed Reading principles discussed within this post. At the same time, keep your eyes out for key pieces of information, word and question patterns that could give you an edge in answering these questions. Remember that in many instances the answers to many of the questions within your examinations can be obtained from other questions presented on your examination paper. You must essentially expand your awareness and understanding that this possibility could exists, and work from there.

Finally, once you have completed the Speed Reading process, “regular read” through your examination paper one question at a time, continuously looking for specific patterns within the information.

Before Class Preparation Strategies

Before heading into a lecture it is important to prepare your brain as well as your physical notes accordingly, so that you are completely within the “right thinking frame of mind” about the topic your lecturer or tutor will be discussing. Your first objective is to move through the PhotoReading process focusing in on the chapters your teacher will be discussing in class. Secondly, Speed Read through the appropriate chapters utilizing the Speed Reading strategies discussed within this IQ Matrix. Finally, create a Mind Map representing the main chapter headings and subheadings of the topics under discussion. For further information, please read Advanced Mind Mapping Study Skills IQ Matrix.

During Class Learning Strategies

As a general rule, you should always record your lectures just in case you need to clarify the information that was discussed at a later time. Also bring your mind map into class and expand on the headings and subheadings in further detail creating new interlinking pieces of information that will help you to gather a more thorough understanding of the topic under discussion. During class, your number #1 objective is to do all you possibly can to chunk information into related – easily manageable – categories that will help you to remember and recall the topic readily at a later time.

After Class Assimilation Strategies

That evening after class, schedule time to overview your recording of the lecture and expand on your mind map accordingly, integrating all the disconnected pieces of information together into a comprehensive “learner friendly” guide that leads to rapid assimilation of the information you are studying. Finally, conclude your studies by applying some of the learning strategies presented within the 7 Intelligences of Accelerated Learning and within the Multi-Sensory Study Skills IQ Matrix.

Final Thoughts

Accelerated Reading Study Skills are far more than just a set of effective learning strategies that will help you to become a better student or academic. They are in fact indispensable survival techniques and methods of information assimilation that will help us to better deal with the ever growing amount of written content that we are exposed to on a daily basis. Without effectively applying these tools, we might as well resign ourselves to a life of mediocrity and ignorance, however with them, the world is our oyster and the impossibilities of tomorrow become the possibilities of today.

I hope you enjoyed this post. If you have used any of these photo reading or speed reading principles and would like to share your learning experiences, than please feel free to comment below.

Spotlight on the MasterMind Matrix

The process of Accelerated Speed Reading is an important and indispensable component of the MasterMind Matrix.

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The MasterMind Matrix is a Psychological Chart of Personal Success and Achievement. It is used as an effective Self-Coaching tool that will help guide you through the personal obstacles, setbacks and limitations that may stand in your way as you progress towards the attainment of your goals and objectives in the field of academics, business, career, sports, or life in general.

Each IQ Matrix Mind Map that is available through this website represents a single cell fragment of the MasterMind Matrix. For more information and images, visit the MasterMind Matrix page.

Accelerate Learning Using Mind Maps

Click here to view the embedded video.

Free Articles & Online Resources

Here are a number of highly recommended free articles and online resources that will further help expand your understanding about this topic:

• How to Recall an Entire Book in 5 Minutes of Less @ Litemind
• 7 Pleasurable Ways to Improve Your Reading Ability @ Pick the Brain
• Process Information 3 Times Faster with PhotoReading @ Pick the Brain
• How to Start Remembering Everything Your Read @ Student Hacks
• Web Based Speed Reading Program @ Zap Reader
• 7 Ways to Remember What You Read @ Schaefer’s Blog
• Learn to Speed Read in Just a Few Hours @ Learn This
• Speed Reading Successfully: A Starting Point @ Life Hack

Recommended Products

Howard Berg’s Maximum Speed Reading – Absorb all of the material you need to read with unbelievable speed, comprehension, and recall! Are you overwhelmed by the amount of written material you’re faced with each day? Do you find you spend most of your day slogging through the memos, reports, articles, books, and websites that are critical to your success, but that drain away your time and energy? Maximum Speed Reading is an incredible new program that will help you to read and comprehend massive amounts of written information – in any subject area – with unbelievable speed and remarkable retention and recall.

Recommended Books

• Breakthrough Rapid Reading by Peter Kump
• 10 Days to Faster Reading by Abby Marks-Beale
• Power Reading Course Book with Audio Coundown Timing CD: The Best, Fastest, Easiest, Most Effective Course on Speed Reading and Comprehension Ever Developed by Rick Ostrov
• PhotoReading 4th Edition by Paul R. Scheele
• The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Speed Reading by Abby Marks Beale

If you would like to download a copy of this IQ Matrix, it is available from the IQ Matrix Shop.

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Introduction

In a previous post we discussed the 7 Intelligences of Accelerated Learning. Although this was quite a comprehensive analysis of how one should approach learning, it however did leave out some important steps and fundamentals that are necessary in helping you Accelerate Your Learning Potential. As a result, I have prepared a post that breaks down some of those study principles in a little more detail and from a different perspective. Today we will be looking at how you can utilize Advanced Multi-Sensory Study Skills to further your learning in potentially surprising ways.

The Multi-Sensory Study Skills Mind Map will focus on identifying your 3 primary sensory methods of learning as well as looking at specific strategies and tactics that you can utilize immediately and incorporate into your Study Regime. Along the way we will also briefly touch upon how to utilize effective questioning methods in order to Accelerate Your Learning Potential to even deeper and more profound levels.

Some of the study tools and methods discussed within this post do crossover with the 7 Intelligences of Accelerated Learning, however I will attempt to present them in a new light and from a slightly different angle and perspective. I am hopeful that by the end you will have a very thorough grasp and understanding of this material and you will be able to utilize it to dramatically improve your personal study habits and skills in surprising ways.

Learning through the Senses

Most of us go through our academic years without fully utilizing our potential as intelligent and creative human beings. We are all gifted with the ability to learn and absorb new pieces of information in so many surprising and profound ways. However, most of us never fully realize this, and therefore struggle with ineffective means and methods of learning that lead to strong feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. If you have ever struggled to find the creative spark that would propel you towards new learnings and understandings, than it could mean that your approach to learning has been somewhat ineffective, and has lead you down the path of frustration and procrastination. Within this branch of the IQ Matrix you will discover that the doors to learning are always wide open and accessible. There is a means and ways to learn any type of information or subject as long as you are aware – and utilize – effective multi-sensory learning strategies that will help you to Accelerate Your Learning Potential.

The Process of Remembering

How we choose to think at any given moment in time is as important as the learning strategies we choose to use. Learning studies have consistently shown us that when we approach learning from a creative perspective that involves more than one of our sensory organs, that we can profoundly enhance our retention and recall of information. In fact, did you know that on average you will only remember 20% of what you read, 30% of what you hear, 40% of what you see, 50% of what you say, and 60% of what you do. Of course this will somewhat vary from person-to-person depending on their sensory learning preferences, however as a general outline, it seems to be pretty accurate.

What these results are actually telling us, is that the more we involve ourselves interactively with the information we are learning, the greater amount of information we will retain and hold onto over an extended period of time. “Reading” is on the bottom of this list as it requires little involvement. However, “doing” is at the top of the list with 60% retention because it is a multi-sensory activity that utilizes many sensory cues in order to stimulate the brain in creative ways, thusly enhancing our retention and Accelerating Learning Potential.

If we were to incorporate all of these methods (reading, listening, seeing, saying and doing) into the learning process, than you may surprisingly find that your retention levels shoot into the stratosphere at 90%. And it all has to do with your approach to Multi-Sensory Learning.

Types of Learners

We have 5 physical senses and a mysterious 6th sense that can also be utilized for learning. However, more about this another time. Your sense of sight, hearing, touch, smell, and taste are critical when it comes to Accelerating Your Learning Potential. Each sensory cue within itself can dramatically enhance your learning experience, and provide you with extra support that will improve your memory and recall of information. Science has shown us time and again that we never actually forget anything that comes through our 5 sensory organs. These memories are intrinsically ingrained into our psyche at a deep unconscious level. In fact, this is why under hypnosis many people find that sensory memories lying dormant for decades suddenly come to the forefront as through they just occurred yesterday. These types of memories are usually very vivid because they are being experienced in multi-sensory ways. The person with the memory can see, hear, feel, taste and smell the experience from a wide variety of angles and perspectives. And within this lies the key to your success as a learner. For the purpose of this discussion, we will only briefly take a look at the 3 most utilized senses that will help to improve your study skills. You will naturally have a preference for one sensory learning method over the others. Identify which one it is and approach your learning by focusing on this sensory cue to begin with. Only once you have a good understanding and grasp of the topic area should you vary up your studies and begin focusing on alternate methods that incorporate the other 2 primary sensory organs. Here is a brief description of the 3 main sensory cues to get you started:

Visual Learners

These types of learners enjoy using their eyes to learn and remember pieces of information. They are very “visually” oriented individuals, thinking in pictures, colors, and shapes. They enjoy visualizing and utilizing their imaginations to think about and recall the information they are learning. Are you a visual learner?

Auditory Learners

These types of learners enjoy using their ears to learn and remember pieces of information. They are very “listening” oriented individuals, thinking in sounds, music, and tones. They enjoy listening to audio recordings and utilizing their voice in order to think about and recall the information they are learning. Are you an auditory learner?

Physical / Kinesthetic Learners

These types of learners enjoy using their feelings to learn and remember pieces of information. They are very “physically” oriented individuals, thinking in shades of emotion and through physical movement and involvement. They enjoy contemplating and role playing aspects of the information they are learning. Are you a physical kinesthetic learner?

Advanced Multi-Sensory Study Tactics

Advanced Multi-Sensory learning is very much a creative journey where you naturally identify your strengths and weaknesses that will better assist you in selecting the learning methods and strategies that will best suit your personality and learning style. Within this branch of the IQ Matrix, we will delve into the intricate specifics and details of the Multi-Sensory Learning study process. The techniques and strategies presented here will provide you with a variety of approaches you can take when learning your study materials.

Keep in mind that every method will not be ideal to your learning strategy, however it is important to think flexibly and approach every subject and topic you are learning with an open frame of mind that tackles every piece of material in a new way – incorporating as many of your learning sensory organs as possible. Again, as mentioned within the 7 Intelligences of Accelerated Learning, please Think Outside the Box as you are reading these strategies. Each of them are presented from my personal angle and perspective, and they can easily be adjusted and tweaked to suit your personal preferences and learning style. Imagination is the key, and a commitment to efficiency and effectiveness are what you need in order to move you forward towards Accelerating Your Learning Potential.

Make Your Information Memorable

In order to get the most out of your multi-sensory study time, it is absolutely critical that you follow a few simple guidelines that will help you to expand your focus, awareness and memory of the information you are learning. Here is a brief overview of each of these guidelines as they pertain to the 3 primary sensory learning styles:

Visual Suggestions

When learning through a visual means and while incorporating visual learning strategies – discussed a little further within this post – it is important to ensure that your visual learning experience is bright, close, colorful and funny. As visual learners we naturally remember and recall information easily that is designed in a memorable and vividly imaginative format. As you are working through the visual learning strategies presented within this post, make sure that you incorporate brightness, closeness, color and humor into your study regime. This will not only improve each of the study strategies you have chosen to pursue, but will also dramatically enhance your memory and recall of information. As a final thought, while you are working through the visual study strategies, ask yourself the following questions:

How can I make this information brighter so that it stands out more readily in my mind?

How can I bring this information closer so that I am completely engrossed within its influence?

How can I add more color in ways that will further enhance my memory and recall?

How can I create and build humor into this information, thusly making it standout in my minds-eye?

Auditory Suggestions

When learning through an auditory means and while incorporating auditory learning strategies – discussed a little further within this post – it is important to ensure that your auditory learning experience is funny, loud, and unique. As auditory learners we naturally remember and recall information easily that comes across in a memorable and vividly unique way. As you are working through the auditory learning strategies presented within this post, make sure that you incorporate volume, uniqueness of sound, and humor into your study regime. This will not only improve each of the study strategies you have chosen to pursue, but will also dramatically enhance your memory and recall of information. As a final thought, while you are working through the auditory study strategies, ask yourself the following questions:

How can I add humorous sound effects, music and voices to the information that I am learning in order to remember it more readily?

In what creative way can I increase the tone and volume of this strategy in such a fashion that will enhance my memory and recall of this information?

How can I make the sound effects, music and voices unique in such a way that it automatically enhances my thinking and awareness?

Physical Suggestions

When learning through a physical means and while incorporating kinesthetic learning strategies – discussed a little further within this post – it is important to ensure that your physical learning experience has unique feelings associated with it, and is of a high emotional intensity. As physical / kinesthetic learners we naturally remember and recall information easily that comes across in a memorable and vividly unique way. As you are working through the physical learning strategies presented within this post, make sure that you get all your emotions involved within the process, and that you seek out unique and memorable feelings that will expand your thinking and awareness. This will not only improve each of the study strategies you have chosen to pursue, but will also dramatically enhance your memory and recall of information. As a final thought, while you are working through the physical study strategies, ask yourself the following questions:

How can I add a greater amount of emotional intensity into my study time?

How can I enhance the positive emotional tension of this learning strategy in such a way that will allow me to better remember the information I am studying?

What kind of unique experience and feeling can I draw from this strategy that will further enhance my memory and recall?

Physical Sensory Learning Strategies

The strategies presented here will help you to zero in on, and enhance your physical / kinesthetic learning ability. If this is your favored learning approach, than you should concentrate 70% of your study efforts utilizing the strategies presented here. The other 30% should be spent on incorporating some of the strategies contained within the other 2 sensory learning modes.

Walking for Improved Memory & Recall

As a physical learner, you naturally favor movement over sitting or standing while you are learning. In order to use this to your advantage you must effectively incorporate some form of movement throughout your study regime. Walking while you are reading your notes is a good place to start. This naturally helps you to zone out all outside distractions and focus in on the material you are studying. However, you must take care to make your movements steady, moderately paced and repetitive.

For example, you will learn very effectively while lightly walking, however your learning curve will drop dramatically the moment you begin to increase your pace. You must find a comfort zone, where your breath is comfortable and is perfectly aligned to the rhythm of your body and the movements you are making. If you are reading aloud, make sure that this is also done within a rhythmic pattern that is consistent with your movements. Our bodies are naturally drawn to rhythm on a subconscious level. This is why it is paramount that you create a comfortable walking / moving rhythm for an extended period of time while you are studying. Over time, this movement will naturally become anchored to your psyche in such a way that it will automatically trigger your body and mind to enter a deep and profound learning state that will allow you to learn and recall information in rapid succession.

Other movements that may also be helpful include spinning slowly on a chair, rocking back and forth on your seat, or gently jumping up and down on a trampoline. In the end it doesn’t matter what method you use, as long as it is consistent, rhythmic and naturally moves you into a deeply profound learning state.

Be Dramatic in Your Approach

As a physical learner, you will learn far more rapidly if you approach your studies in a dramatic humorous fashion. You should essentially see yourself as a slapstick comedian piecing the information you are learning in a memorable and unique way that will naturally stimulate your mind and enhance your learning ability. Use dramatic bodily actions to act out the information you are studying, utilize props and other tools to further enhance the realism of your dramatic performances, and also consider recruiting a partner who can support you within these roles. Your imagination is your only limitation, and your acting skills are absolutely irrelevant when it comes to winning your first Academy Award

Role Play the Topic Under Study

Role playing what you are studying in ways that focuses you on teaching, debating or discussing the topic with others is an ideal way to learn. As a physical learner you become very emotionally involved in the everyday actions you take and decisions you make. As such, it is of primary importance that you incorporate these same feelings and emotions into your study regime. Getting into a heated emotional discussion with someone about the topic you are studying, will help enhance and expand important concepts within your mind.

Teaching another person about the topic you are studying will assist you in gaining new insights and understandings from a perspective you may have never considered before. In this situation you will be forced to physically explain concepts and ideas in such a way that will help a novice fully grasp the topic under question. And finally, debating your topic with someone will present you with emotional as well as logical challenges that may stimulate new avenues of thinking in unexpected directions. No matter which of these methods you choose, it is important that you incorporate a little bit of drama, and completely lose yourself within the experience that you have created.

Utilize a Study Partner

All the above physical learner study skills can be enhanced and improved upon by hiring the “services” of a Study Partner who is able to bring out raw emotional feelings and experiences from within your heart. Simply hire them to help you lose yourself completely within the topic that you are studying, and their time will pay dividends with your academic success.

Auditory Sensory Learning Strategies

The strategies presented here will help you to zero in on, and enhance your auditory learning ability. If this is your favored learning approach, than you should concentrate 70% of your study efforts utilizing the strategies presented here. The other 30% should be spent on incorporating some of the strategies contained within the other 2 sensory learning modes.

The Musical Method for Perfect Recall

As an auditory learner, your primary form of learning comes through your ears. We discussed a little earlier on how important rhythm is for effective and ongoing learning. If you are able to find a rhythm and stick to it for an extended period of time, you will enter what is known as your Learning ZONE where every piece of information you take into your mind is meticulously cataloged for quick and easy recall when you need it most. Learning becomes effortless and easy within this ZONE, however in order to get into this Zone you must first find your rhythm. Because you are an auditory learner, the best sense of rhythm is found within music. The right type of music with the ideal pitch, tone, volume and beat, will automatically trigger this deep and profound state of learning.

Now, in order to determine this ideal piece of music, you must pay attention to the everyday sounds that help you to ZONE OUT of reality and into a state of being that transcends the physical world. If you a true auditory learner, than you probably know what I mean. Once you have found this piece of music or rhythm, than it is your duty – from that moment on – to utilize it as a background study tool throughout the process of learning.

As a final thought, whatever piece of information you choose to learn, must be processed and communicated within this specific rhythm. This means that if you are reading something aloud, that you must find ways to articulate yourself within the rhythm of the music you have chosen for your studies. Music without any words is probably the best alternative. Or a repetitive song in another language may also do the trick here. The key is to lose yourself within the rhythm and beat of the melody.

In the future, as you continue to progress with this method, you will find that every time you hear this song or melody it will naturally and instantly trigger you into a deep learning state – just like infants who are entranced by the sound of their mother’s heart. Rhythm is the key.

Speak UP & Remember

As an auditory learner, you remember and recall information best when it is spoken rather than just read or visualized. As such, you must always incorporate your voice into your learning regime. This could simply mean reading your notes aloud, paraphrasing what you have learned into a microphone, or simply talking to yourself about the subject material you are studying. As you talk to yourself, actually stimulate a conversation between your Curious Mind and Logical Genius Mind – who knows all the answers. Your Curious Mind will be asking all the most insightful and thought provoking questions – about the material you are studying – aloud for all to hear.

Once the questions have been posed, your “Sage Like” Logical Genius Mind will do its very best to answer these questions in the most logical and intellectually analytical manner. However, your Curious Mind is always very curious indeed, and so the questions never letup and the conversation just keeps moving deeper and deeper into the topic under question. It’s somewhat like Bart Simpson sitting in the back seat of his family car, continuously asking Homer Simpson “Are we there yet… Are we there yet?” Now, even though Homer lost his patience after only a few questions, your Logical Genius Mind must always be within it’s ZONE, thinking of as many creative and thought provoking answers that will hopefully one day, quieten your Curious Mind’s unending curiosity Have fun with this, and you will gain a plethora of new insights and understandings that you may not have expected.

Digital Recordings for the Digital Mind

Since you are already expressing your thoughts aloud, it just naturally makes sense to digitally capture your voice and listen to it at a later time. As an auditory learner you will find great benefit listening to your own voice. It’s very much like your subconscious mind talking back to you and helping you to understand the subject your are studying in great depth and detail. However, don’t just record your voice, actually go about the process in a creative manner. For instance, record your voice over the rhythmic music that you identified above.

Another example is to record your voice in a way that will lull you into a deep meditative resting trance. This is best achieved when you utilize a background beat and a low tone and pitch. Slowing down the pace of your recording slightly, may also help integrate the information you are trying to learn at a deeper and more profound level. The key here again is to be creative and to thoroughly know and understand your rhythm and natural habitual tendencies of learning.

Also bear in mind that you could use different types of recordings that you listen to throughout your day while on the bus, in the car, riding a bike, taking a shower, or just as you nod off to sleep. The different recordings you create should effectively mimic the rhythm and energy levels that you will naturally be feeling throughout that specific part of your day, while you are listening to the recording. Initially this might seem like a lot of work, however, once you have established how you will be going about things, it will naturally all fall into place. Again use your imagination, and have fun with this process.

Karaoke Your Way to Accelerated Learning

This is all about creating rhymes and jingles to a melody and beat that is familiar and pleasant to your ears. Actually go out and purchase your favorite songs in their Karaoke versions. Prepare your most important notes in advance (these are the notes that are critical to your understanding of the subject materials) and have them ready to read in front of you as you begin playing the Karaoke music. As the music progresses, make adjustments and align your notes in such a way that will naturally blend in with the rhythm, verses, chorus and beat of the karaoke song you have chosen. Yes, I actually mean taking your study notes and inserting them into the chorus, verses and bridge components of the karaoke melody.

Once you have finished, simply take your study notes and stand in front of a mirror and perform your song and dance with the new lyrics that you have just created. Go ahead, have some fun… don’t be bashful, there’s probably no one watching This could well be one of the most effective and powerful auditory learning methods for Accelerating Your Learning Potential. It works extremely effectively because yet again you are bringing the notes you are studying into a familiar rhythm that is naturally appreciated and deeply ingrained within your psyche. Later, when it comes to writing up your examinations, see if you can stop yourself from singing your way to the top of your class

Visual Sensory Learning Strategies

The strategies presented here will help you to zero in on, and enhance your visual learning ability. If this is your favored learning approach, than you should concentrate 70% of your study efforts utilizing the strategies presented here. The other 30% should be spent on incorporating some of the strategies contained within the other 2 sensory learning modes.

“Post IT” for Improved Memory & Recall

As a visual learner, you look for every visual cue you can find in order to help you remember key pieces of information. A great method to do this throughout the day is to utilize “Post IT” notes. Purchase a variety of colored markers and write out key important notes (with associating and visually stimulating pictures) that will standout in your mind. Once they have been created, simply stick them up everywhere!

Stick them up next to your computer, on the refrigerator, kitchen table, bathroom mirror, next to your bed, around your shower, in your car, and anywhere else that you can think of that will keep important visual cues at the forefront of your mind at all times. This is a very simple strategy, however, for key important pieces of information it could well be one of the most effective techniques you use to Accelerate Your Learning Potential.

Visualize Yourself Utilizing Information

The imagination of a visual learner is one of their greatest assets when it comes to learning. Your imagination holds the key to unbelievable insights, understandings and reflections that could very well make a significant difference to your outcomes. Simply spend time each and every day physically visualizing in pictures the topic you have been studying. There is a means and way to turn every topic into a profound visual experience in your mind’s-eye, you must however be open to the possibilities and utilize your creativity effectively to bring these images to life. While visualizing these scenarios in your mind, make sure that they are big, funny, colorful and bright in ways that will assist you with better memory recall. Finally, adding dramatic and memorable movement to your visualizations will further enhance the learning process.

Please remember, not to allow your imagination to limit the possibilities here. Boring and dull images in your mind will simply not be remembered as clearly as exciting, fun and colorful images will. Think about how you can perform this visualization in a creative and effective manner that will leave a lasting impression on your mind. Maybe you could turn everything into your favorite cartoon or movie? Or you could use famous actors and characters to perform in your visual experience. You could even have animals and trees acting out all the parts of this visual journey through the topic you are studying. Or simply put yourself into a fantasy world where anything goes. They key again is to make it memorable, entertaining and fun.

Create Mental Storyboards

This is closely tied into the process of visualization, however it involves creating mental storyboards within your mind as you progress through the learning process. Think of a mental storyboard as very much like something that writers create for a movie or television series before it is filmed. For them the process involves drawing how they imagine each scene of a movie unfolding in a comic book type of format. This works quite effectively as it puts the bigger picture into perspective and also opens up new insights and understandings about how the story should unfold. For the purpose of Accelerating Your Learning, mental storyboards will assist you in creating an ongoing “picture” story within your mind about the information you are studying in such a way that will help you to better understand the topic you are studying.

Simply begin by reading a paragraph, page or a topic one section at a time. At the end of this section, close your eyes for a moment and create a snapshot picture of the topic that is vivid and memorable. Make this picture bright, colorful and all encompassing. Focus on the image for a few moments, and then store it away in your mind. To assist your memory further with this process, simply jot down a rough sketch of the mental picture on a piece of paper and bookmark your text or notes with it. The next time you move through your notes you will come across this picture and it will bring back a flood of memories about the page or topic under question. Again, it is very important to use a “free-flexing” imagination that will allow you to think creatively about the topic you are studying.

Create Intertwining Flow Charts & Mind Maps

As a visual learner you very much enjoy thinking in interconnecting systems and processes. You naturally enjoy seeing associations and connections between different objects, which helps you to better understand the material you are studying. Utilize Flow Charts and Mind Maps in order to connect different aspects of a topic together in creative ways that make sense in your mind.

When I read a topic and try and create a Mind Map from this information, I don’t usually follow the topic structure presented within the text. Instead, I create my own connections bringing together seemingly unrelated pieces of information into a cohesive format that makes sense to me. As a result I wouldn’t suggest that you stick to the structure of the topics or subject you are studying. Create your own headings, sub-headings, major and minor points, interconnecting them together in ways that will enhance your understanding about this topic.

Create Flashy Pocket Cards

Similar to Post IT notes, it is handy to utilize Pocket Cards as reminder tools that will help you to keep the most important points at the forefront of your mind at all times. This is especially important as you are walking around and about. Whenever you get a moment of time to spare, you can always refer to them, and therefore keep your mind and attention on the pieces of information that are most important to you. Read more about this process in the 7 Intelligences of Accelerated Learning.

Create Diagrams & Pictures of the Material

If you are artistically inclined, than this may very well be the most effective study strategy that will help you to Accelerate Your Learning Potential. Simply take out your colored pencils, crayons, pens, highlighters and makers, and draw quick sketches of the material you are learning. You are effectively creating a physical storyboard of each topic, and not just a mental storyboard (as was discussed within the mental storyboard section). Again, be creative with your approach and utilize themes, characters, cartoon heroes, or simple stick figures. It doesn’t matter what you do, as long as it sticks and ingrains itself into your psyche.

Finally, In order to further expand your understanding and awareness about the material you are studying, it may be helpful to recreate the diagrams, pictures, cartoons and graphs presented within the book in your own unique way.

Read like a Child in a Playful & Creative Way

Finally, visual learners will find it helpful to interact with their reading material in a childlike manner. Do you remember the days when you were young and you drew pretty pictures, shapes, and lines on your bedroom wall? Well, this is somewhat the same method you should be using to help you learn new pieces of information. The next time you sit down to read a book, create a process and method of remembering that you will utilize from that moment on. Simply develop a process and system for your scribbles, underlines, highlights, colors, symbols, arrows and line linkages.

Everything must have a consistent reason and purpose for being that defines the way you learn and study. Initially it might take a little time to develop the process that you will use, as you must decide how and under what specific conditions you will utilize each of these written methods. However as you gain experience it will become one of your primary tools that will help to Accelerate Your Learning Potential.

Logical Study Suggestions

Here are some additional Study Tools and strategies that were left out of the 7 Intelligences of Accelerated Learning.

Learn in Logical Steps

This is pretty much the way that most of us are taught to learn, and it is in fact a very effective means of learning new pieces of information that you may not be too familiar with. Essentially we must all begin the learning process by taking simple and proactive logical steps through the topic we are studying.

Learn out of Sequence

Once you become more or less familiar with a subject, you will be ready to begin learning out of sequence. Learning out of sequence is incredibly important when it comes to your examinations. During examinations you will find that you are being confronted with the same topics in a strange ordered sequence that just doesn’t make sense. If you do not adapt quickly to this “Right Hook” than you will suffer the consequences and go down for the count. Instead, prepare yourself for the unexpected by learning the material you are studying out of its regular sequence and order. This can be achieved by reading the material back-to-front, by dipping in and out of chapters, and by simply reordering your notes in such a way that creates momentary confusion.

The important point here is that you must not allow your brain to become comfortable with a standard pattern of learning the information you are studying. Instead stimulate and challenge your brain in unexpected ways by studying out of sequence. It will most sincerely thank you when the time comes to do your examinations. In many ways, it is much like an athlete training for a competition. They won’t only train one way, but rather will put their body through a variety of workouts to ensure that they are ready for anything that comes their way when the day of the competition or event is upon them. As a final thought, you may choose to separate your notes onto individual Flash Cards that can be shuffled before beginning the learning process.

Focus on Small Chunks of Information

It is easy to become overwhelmed very quickly with topics that are at first difficult to grasp or understand. In such cases think about your topic as a large chunk of information. This large chunk is made up of smaller chunks, and those smaller chunks are composed of even smaller chunks and so forth. Take time to break your topic down to the smallest possible chunks you can manage. Once this has been successfully achieved, simply isolate each chunk into Easy, Intermediate, and Difficult to remember categories.

Begin by first tackling the chunks that are within your EASY category. Take them apart and piece them back together utilizing any of the sensory study skills you have been introduced to within this post. Once completed, do the same for the Intermediate chunks. And finally, tackle the Difficult chunks in the same fashion as well. You may very well find that by having tackled each of the prior chunks successfully that you will now have enough knowledge, understanding and experience to also tackle the Difficult chunks with relative ease. Learning is a process, however it must be a process that you control, and not have IT control you.

Summarize What Know About Topic

This is a very simple and a very much overlooked learning strategy. After learning a topic segment, simply take some time to either summarize your topic on paper, role play it, or record it. Identifying what you NOW know about the topic, will dramatically enhance your long-term memory and recall of the information under study. Please do not neglect this process as it is of primary importance if you seek to Accelerate Your Learning Potential.

Learning through Effective Questioning

Knowing how to ask effective, solution focused and stimulating questions will propel your knowledge and understanding about any subject into the stratosphere. Effective questioning strategies are important in order to enhance and advance any aspect of your life. And when it comes to learning; this also could not be further from the truth. Within this branch of the IQ Matrix you will discover how simple and carefully thought through questions can literally open the doors to new learnings, profound understandings, insights and experiences that can dramatically Accelerate Your Learning Potential, knowledge about a subject, and ability. The questions you utilize are a natural compliment to your multi-sensory learning strategies as they provide you with solution focused methods that will open your understanding and help you further expand your thinking and awareness about the information you are studying.

The Purpose of Effective Questioning

Asking effective questions focused on solutions and understandings naturally helps to stimulate confidence, improves thinking ability, creates curiosity and interest, and overall helps to enhance the learning process in unimaginable ways. In fact, the bottom line is that without questions, you have absolutely no hope of becoming an effective learner. Questions are in essence the keys that will open doors of knowledge and understanding that would normally be hidden from your view. Take them seriously, ask them religiously, and you will soar the heights of academic greatness.

Questions Separate the Genius from the Masses

Yes, this indeed is true. In fact it could be the most important key fundamental ability that separates a highly intelligent person or student from the rest. Through the process of asking the right kinds of questions, you will naturally stimulate the brain to think in unique and creative ways that will expand the possibilities and go beyond fixed beliefs that riddle the mind and limit its potential. Many beliefs that we hold within our minds are simply there because we fail to pose the questions that will break us free of their stranglehold over us. The same applies to learning.

If ever you are stuck and unable to break through an obstacle along your path towards successfully learning a subject or topic, than simply take timeout, separate yourself from your study environment and on a piece of paper jot down as many insightful and thought provoking questions you can think of that will expand your thinking and awareness about the topic you are studying. These questions must be stated positively and focused on “solution thinking” that will help you to find answers to the learning roadblocks that you are currently facing. If while undertaking this exercise, you find that you become stuck on a specific question, than simply take out another piece of paper and begin asking questions about “that question” to further stimulate your creativity and thinking ability.

Over time, as you become more proficient, you may miraculously find that your intelligence has suddenly skyrocketed as you seem to be coming up with answers, insights and new ideas without having to breakaway from your studies in order to write out these questions. Try this strategy, and you may be pleasantly surprised how effective it can be in Accelerating Your Learning Potential.

Key Questions that will Get you Started

In essence, you should create a list of questions and keep them beside you at all times throughout the study process. This list of questions must be very generic in nature, and should focus on areas that will expand your thinking ability about the topic and subject you are studying. Ideally you should have a list of problem solving questions, creative thinking questions, and critically insightful questions that you can refer to at a moments notice to help you breakout of the learning slumps that affect even the most hardy of learners. To get you started here are a few questions that will stimulate your thinking and motivation:

How can I apply this information?

In what specific way can this information be best applied into my life?

How best can I put this information into my own words?

How must I think about this material in a creative and solution focused manner?

How can I best utilize this information within the moment?

How do all these pieces fit together when looking at the bigger picture?

Pose Thought Provoking Questions

In respect to what was discussed above, I hope that you are getting a good insight and understanding about the questioning process and how it can assist you to Accelerate Your Learning Potential. To put closure on this topic for the moment, consider asking questions that naturally focus you in on key and important points of the information you are studying. Ask questions that help you to validate the material under question. Ask questions that assist you in thinking outside the box by looking at possible assumptions and insights that may not have been originally evident. And finally, ask questions that help move and motivate you to learn at deeper and more profound levels.

Utilize Curiosity Throughout Your Studies

Finally, I just want to point out how important it is that you utilize these questioning strategies throughout your study regime. This actually means asking specific generic and topic related questions before you begin studying, during your studies and even after you have completed your studies. The questions that follow your studies are expansive learning questions that will help you to gain new insights and understanding into the personal learning process. You can utilize the answers you obtain from these questions to further Accelerate and Improve your study methods and skills in the future.

Final Thoughts

Our sensory experiences are magnificent things that we must cultivate and utilize to further our academic success at school, in business and throughout life. They are in essence tools we have been gifted with that naturally connect to our thinking brain in psychological ways that help to expand our thinking and awareness about the world and the information we are studying. In many ways, our sensory organs provide us with deep and profound insights into the intricate working of our inner minds, while assisting us with clues that will lead to further learnings and development of an accelerated nature.

I hope you enjoyed this post. If you have any further learning strategies and tactics that have worked for you, than please feel free to jot your thoughts down within the comments section below.

Spotlight on the MasterMind Matrix

The process of Advanced Multi-Sensory Study Skills is an important and indispensable component of the MasterMind Matrix.

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The MasterMind Matrix is a Psychological Chart of Personal Success and Achievement. It is used as an effective Self-Coaching tool that will help guide you through the personal obstacles, setbacks and limitations that may stand in your way as you progress towards the attainment of your goals and objectives in the field of academics, business, career, sports, or life in general.

Each IQ Matrix Mind Map that is available through this website represents a single cell fragment of the MasterMind Matrix. For more information and images, visit the MasterMind Matrix page.

Free Articles & Online Resources

Here are a number of highly recommended free articles and online resources that will further help expand your understanding about this topic:

• How to Setup a Killer Pre-Exam Warm-Up Ritual @ Scott H Young

Recommended Products

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MegaLearning – You possess not one but 12 intelligences — 12 different avenues that can accurately, quickly, and efficiently distribute knowledge into your mind. Color, music, and a host of other creative tools can open these avenues and help you learn faster than you ever thought was possible.

Howard Berg’s Maximum Speed Learning – Making learning the pleasure it was meant to be. By using the strategies contained in this program, you will be able to make any information easier to understand by adapting it to your own personal learning style. Efficiently process all of the information that comes your way and use it to dramatically increase your level of success!

Recommended Books

• Accelerated Learning for the 21st Century: The Six-Step Plan to Unlock Your Master-Mind by Colin Rose
• Accelerated Learning Fieldbook by Lou Russell
• The Einstein Factor: A Proven New Method for Increasing Your Intelligence by Win Wenger & Richard Poe
• Quantum Learning: Unleashing the Genius in You by Bobbi Deporter
• Use Both Sides of Your Brain: New Mind Mapping Techniques by Tony Buzan

If you would like to download a copy of this IQ Matrix, it is available from the IQ Matrix Shop.

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Introduction

There is no doubt that each of us have a unique set of abilities, skills and talents. In fact, our DNA, fingerprints, habits and thoughts – that makeup our biological bodies – also differ greatly from other people. This “makeup” is not only a result of our biology and psychology, but has also been significantly influenced by our childhood environment, which has dramatically shaped our current life perspectives and experience. As a result, it would be easy to make a justifiable conclusion that we also differ greatly when it comes to our approach to learning.

Based on the above principles, today we will be discussing the 7 Intelligences of Accelerated Learning in further detail.

For hundreds of years, the typical western world’s “school culture”, has always encouraged and measured the effectiveness and efficiency of our intelligence through Logical and Linguistic means. These two types of intelligences are highly respected and admired within the academic realm. In fact, a very large proportion of all IQ examinations focus and measure only these two intelligences. Those lucky enough to have grown up within an environment that encouraged this type of learning, have had it significantly easier within the reality of our current school system (majority of subjects and examinations continuously test only these two intelligences). However, for others, achieving success within the academic realm is somewhat harder.

It is easy to make the conclusion that these types of people are simply less intelligent than the rest. This is as far removed from reality as you can get. In fact, they are most likely vastly more intelligent in their specialty niche area than a Logical or Linguistic academic might ever imagine. These types of people simply focus their body and mind in different ways, they approach the task of learning from a differing perspective, and they gain insights from their studies using unorthodox strategies. As a result, our discussion here today, will provide you with an insight into these unique minds and study strategies that you can utilize to further Accelerate Your Learning Potential.

Even though Albert Einstein is very well known for his Logical reasoning and habits of thought – he in fact consistently utilized other intelligences to reach his greatest insights and understandings about the theory of Relativity and other breakthrough discoveries. World renowned inventors such as Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison also utilized a variety of intelligences throughout the process of brainstorming ideas for new inventions and creations. In fact, the most intelligent and creative people living within our society today utilize aspects of all 7 intelligences (first proposed by Psychologist Howard Gardner) to learn new information and to stimulate thoughts of unique and profound ideas.

The 7 Intelligences of Accelerated Learning IQ Matrix Map breaks down and discusses each of the 7 intelligences that are critical to Accelerate Your Learning Potential. As you move through this post, take time to identify which of the 7 intelligences predominate your thoughts and study habits. These are essentially your “key intelligences” that will have the greatest impact on expanding your ability to learn in quick succession. However, by progressively incorporating some of the learning strategies of the other 7 intelligences, you will develop insights and activate neural pathways of your brain that may have been lying dormant for a very long time. As a result you will Accelerate Your Learning Potential in unimaginable and creative ways. Who knows, you may even discover that learning has suddenly become fun all over again

Before you proceed, it is important to understand that it essentially does not matter what type of information you are required to learn. This information could very well be linguistic or logically oriented, however this is quite irrelevant. What you must understand is that, it’s not the “type” of information that determines how effective you will be at learning, but rather it’s your strategies and approach to learning that will determine the success of your study time.

This post will discuss Mathematical Logical Intelligence, Verbal Linguistic Intelligence, Visual Spatial Intelligence, Bodily Physical Intelligence, Interpersonal Social Intelligence, Personal Mindset Intelligence, and Instrumental Musical Intelligence. We will provide you with a means to identify your dominant intelligences, along with study skills and strategies that will help you to enhance each of your intelligences throughout your learning regime.

Mastering Mathematical Logical Intelligence

Mathematical Logical Intelligence is probably the most renowned and respected intelligence within academic circles. Scientists, Engineers, Computer Programmers, Accountants and Mathematicians dominate this area and help to advance our world by making new breakthrough discoveries and by providing us with new technologies that enhance our existence. Within this section of the IQ Matrix you will discover methods for identifying whether this is indeed one of your key intelligences. After which, we will conclude our discussion by providing you with important study strategies you can utilize immediately to expand your proficiency within the Mathematical Logical Intelligence realm.

Intelligence Identification

You have a natural inclination towards this intelligence if you enjoy science, creating systems, budgeting, estimating, identifying patterns, mathematics, logical thinking, managing and planning time, solving problems or calculating scores.

Recommended Study Strategies

Here are just a few recommended study strategies that will naturally enhance your ability to learn and remember information more readily within this specific intelligence niche area. These strategies are designed not only to enhance your learning, but also to add fun, brain stimulation and variety into your study regime. Some of them may seem unorthodox and somewhat cumbersome, however the impact that they will have on Accelerating Your Learning Potential will be long and lasting. Commit yourself to using them, and you will experience the extraordinary results firsthand.

As you read over these strategies try and expand the possibilities of each of these strategies and align them to best fit in with the topic you are learning. The key is to be creative, think flexibly and take your imagination outside the box of your natural conditioning and habits of thought and learning. Also expand your understanding of each strategy by utilizing a variety of different tools that will further enhance the strategy’s effectiveness.

Finally, take yourself out of your normal environment and into a place where there are no limits or possibilities to what you can do, be or have. The bottom line is, make sure that there is nothing standing in your way that will prevent you from Accelerating Your Learning Potential.

Create Sequences

This involves creating a linear map of the subject you are studying that clearly aligns topics within a specific sequential order. Make sure to label topics with numerals or numbers to further highlight the order and potential relative importance of the topics you have listed. It is in many ways a time line of events that are easily recognizable within the scope of the topic you are learning. Leave gaps between the sequence in order to add further topics as you come across them throughout your reading and research.

Identify & Analyze Information

Here you are essentially taking important chunks out of the information you are learning and putting them aside for further in-depth analysis – much like a scientist would do when studying a microbe under a microscope. The information that you pull aside must be critical to your understanding of the overall topic under study. This information must essentially be the key topics that lay down the foundational principles of the entire subject area.

You must realize, that by thoroughly taking the time to identify and then analyze this information that you will have the upper hand in gaining a deeper insight and understanding into the topic area. Actually pretend as though you are a scientist studying a breakthrough piece of information that could effectively transform the world for the better. Within this “role playing mode”, undergo standard scientific studies (use your imagination) to thoroughly examine and piece together all the information you need to expand your own thinking and awareness about this topic.

Utilize Charts & Graphs

Take the information you are learning and turn it into a creative chart that will further help you to understand and comprehend the study material. Make your charts visually graphic and colorful. The more meaning they have the greater lasting impact they will leave within your mind. In fact, take some time to visit your local library, or just browse through the internet, in order to look at a variety of creative chart examples and designs. Once you have a clear picture of the possibilities, you are finally ready to begin charting your topic.

Information which has numbers, digits, ordered lists, and other related information can be designed into a memorable chart that will standout in your mind. You may even be quite surprised at the concepts you will be able to represent within a chart format. In fact, your only limitation is your imagination. As you are reading and researching your material simply visualize everything as a developing chart within the recesses of your mind, and when you are ready, turn this image into physical form on paper.

Utilize Equations

Equations are wonderful things that will piece together concepts and ideas in ways that you might not have imagined were possible. When thinking about equations, actually expand your possibilities and understanding of what they actually are. Do they just have to be comprised of numbers and individual letters? Or can you put words, phrases, concepts, and ideas into a large and expansive equation that will help you to fully grasp a thorough and complete understanding of the topic you are studying?

If you must, please incorporate numbers into this topic equation if it will further help you to make sense of the information you are studying. In fact, imagine yourself to be Albert Einstein working within his “thinking room” and drawing up an expansive equation on the board about this subject. He is on the verge of making an incredible breakthrough that will revolutionize how we think and understand the subject you are studying. Again, your imagination is your only limitation.

Mastering Verbal Linguistic Intelligence

Verbal Linguistic Intelligence is probably the most renowned and respected intelligence within the teaching world. Teachers, Authors, Academics, Bloggers and Philosophers dominate this area and help to advance our world by entertaining and expanding our thinking about issues relevant to our current reality. Within this section of the IQ Matrix you will discover methods for identifying whether this is indeed one of your key intelligences. After which, we will conclude our discussion by providing you with important study strategies you can utilize immediately to expand your proficiency within the Verbal Linguistic Intelligence realm.

Intelligence Identification

You have a natural inclination towards this intelligence if you enjoy writing, speaking, literature, language, form filling, crosswords, letter writing, reading books, poetry, stories, teaching others, or giving instructions.

Recommended Study Strategies

Here are just a few recommended study strategies that will naturally enhance your ability to learn and remember information more readily within this specific intelligence niche area. These strategies are designed not only to enhance your learning, but also to add fun, brain stimulation and variety into your study regime. Some of them may seem unorthodox and somewhat cumbersome, however the impact that they will have on Accelerating Your Learning Potential will be long and lasting. Commit yourself to using them, and you will experience the extraordinary results firsthand.

As you read over these strategies try and expand the possibilities of each of these strategies and align them to best fit in with the topic you are learning. The key is to be creative, think flexibly and take your imagination outside the box of your natural conditioning and habits of thought and learning. Also expand your understanding of each strategy by utilizing a variety of different tools that will further enhance the strategy’s effectiveness.

Finally, take yourself out of your normal environment and into a place where there are no limits or possibilities to what you can do, be or have. The bottom line is, make sure that there is nothing standing in your way that will prevent you from Accelerating Your Learning Potential.

Verbalize Information

As you are learning, it is important to verbalize the information you are studying aloud to yourself. This could involve reading and speaking the information back to yourself in an interesting and stimulating manner. Try to avoid using a monotone boring voice that puts people to sleep. Instead add a little drama and feeling to your voice as you read your notes or text book.

For example, take yourself into the world of Springfield and role play one or more of the Simpson’s characters reading this material. Really put yourself fully into that role and verbalize the information you are reading using your best Bart or Homer Simpson voice. If on the other hand this strategy doesn’t make you feel comfortable, than simply use a more inspiring and verbally resonating voice that will emotionally touch the hearts of “would-be” listeners. Any voice that is not your own will have a lasting impact on your long-term memory.

Brainstorm Ideas on Paper

Don’t just simply brainstorm ideas on paper, actually verbalize and talk to yourself as you are brainstorming these ideas. You can either verbalize the exact words that you are writing down, or you can put yourself into a role of talking and documenting the words you are writing down from a third person’s perspective. Just brainstorming ideas on paper is great for a visual learner. However, for a verbal learner, you MUST make a little more effort to take that information and bring it into your long-term memory storage banks.

Brainstorm Questions on Paper

In the same fashion as was discussed above, spend some time brainstorming questions about your subject or topic on paper. Again, verbalize what you are writing down or simply discuss your questions aloud in an interesting and memorable tone of voice.

The questions you should effectively be writing down on paper must help you to expand your knowledge and understanding about the topic. Simply write down questions that naturally lead to further questions that will provide you with greater insights and understandings about the topics you are studying.

Essentially, the more questions you write about a subject the greater sense of motivation and inspiration you will develop as you progress through your study materials. Remember, if you don’t ask the right question, you will simply fail to find the right answers. For more information, please read Advanced Multi-Sensory Study Skills IQ Matrix.

Paraphrase in Own Words

Reading for the sake of reading is not very memorable, and doesn’t leave a lasting impression on your long-term memory. Instead, try quickly over-viewing a page of the book or topic you are reading. Take a look at the main points, ideas, key words and important segments.

Once you have a reasonable understanding of the subject material of that page, simply put the book aside, and paraphrase what you just learned in your own unique words. You will find that this method will leave a lasting impression on your long-term memory. Another suggestion is to digitally record the information you are paraphrasing so that you can listen back to it at a later time. However, we will talk a little more about this in the next point below.

Digitally Record Notes & Lectures

Save time, energy and effort by digitally recording your lectures and notes. Recording your lectures is obviously very important as it allows you to better concentrate on the topics presented within the lecture, rather than frantically writing out notes while your lecturer is talking.

Once your lectures have been recorded you can later listen back to them in your own time while you prepare your own notes. When your notes have been compiled, simply paraphrase them into your digital recorder. Now, in your spare moments when you are taking a shower, brushing your teeth, cooking food, eating, or even nodding off to sleep, simply play back your notes to further enhance your long-term memory and recall of the information you are studying.

Mastering Visual Spatial Intelligence

Visual Spatial Intelligence is probably the most renowned and respected intelligence within the creative architectural and designer oriented world. Architects, Designers, Artists and Television Directors dominate this area and help to expand our creative outlook on life in unique and unimaginable ways. Within this section of the IQ Matrix you will discover methods for identifying whether this is indeed one of your key intelligences. After which, we will conclude our discussion by providing you with important study strategies you can utilize immediately to expand your proficiency within the Visual Spatial Intelligence realm.

Intelligence Identification

You have a natural inclination towards this intelligence if you enjoy art, navigation, visualization, map reading, self-assembly, thinking strategically, being observant, using charts and diagrams.

Recommended Study Strategies

Here are just a few recommended study strategies that will naturally enhance your ability to learn and remember information more readily within this specific intelligence niche area. These strategies are designed not only to enhance your learning, but also to add fun, brain stimulation and variety into your study regime. Some of them may seem unorthodox and somewhat cumbersome, however the impact that they will have on Accelerating Your Learning Potential will be long and lasting. Commit yourself to using them, and you will experience the extraordinary results firsthand.

As you read over these strategies try and expand the possibilities of each of these strategies and align them to best fit in with the topic you are learning. The key is to be creative, think flexibly and take your imagination outside the box of your natural conditioning and habits of thought and learning. Also expand your understanding of each strategy by utilizing a variety of different tools that will further enhance the strategy’s effectiveness.

Finally, take yourself out of your normal environment and into a place where there are no limits or possibilities to what you can do, be or have. The bottom line is, make sure that there is nothing standing in your way that will prevent you from Accelerating Your Learning Potential.

Imagine Writing a Book

Yes that’s right, you have been assigned the responsibility to write a new book about the subject you are studying. As a result you will have to approach this subject from a completely new and possibly unfamiliar perspective. Because you are writing a book you will need to thoroughly research your facts, background information and other materials that will build upon the foundational principles of this material. Immediately you must think about the possibilities of including chapters, headings, graphics, maps, charts, pictures, and other visual diagrams that will help readers of this book better remember the message you are trying to get across to them.

Reflect on the structure of the book and how you should best present this information so that it is easy to understand and comprehend. Could this potentially be as big as the Harry Potter novel craze? Well, it’s all up to you and your imagination. Approach the subject from an Author’s perspective and you may well be on your way to riches and stardom Oh, but the way, it’s actually also a great method of enhancing your knowledge and understanding about the subject area you are studying

Imagine Giving a Lecture

Take the material you are studying and visualize in your mind that you are preparing it for a lecture or presentation that you will be giving to a worldwide television audience. Actually take time to prepare the topic in such a way that will focus you on presenting this material to other people in a unique and creative way that will help them to remember and recall this information with the greatest of ease.

Think about the process, diagrams, charts, visuals, and other materials you will use to present this lecture. Simply close your eyes and envision yourself standing in front of a worldwide audience of millions presenting this information in a way that it has never been done before. Once you have the picture vividly instilled within your mind, go to work and create your presentation.

Gather Insights through Questioning

For visually inclined people, questions are a great tool that will naturally enhance and Accelerate Your Learning Potential. However, when it comes to Visual Intelligence, you must first take time to write out questions and gather insights about the material, and then follow this up with a reflective period where you sit, close your eyes and gather further introspective understandings through the process of utilizing your imagination to expand your knowledge of the topic.

Gather Insights from People

Approach other people and ask them for visual insights and understandings that they have gathered about the topic. As they talk to you, sketch out their ideas and insights on paper and ask them to further expand on your sketch. By sketching, I don’t necessarily mean drawing cartoon figures (although you may be quite surprised how effective this technique can be), instead I mean sketching out symbols, graphs, diagrams, pictures, maps, words, and other things that come to mind while you are listening to them.

This is a very creative process that may take a little time to master, however it will be well worth your efforts. The worst thing you could do is to just aimlessly listen to someone talk on and on about a topic without collating their ideas on paper in a visual and mentally memorable format.

Create an IQ Matrix

I suppose this is pretty self-explanatory. For further information and insight into this process please read Advanced Mind Mapping Study Skills and IQ Matrix 101: Advanced Mind Mapping Strategies.

Create a Mental TV Documentary

Guess what? You have been asked by the BBC Network to create a documentary about the subject you are studying. You are free to do it how you please, however it must be in accordance to a few specific guidelines.

First of all, you must present it within the standard documentary format that the BBC uses for all its productions.

Secondly, David Attenborough has requested that he wishes to be the narrator. I suppose that was expected

Thirdly, you must stick within the 20 million dollar budget that has been assigned to your project. Yes I know, the BBC is being very difficult, however, I am sure you can utilize this as a wonderful opportunity to expand your own creativity in unique and unimagined ways. In all seriousness, please do not take this Documentary Study Tool lightly, it could very well be the catalyst that locks the information you are attempting to learn better than any other suggestion presented within this Visual Intelligence section. This doesn’t mean that you should pull out your digital camera and equipment and begin shooting film clips of wild animals in your backyard. It does however mean, that you should approach your learning about this topic in a way that will make your brain “think” that you are creating a big budget documentary series that will take the world by storm. Try it. You may be surprised with the results.

Create a Visual Learning Poster

A visual learning poster is in someways like a IQ Matrix, however it essentially has no rigid rules. Basically your imagination is your only limitation. Think about your Visual Learning Poster as an artistic canvas that you will be creating about your subject material. Actually go out and find the largest piece of paper that you can get your hands on at your local office supply store (or combine small bits of paper by sticking them together). Now take this piece of paper and spread it out on your bedroom floor.

Gather up all the tools you need including pens, color pencils, scissors, magazines, all your study books, glue, glitter, paint, and any other textiles or materials you can find, and begin creating an artistic wonder that will rival anything painted by Leonardo da Vinci himself. The key here is to add a variety of pictures, symbols, colors, images, and other visual ideas to this poster as you are working through your subject materials. How this Visual Learning Poster expands and what in the world it becomes, is not important. It’s your creativity that will make a lasting impact and impression on your long-term memory.

This task might seem very much over-the-top and quite time consuming. However, the extraordinary impact that it could have on Accelerating Your Learning Potential is absolutely phenomenal. When you have completed the Visual Learning Poster you can hang it up on your ceiling and continue to study the topic as you lie in bed. Try it, and you may be quite surprised with the results.

Create Extended Connections

This is all about creating visual connections between interconnecting bits of information within the topic area you are studying. This process can be undertaken on paper, by scribbling lines connecting topics and information within your text book, by utilizing symbols to segregate different concepts and ideas, or simply by using colors to identify related fragments of information.

They key here is related to chunking key components together in a way that will help you to better understand and recall the information you are learning. It is much like the process of knowing how to read words. We read words as a “whole” and not by verbalizing individual letters. However, when we were kids – and still learning how to read – we were taught to verbalize each letter separately. As adults we have learned to chunk the individual letters into words, which improves our proficiency and speed of reading.

As a final thought, it is also important to create strong connections between the material you are familiar with and the material you are currently learning about. You can do this by utilizing metaphors, personal experiences, and other strategies. However, we will discuss this in further detail at another time.

Mastering Bodily Physical Intelligence

Bodily Physical Intelligence is probably the most renowned and respected intelligence when it comes to physical ability, proficiency and skill. Plumbers, Chefs, Surgeons, Actors, Handymen, Personal Trainers and Athletes dominate this area and help to advance our world by filling “entertainment voids”, and by providing essential maintenance services that make all our lives much easier. Within this section of the IQ Matrix you will discover methods for identifying whether this is indeed one of your key intelligences. After which, we will conclude our discussion by providing you with important study strategies you can utilize immediately to expand your proficiency within the Bodily Physical Intelligence realm.

Intelligence Identification

You have a natural inclination towards this intelligence if you enjoy sports, games, dancing, cooking, decorating, using your hands, “do it yourself”, and getting physically involved in the tasks at hand.

Recommended Study Strategies

Here are just a few recommended study strategies that will naturally enhance your ability to learn and remember information more readily within this specific intelligence niche area. These strategies are designed not only to enhance your learning, but also to add fun, brain stimulation and variety into your study regime. Some of them may seem unorthodox and somewhat cumbersome, however the impact that they will have on Accelerating Your Learning Potential will be long and lasting. Commit yourself to using them, and you will experience the extraordinary results firsthand.

As you read over these strategies try and expand the possibilities of each of these strategies and align them to best fit in with the topic you are learning. The key is to be creative, think flexibly and take your imagination outside the box of your natural conditioning and habits of thought and learning. Also expand your understanding of each strategy by utilizing a variety of different tools that will further enhance the strategy’s effectiveness.

Finally, take yourself out of your normal environment and into a place where there are no limits or possibilities to what you can do, be or have. The bottom line is, make sure that there is nothing standing in your way that will prevent you from Accelerating Your Learning Potential.

Physically Write on Paper

When it comes to Bodily Physical Intelligence, the key is to spend as much time “physically” undertaking tasks and activities that will move the body and stimulate the mind. Writing on paper is one of these methods that works very well to naturally expand this intelligence. However, use your imagination here. More about this another time.

“Act As If” Role Playing Topic

Okay, congratulations once again. You have been awarded the leading role in a new Stephen Spielberg movie alongside Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. This could be your big break. However, not only do you play the leading role, Stephen Spielberg has actually requested that you write the script for the movie. The only guideline that he gave, was that this movie has to be about the topic you are currently studying and that it has to be an absolute blockbuster; otherwise his reputation is on the line So get to work and create the script of your life. In all seriousness, this is a very effective means of assimilating the key components of the topic you are studying into your long-term memory.

First, you must prepare a written script for the topic you are studying. In fact it is even your responsibility to assign different actors to act out different scenes with you. However, like Eddie Murphy in “Coming to America”, Stephen Spielberg has requested that you “role play” all the other minor characters. In fact, I just got a text message from Stephen saying that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie have been removed from the script as their acting was somewhat not on par with Stephen Spielberg’s standards. I guess it looks as though you are the only star of the movie playing a multitude of roles. This study strategy is all about enjoying yourself.

Once you have laid out your study materials, simply begin be physically standing in front of a mirror and acting out every word with intense emotion, perfect annunciation, with heart and pure passion that would make William Shakespeare proud.

This is probably one of the most entertaining and fun study strategies on the list. And the long lasting impact on your memory is absolutely phenomenal. You might even find it helpful to record your acting on digital camera and later post it on YouTube for all to see. Wouldn’t that be something? Have fun with it.

“Act As If” Teaching Topic

Once you have prepared your notes about the topic, simply stand up and pretend as though you are teaching this material to a group of students who have relatively no experience or understanding about this subject. When you have concluded your teaching, prepare for question time. Imagine sitting down within your audience and asking yourself questions about the topic; then immediately stand and answer these tough questions to the best of your ability.

This is an absolutely profound way of learning that will naturally open new insights and understandings about the topic you are studying. The next step is to actually teach “Real People” about the topic and likewise prepare yourself for their tough line of questioning.

Utilize Index Cards

Physically prepare your main points and ideas on colored index cards that you can carry around with you wherever you go. Throughout your day when you have nothing else to do – but stand around and wait for something to happen – simply return to your studies by taking your index cards out of your pocket. As a general guideline, make sure that your index cards are colored and that you segregate different topics or chapters and assign them to alternating colors. Make sure to also utilize symbols, pictures, graphics, diagrams, different colored pens and other memory enhancing materials that will sharpen your brain.

Finally, you may find it helpful to write out questions on one side of this index card and present the answers to these questions on the other side of the index card. This is no doubt a great time saving device that is very effective for learning ON THE GO.

Move Body While Learning

Yes, I actually mean “move your body while learning.” Some people find it very helpful to physically move around while they are listening to information or reading notes from a book. If you are the type of person who gets restless very quickly, can’t sit still for more than 5 minutes or loses focus listening to someone after a few moments, than this is definitely something that you should try. This process simply involves walking around your bedroom as you read your notes.

As a final thought, try and walk in a specific pattern, this will help you to “zone out” all outside distractions and “focus in” on the material you are learning. This is no doubt one of the easiest, yet somehow, one of the most effective strategies that will Accelerate Your Learning Potential.

Mastering Interpersonal Social Intelligence

Interpersonal Social Intelligence is probably the most renowned and respected intelligence within business community. Managers, Salesmen, Public Speakers, Politicians, Lawyers and Therapists dominate this area and help to advance our world through the process of building strong emotional connections with other people that thusly lead to economical decisions that expand our way of life. Within this section of the IQ Matrix you will discover methods for identifying whether this is indeed one of your key intelligences. After which, we will conclude our discussion by providing you with important study strategies you can utilize immediately to expand your proficiency within the Interpersonal Social Intelligence realm.

Intelligence Identification

You have a natural inclination towards this intelligence if you enjoy listening, mediating, persuading, negotiating, communicating, problem solving, teaching, training, or helping others.

Recommended Study Strategies

Here are just a few recommended study strategies that will naturally enhance your ability to learn and remember information more readily within this specific intelligence niche area. These strategies are designed not only to enhance your learning, but also to add fun, brain stimulation and variety into your study regime. Some of them may seem unorthodox and somewhat cumbersome, however the impact that they will have on Accelerating Your Learning Potential will be long and lasting. Commit yourself to using them, and you will experience the extraordinary results firsthand.

As you read over these strategies try and expand the possibilities of each of these strategies and align them to best fit in with the topic you are learning. The key is to be creative, think flexibly and take your imagination outside the box of your natural conditioning and habits of thought and learning. Also expand your understanding of each strategy by utilizing a variety of different tools that will further enhance the strategy’s effectiveness.

Finally, take yourself out of your normal environment and into a place where there are no limits or possibilities to what you can do, be or have. The bottom line is, make sure that there is nothing standing in your way that will prevent you from Accelerating Your Learning Potential.

Study Background Information

If you are a social learner than you have a clear fascination about people and their areas of interest. As a result, by expanding your awareness and understanding of the people behind the material – as well as the background to the subject matter – you will naturally develop a higher level of motivation to continue learning the subject, which will further expand your knowledge of the topic area you are studying. Take time to read the author’s biography, or take a few moments to research the background of the topic. This background information could very well lay down important foundations that will go a long way towards helping you to memorize the topic far more easily. This research could also provide you with new insights and ideas on how to best go about learning the topic in a unique and creative way.

Hold Discussions with Others

Because you are a very “people oriented” person, it is understandable that you will learn best by discussing your ideas, insights, feelings and understandings about the topic you are studying with other people. In fact, discussions of this nature just naturally help you to create new connections and associations within your brain that further enhance your intelligence about each topic area.

Finally, a very effective method that will help you to Accelerate Your Learning Potential (that I missed putting onto the IQ Matrix, SORRY!) is debating the topic you are learning. Simply, divide the topic into two contradictory perspectives. Once this has been clearly laid out, choose a side and collect resources, evidence and other materials that will help you to backup your argument. Again, utilize graphics, visuals, auditory presentations and other tools that will best represent the ideas you are arguing for. This is a great deal of fun, and it is absolutely amazing how quickly we learn when we choose a side and do whatever it takes to justify our arguments to others.

Once you have finished the debate, switch sides and present your argument from another perspective against a new opponent.

Mastering Intrapersonal Mindset Intelligence

Intrapersonal Mindset Intelligence is probably the most renowned and respected intelligence within the “Thinking” world. Inventors, Entrepreneurs, Psychologists and Life Coaches dominate this area and help to advance our world through deep reflection and insight that helps expand how we think about life, society, the environment and ourselves. Within this section of the IQ Matrix you will discover methods for identifying whether this is indeed one of your key intelligences. After which, we will conclude our discussion by providing you with important study strategies you can utilize immediately to expand your proficiency within the Intrapersonal Mindset Intelligence realm.

Intelligence Identification

You have a natural inclination towards this intelligence if you enjoy self-talk, visualizing, goal setting, being independent, day dreaming, following your intuition, journaling, solitude, personal analysis, reflection and self-assessment through gaining a better understanding of yourself and your abilities.

Recommended Study Strategies

Here are just a few recommended study strategies that will naturally enhance your ability to learn and remember information more readily within this specific intelligence niche area. These strategies are designed not only to enhance your learning, but also to add fun, brain stimulation and variety into your study regime. Some of them may seem unorthodox and somewhat cumbersome, however the impact that they will have on Accelerating Your Learning Potential will be long and lasting. Commit yourself to using them, and you will experience the extraordinary results firsthand.

As you read over these strategies try and expand the possibilities of each of these strategies and align them to best fit in with the topic you are learning. The key is to be creative, think flexibly and take your imagination outside the box of your natural conditioning and habits of thought and learning. Also expand your understanding of each strategy by utilizing a variety of different tools that will further enhance the strategy’s effectiveness.

Finally, take yourself out of your normal environment and into a place where there are no limits or possibilities to what you can do, be or have. The bottom line is, make sure that there is nothing standing in your way that will prevent you from Accelerating Your Learning Potential.

Effective Questioning

The key here is knowing how to ask the right questions. Essentially spend time preparing a list of questions that will help you to gather a deep reflective insight about the topic you are studying. These questions must also expand your understanding and awareness about your personal feelings and motivations that are leading you towards learning this information in the most effective and efficient manner possible.

Bear in mind that your questions must help build on your current knowledge and perspectives, yet at the same time lead you down an unfamiliar paths where new learnings and understandings await. In the end it all boils down to your ability of being able to personally reflect on the information you are learning in order to align it best to your personal way of thinking and learning.

This intelligence is absolutely critical and essential as a guidance tool that will help you to Accelerate Your Learning Potential through effective learning methods that are best suited to your learning preferences.

Think creatively about the questions you will be asking yourself, and take time to reflect on the answers before beginning the learning process. Here are some personal reflective questions to get you started:

Why should I learn this?

How is this of significance?

How can I apply this into my life?

How will learning this change me?

How does this fit in with what I already know?

Personal Reflection & Visualization

This goes hand-in-hand with questioning. Before, during and after the learning process you must essentially take timeout to close your eyes and reflect on the process of learning. Reflect on and visualize how the learning process has progressed, how effective it has been, what improvements can be made, and how you have grown as a person as a result of these new learnings and understandings. Self-reflection and understanding is an absolutely essential component of the Accelerated Learning Process that you simply cannot do without. Please do not take this process for granted.

Mastering Instrumental Musical Intelligence

Instrumental Musical Intelligence is probably the most renowned and respected intelligence within the entertainment industry. Musicians, Singers, Song Writers and in some ways Actors dominate this area and help to advance our world by transforming our emotions through their creative endeavors. Within this section of the IQ Matrix you will discover methods for identifying whether this is indeed one of your key intelligences. After which, we will conclude our discussion by providing you with important study strategies you can utilize immediately to expand your proficiency within the Instrumental Musical Intelligence realm.

Intelligence Identification

You have a natural inclination towards this intelligence if you enjoy keeping rhythm, making music, singing songs, nature sounds, creating jingles or remembering verses.

Recommended Study Strategies

Here are just a few recommended study strategies that will naturally enhance your ability to learn and remember information more readily within this specific intelligence niche area. These strategies are designed not only to enhance your learning, but also to add fun, brain stimulation and variety into your study regime. Some of them may seem unorthodox and somewhat cumbersome, however the impact that they will have on Accelerating Your Learning Potential will be long and lasting. Commit yourself to using them, and you will experience the extraordinary results firsthand.

As you read over these strategies try and expand the possibilities of each of these strategies and align them to best fit in with the topic you are learning. The key is to be creative, think flexibly and take your imagination outside the box of your natural conditioning and habits of thought and learning. Also expand your understanding of each strategy by utilizing a variety of different tools that will further enhance the strategy’s effectiveness.

Finally, take yourself out of your normal environment and into a place where there are no limits or possibilities to what you can do, be or have. The bottom line is, make sure that there is nothing standing in your way that will prevent you from Accelerating Your Learning Potential.

Create Summaries to Music

Back when I was at University, this used to be one of my favorite methods of learning information. I would simply turn on my favorite piece of music (just music without words) and I would softly sing (I was a little reserved at the time and didn’t want the next door neighbors to hear my squeaky voice ) the study notes I prepared to the rhythm and beat of this music. I even went a step further by recording my singing and then playing it back in the car while I drove to class.

When it came time for my examinations, I found myself literally singing my study notes off the top of my head. It was so easy to remember that I almost laughed at how ridiculously simple this process was. Other variations of this method include creating Jingles to your favorite Christmas songs (and any other songs that stand out in your mind), or even Raping your way into the Hip Hop Hall of Fame.

Convert Summaries into Poetry

If you don’t want to take the singing route, than you may prefer to write some poetry instead. Simply divide the content you are studying into topics, then take the main points of your study notes and turn them into a poetic verse. This is a very “skill specific” study strategy that comes quite naturally for some people and is rather quite difficult for others, however with time and practice I believe that everyone can become an outstanding poet.

A great thing about poetry is that it is so very easy to remember and recall. Again, from my experience this strategy works exceptionally well when it comes time to recalling information for your examinations.

Play Relaxing Music While Studying

A number of unrelated studies have shown that our brain’s rhythm and chemistry is constantly being transformed by the sounds of music. In fact, these studies have revealed that playing the right type of music in the background while you are studying can naturally enhance and accelerate learning without using any other study methods or tools. Classical music in particular has shown to benefit learners in a variety of ways that relaxes the brain and stimulates natural thinking ability. More about this another time.

Final Thoughts

The 7 Intelligences of Accelerated Learning comprise of more than just effective study skills and suggestions. They are in fact a way of life and a means of approaching individual subject topics in ways that will expand your thinking and stimulate deep insight and awareness that would have otherwise laid dormant somewhere within the recesses of your mind. By working your way towards becoming a Grandmaster of the 7 Intelligences, you will open up new doors of understanding and opportunity that will help you to dramatically Accelerate Your Learning Potential.

I hope you enjoyed this post. If you have tried and tested any of the study methods described within this article, than please share your insights in the comments section below. Or on the other hand, if you have other study strategies that have helped you – which haven’t been listed here – than please feel free to also share these ideas.

Spotlight on the MasterMind Matrix

The 7 Intelligences of Accelerated Learning are an important and indispensable component of the MasterMind Matrix.

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The MasterMind Matrix is a Psychological Chart of Personal Success and Achievement. It is used as an effective Self-Coaching tool that will help guide you through the personal obstacles, setbacks and limitations that may stand in your way as you progress towards the attainment of your goals and objectives in the field of academics, business, career, sports, or life in general.

Each IQ Matrix Mind Map that is available through this website represents a single cell fragment of the MasterMind Matrix. For more information and images, visit the MasterMind Matrix page.

Free Articles & Online Resources

Here are a number of highly recommended free articles and online resources that will further help expand your understanding about this topic:

• The Theory of Multiple Intelligences as Proposed by Howard Gardner @ Wikipedia
• 7 Little Known Ways to Drastically Improve Your Learning @ Ririan Project
• 50 Tricks to Study Better, Faster and with Less Stress @ Scott H Young

Recommended Products

Accelerated Learning Techniques – Triple your reading speed. Develop a “photographic memory”. Increase your brain capacity up to 400% and achieve any goal you desire. Based on Nobel Prize-winning research, the cutting-edge methods revealed here can make a dramatic difference to you and your family, virtually guaranteeing success at work and school.

MegaLearning – You possess not one but 12 intelligences — 12 different avenues that can accurately, quickly, and efficiently distribute knowledge into your mind. Color, music, and a host of other creative tools can open these avenues and help you learn faster than you ever thought was possible.

Howard Berg’s Maximum Speed Learning – Making learning the pleasure it was meant to be. By using the strategies contained in this program, you will be able to make any information easier to understand by adapting it to your own personal learning style. Efficiently process all of the information that comes your way and use it to dramatically increase your level of success!

Recommended Books

• Make Your Child Brilliant by Bernadette Tynan
• The Mind Map Book: How to Use Radiant Thinking to Maximize Your Brain’s Untapped Potential by Tony Buzan
• Make the Most of Your Brain by Tony Buzan
• Accelerated Learning for the 21st Century: The Six-Step Plan to Unlock Your Master-Mind by Colin Rose
• Accelerated Learning Fieldbook by Lou Russell
• The Einstein Factor: A Proven New Method for Increasing Your Intelligence by Win Wenger & Richard Poe
• Quantum Learning: Unleashing the Genius in You by Bobbi Deporter

If you would like to download a copy of this IQ Matrix, it is available from the IQ Matrix Shop.