It's time for a visual thinking check up!

Deborah DeLue • Jul 23, 2021

The Art of Applied Visual Thinking

The official newsletter of Applied Visual Thinking SUPERHEROES. Vol. 2 No. 15 July 23, 2021

It's time for a visual thinking check up!

If you were with us at the end of 2020, you might recall our last newsletters
of the year were about selecting 3 words for the coming year. If you missed them, you can find those articles in our archive here and here.

I first started choosing a word or a few words for the year just over a decade ago after a particularly challenging season. The first year I chose JOY as my word of
the year. Then, as the year went by, I began to notice things about joy popping up everywhere. I read books and articles about joy, watched movies about joy, and played games that sparked joy. I visited my favorite book stores, libraries, museums, and art supply stores, often. I splashed around paint and ink just for
the joy of making a mess. I even created a flowchart about having more joy that still hangs in my office. I was hooked, and I've been choosing a word or two or
three every year since.

Take time to appreciate what's been happening.

At mid-year, I find it helpful to look back over the past few months and appreciate what I've been doing and noticing how my words of the year are making their way into my work, business, relationships, mental, physical, and emotional health, and finances. This year my 3 words are Courageous, Connected, and Thriving. When I chose these words at the end of last year, my main focus was on applying these words to business. But, as usually happens, I've noticed them seeping over into my personal life, relationships, and spiritual practice.

So far this year, I found myself signing up to speak regularly during Sunday church services. I've taken a visual listening class with Brandy Agerbeck, read several articles, and watched a few Ted talks about listening. I'm also reading a lovely little book called Improv Wisdom by Patricia Ryan Madson. These things have helped me be more present, more connected, and more courageous in my work, business, and personal life. I've also found myself regularly asking for more work, taking on several new projects, and reaching out to new people. All of this has helped me thrive mentally, physically, and financially. Taking stock of what I've been doing, what's shown up, and what's working helps me step up my game and apply my 3 words in even more creative ways.

Want to make the most of your 3 words for the next few months? Grab your free templates and
play along.

Download Your Free Templates NOW!

Applied Visual Thinking Simple Mind Map template

Step 1 - Notice - pull out your favorite pens or markers and some paper and create a simple mind map of a few things you've done, read, watched, listened to, created, worked on, or participated in the past few months. Extra credit if you include color, hierarchy and icons on your map. At first glance, things may not appear to be connected to your 3 words; that's ok; we'll get to that shortly.
Step 2 - Appreciate - for each of the items you added to your mind map, take a few moments to appreciate how each of these things made you feel and how they may be connected to your 3 words. Using a different color, jot down your impressions on your mind map. For example, standing up and addressing our congregation for the first time in over a year absolutely made me feel courageous. When members thanked me for reading, I felt more connected to them and
our church family.
Step 3 - Innovate - grab a highlighter or a different colored pen and circle what you want to keep doing or do more of. Now take a few moments to jot down on your mind map what you might do differently to harvest even more goodness from your 3 words. For example, public speaking makes me feel courageous, so I may chose to join a public speaking group. Or, since learning more about listening has helped me feel more connected, I might craft an innovation to brainstorm when, where, and how I can apply my newfound listening skills.
Step 4 - Plan - create a simple timeline showing the steps you'll take to apply your innovation(s). Be specific! Note down what day and time you will do it, where you'll be, who'll be with you, what you want to do or learn, and how you want to feel. The more details, the better. Now schedule it and make a commitment to yourself to do it! Honoring your promises to yourself does fantastic things for your self-esteem. The more you do it, the easier it becomes.

Appreciating what's working and making a plan to cultivate new ways to bring your 3 words into your daily doings builds momentum as we move toward the end of the year so you can squeeze every drop of energy from of your 3 words.

Not familiar with mind maps, timelines, or crafting innovations?

Our AVT for INNOVATION course is designed to give you and your teams easy-to-learn, fast-to- implement visual tools to quickly innovate your products, goods, or services.

As an extra bonus you'll also receive free access to our Applied Visual Thinking FOUNDATIONS

course, where you'll learn to build your visual vocabulary, use color and hierarchy and create simple maps, charts, and diagrams to start you on the path to becoming a great visual thinker.