How I use Obsidian Canvas to distill and connect ideas (note-taking tips)

📝 VIDEO OVERVIEW
Under a warm light in my cozy room, I sat at my desk, ready to embark on an intellectual journey.

Before me was a quote, a seed of thought.

I opened Obsidian Canvas, its blank page like an open sky waiting for stars.

I placed the quote at the center and began to draw connections. Each new idea sparked another, forming patterns like constellations. Themes emerged, insights intertwined, and the quote blossomed into a tapestry of interconnected concepts.

Obsidian Canvas allowed my thoughts to flow and organize organically. The isolated quote had become a vibrant universe of ideas. By the end, I had a visual map of my thoughts, a constellation to revisit and expand. In this video, I share how a single spark of inspiration can ignite a galaxy of ideas.

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[anickglobensky-bromow]

Greg I love that you're not only teaching us how to use our PKMs, but more importantly how to THINK. Great stuff!

[colinbrookes]

I am not surprised by the comments before mine of how much this video impacted folks. It is probably the best illustrative video on YouTube of how the Zettlekasten methodology, not its process, produces such extensive learning and self-development. The more we develop of course, the better impact we have on those around us, and the wider world in general; even if the only benefit is that we develop our ability to understand more. Many thanks Greg.

[MartinKoss]

I am so glad I came across this video. The way you describe the writing and letting thoughts just flow is inspiring. "bending our work to fit inside a box", "Don't force yourself..." and "without compromising your authenticity" etc are valuable reminders, especially for anyone who might hold back or reduce things to an acceptable form just to please others.

Thank you.

[AndresMartinez-wwqz]

This is the canvas video I've been looking for since the feature was implemented. As much as I tried, I just couldn't get into it. I've found that I'm good at working with a blank sheet of paper, but not with a board. On top of a useful way of using the feature, I discovered a different way to look at file naming & organizing its contents. Like someone else here in the comments, I had never thought about having the note itself be the title. The notetaking creators I watch are so adamant on "atomic" notes (which are indeed useful) & making the title so direct, that it never crossed my mind that things don't have to be done one specific way, even with something as little as that. Thank you, Greg. Excellent video.

[PlixlyPrincess]

I love how you show every step so clearly in your thought- and note-taking process, it's very helpful and inspiring! Reminds me of Maria Popovas way of connecting ideas over at "The Marginalian". :)

[MichaelAllanFrancisSheaver]

Honestly Greg, I am having a bit of a struggle right now wrapping my mind around the idea that the whole note or paragraph can itself be the name of the Markdown file itself. This is blowing my mind, so I will prayerfully contemplate this further. If what I think the Lord is showing me through you is indeed true, I suspect that it will be that eureka moment for me! I will definitely pursue this further, and I do praise God for having me cross paths with you! Blessings bro!

[Caroline_Creative]

Do you keep all the canvases in their own folder? I’m curious where they go in your vault

[chrisking]

love how you share the meaning of life in such a real, natural and relatable way. The validation of God should be our only soul requirement

[YannyKo]

Thank you for this! I though Canvas doesn't connect ideas placed there... Thank you so much!

[ksoonsoon]

I thought you had left obsidian behind and replaced it with other, better, apps Or PKM platforms?

[ronbarton]

Very interesting example. But is add feasible to use obsidian on a smaller smartphone like a Samsung S8 ?

[skipangel]

Are you still using Heptabase? How are you using Obsidian Canvas differently than Heptabase since they can both handle this use case?

[VasylynaHushevska]

Hi Greg! I'm Vasylyna.
I wanted to contact you with a collaboration opportunity that aligns perfectly with your YouTube channel. Where can I write you?

[billahmed]

theres research to show typed notes are worse than handwritten for retention