A KAWA on Mindfulness

Take it easy: On the path to mindfulness

Mindfulness is the conscious perception and experience of the present moment. And with everything that entails: thoughts, emotions, sensory impressions, physical processes, and everything – simply everything that is happening around you and falls into your perception. An important aspect: Mindful experience involves no judgment. You only perceive, without categorizing, classifying, or evaluating as good or bad.   Now also available as a package in color, with a black-and-white template, and a blank template for self-design.

What does KAWA actually mean?

KAWA, according to Vera F. Birkenbihl, is an acronym and stands for: Kreative Ausbeute von Wort-Assoziationen (Creative Exploitation of Word Associations). But KAWA is easier to remember. You can create KAWAs on any topic that interests you.

How about your own KAWA and why does this technique work?

First, write the topic in the center in large letters. By the way, I always use the paper horizontally for this and draw the letters so that they can be colored later. In our Mindmap Template Ring Binder, KAWAs are drawn on the left white page. Now, let your thoughts wander and consider what comes to mind regarding the term and what would be important enough to write down. The rule of the game: What you write down must begin with one of the letters in the center. The smaller the term, the fewer letters you have available, and the more you have to think. The scarcity of letters forces you to think about a topic more intensely. By the way, it's not mandatory to use every letter. And: There is no right or wrong in KAWA. An example: Suppose you want to create a KAWA about your best friend Eva, then you only have three letters available. However, you can use these multiple times. Perhaps E stands for elegant, successful, eloquent, for V you find her trustworthy, crazy, and in love, and for A you have associated silly and single. If your best friend had been named Hannelore, you would, of course, have had more letters available.

KAWA becomes KAGA

If you also clothe the whole thing in many images, your KAWA becomes a KAGA, and the G then stands for Grafie Gestaltung (Graphic Design). I often take notes in KAWA form during meetings. This keeps me alert, no matter how unimportant or boring a meeting is. And I catch everything. Here's an example on the topic: Have fun, Jens Voigt