What makes your brain happy?

Deborah DeLue • Dec 09, 2021

The Art of Applied Visual Thinking

The official newsletter of Applied Visual Thinking SUPERHEROES. Vol. 2 No. 25 December 10, 2021

Have you ever heard something so outside your normal orbit that you had one of those Wait, What, Rewind moments? If it had been a movie, you'd have hit the rewind button so you could listen to the words one more time to make sure you heard correctly?

That happened to me a few years ago. I was listening to a friend interview a fellow author. When my friend asked the author why he had written his latest book, he replied,

"Making stuff makes my brain happy."

My adult task-driven, goal-oriented brain said, Wait, What, Rewind? He wrote an entire book simply because making stuff makes his brain happy. My adult brain said, Huh? While my kid brain said, Cool, let's do it!

I've been on a path of learning what makes my brain happy ever since. No goals, no tasks, just doing stuff because it makes my brain happy. I have to report it's great. It also clarified a lot of things that I felt badly about.

You see, I'm a bit of a jill of all trades. I've had several careers and so many hobbies that it might not make sense to an outsider. But, after my Wait, What, Rewind moment, things began to fall into place, and I finally understood, the thing that makes my brain happy is LEARNING!

This was a bit of revelation since I was a lackadaisical student in primary school, and I didn't go to college until a couple of decades later than most people. But, I also discovered it's not just learning, but learning, doing, and sharing what I learned that makes my brain truly happy.

A smiling face wearing heart shaped glasses

How do you know if you're doing something that makes your brain happy?

If you're saying YES to any of these questions, then that might be something that makes your brain happy.

I like what happens when I'm _________.
I like how I feel when I __________.
I loose track of time when _______.

For example, when I learn something new, do it, and share it with others, I feel a great sense of service by helping others.

AVT Cause and Effect template, 2 rectangles connected by an arrow

A little applied visual thinking might be just the thing to help you pinpoint your happy brain thing, why it's good for you and why it's ok to make time for it. So grab a free template and play along.

Download Your Free Template HERE!

Pull out all your favorite pens or markers and use icons, color and hierarchy to map out what makes your brain happy.

Step 1 - Fill in the left-hand box with what you've been doing recently or have done in the past.

Step 2 - Fill in the right-hand box with either how it makes you feel or the results.

Step 3 - Rinse and repeat until you run out of ideas.

Step 4 - Step away for a while; when you come back, circle or highlight 1 to 3 themes that jump out to you or strike a chord.

Step 5 - Schedule time on your calendar for the themes you identified in step 4, gather your supplies and dive in for a brain date and get your happy on!

Extra credit: Take a few moments to consider what you might take on or let go of in your work or life to have more happy brain moments. Then plan a project to make it happen!