Using visual thinking metaphors is much like building a story of your life and your journey toward a goal. You are effectively taking your thoughts, different scenarios, choices and options out of your head, and making them concrete and real in front of your eyes. This helps you to clarify things, to identify patterns and make better and more effective decisions.

This process might not seem revolutionary on the surface. However, don’t let that fool you. The simple act of getting your thoughts out of your head and putting them down on paper in such a way provides you with incredible clarity that you would never experience if you simply kept things inside your head.

By seeing all your options, all your thoughts, all your problems, all your emotions, all your obstacles, all your desires, and all the relevant aspects of your life visualized within a powerful metaphor helps to put EVERYTHING into perspective. This perspective shifts your model of the world, which likewise stirs your emotions, and moves you to take proactive action.

Yes, for sure. To help you work through this visual thinking template I have included an example below.

This was the very first Visual Thinking Template I created back in 2011. And I used it as a coaching tool for coaching my life coaching clients. The example you see below is from one of these coaching sessions. 

The way I filled in this template was by asking my client questions. I then visualized their responses within the visual thinking template. As you can see I wasn't really that into doodling at the time. My doodles were very raw. In fact, I didn't use too many doodles, however, it still got the message across and helped visualize what the my client needed to do to achieve their goal.

I, however, would like to encourage you to use more doodles then I did at the time. However, words are also fine. The template isn't so much a doodling template, but rather a way to help us to better organize our thoughts about our goal and the potential obstacles that may stand in our way.

Yes, for sure. Here are are six steps to help you work through this visual thinking template.

Do, however, keep in mind that a visual metaphor such as this is most ideally used when sketched out on a large whiteboard. This allows for plenty of white space to work with the template.

1. Identify Your Goal

First, within the cloud area, write down the goal that you would like to achieve. Only use keywords and be as specific as possible. Also, jot down today's date on the left side of the cloud, and the date you would like to achieve this goal on the right side of this cloud.

2. Identify Your Current Reality

Now, on the left cliff area, write down a list of keywords that define your current reality. You're basically outlining where you are right now in your life, i.e. your current life circumstances. Include everything that is good, bad, and ugly. Then on top of the cliff create a doodle the represents your current life reality and how it makes you feel.

3. Identify Your Desired Reality

On the right cliff write down a list of keywords that define your desired reality. Here, you’re essentially defining the type of life that you would like to live on the date you specified above. It’s important not to go into too much detail here. Simply jot down keywords that stand out in your mind.

On top of the cliff, represent these keywords using doodles. Your doodles can depict feelings you want to experience, physical things you want to have, etc. Completing these doodles will help you to create more meaningful associations.

4. Identify the Potential Obstacles You Might Face

Within the gap between the two cliffs, write down all the obstacles that are standing between your current reality and your desired reality. Again, write down only keywords without going into too much detail. But if you just can't resist and want to also include some doodles, then by all means do so. 😊

5. Identify Your Key Resources

On the tree branches outline five key resources you have at your disposal that you could use to help you overcome the obstacles standing between you and your desired reality. Here, you probably only have space to jot down keywords. You could, however, draw a doodle that represents these resources on the left side of the tree.

6. Now Bridge the GAP

Now that you are clear about where you are, where you want to be, the obstacles standing in your way, and the resources you have at your disposal, it’s time to build a bridge that will take you over the cliff towards your desired reality.

This bridge is going to be built using a series of specific steps that you will undertake over a certain period of time. These steps should help you to overcome the obstacles you outlined and achieve your goal or desired reality. 

Again, it’s important here to only use keywords, and keep your description of the steps simple and straightforward.

Once completed, go over the template and make any changes you feel are necessary to make. Then pin this template up on your wall and use it as an action plan to help you accomplish your goal. 😄 

If you would like to learn how to doodle and make the most of these visual thinking templates, then I invite you to join IQ Doodle School. 

IQ Doodle School walks you through step-by-step teaching you how to doodle. We start at a very basic level and then progressively work our way up to more advanced doodle lessons.

And the best part is that you can get started for free. In fact, the first 5 Lessons of the Beginner Doodle Course are absolutely free.

What are you waiting for, head over the IQ Doodle School right now and register for the free doodle course.