The antidote for uncertainty

It seems like the world is filled with uncertainty lately. The global economy seems to be stuck in neutral. Unemployment remains high in much of the western world. People are getting frustrated. The climate for business in many industries is starting to look slightly better, but it’s still very challenging. Customers are running scared, and are afraid to buy. Governments are enacting more regulations, which makes it harder to do business in many industries. We face bigger problems and challenges than ever before. All of this leads to a mountain of uncertainty.

What’s the antidote for uncertainty? Brainstorming, planning and action with mind mapping software. The chart above explains, in a very simple, direct way what the problem is, and what you can do about it – depicted visually, of course. Faced with complex problems, our brains have trouble coping. We can’t see the entire scope of the problem clearly. We can’t envision how to solve it. Our brains are a jumble of half-formed thoughts and ideas. In the words of time management expert David Allen, our “psychic RAM” is full. And that leads to uncertainty and inaction.

Now imagine taking that same challenge and putting all of your thoughts and ideas on screen, using mind mapping software. As soon as you do this, it frees up your brain – your mental RAM – to think more deeply and creatively about the problem at hand and potential solutions for it. Uncertainty disappears, and you quickly reach clarity about the ideas and plans you need to activate – despite all of the uncertainty that surrounds you.

So don’t be paralyzed by problems and uncertainty. Within nearly every problem lies the seed of an unseen opportunity, some element that can be turned to your advantage. You just need to be able to dig deeply enough to find it. And mind mapping software is the tool that can help you to do just that!