What Is Aphantasia? Living with a Blind Mind’s Eye

A few weeks ago, I had a lightbulb moment that completely changed how I perceive my own mind. I was listening to a podcast where the hosts were discussing a condition called aphantasia, which is essentially a "blind mind's eye." When most people imagine something, they see vivid pictures in their mind. I, however, have never experienced this. Instead, my thoughts come as knowledge or abstract ideas rather than images. For years, I thought this was normal until that podcast opened my eyes to a different reality.

Aphantasia is a condition where people are unable to create mental images, often described as having a “blind mind’s eye.”

The Realisation

During the podcast, the host asked listeners to close their eyes and imagine a giraffe. "What do you see?" they asked. My immediate response was to describe a giraffe: its tall stature, distinctive spots, and the funny little horns on its head. But I didn't actually see a giraffe in my mind's eye—I never have. Instead, I just knew what a giraffe looked like.

Curious, I asked my family and friends the same question. Their answers were unanimous: "I see a giraffe." Except for my eldest child, who, like me, saw nothing. It turns out, this condition might run in the family.

Understanding Aphantasia

Aphantasia is the inability to voluntarily create mental images. This doesn't mean that we lack imagination or creativity; we just experience it differently. For me, thoughts and memories are like abstract concepts, not visual representations. If you show me a picture of a beach and ask me to close my eyes and recall it later, I won't see the image in my mind. Instead, I will remember the details—the sound of waves, the feel of sand underfoot, and the warmth of the sun—but not as a picture.

One of the most enlightening moments was watching a YouTuber describe his experience with aphantasia. He showed a completely black screen and said, "This is what it looks like in our mind's eye." It was a perfect representation of my inner visual experience.

Living with Aphantasia

Discovering I have aphantasia has been both surprising and enlightening. Here are some of the ways aphantasia shows up in everyday life:

1. Reading and Writing: When I read a book, I don't see the scenes in my mind. Instead, I process the story through the emotions and actions of the characters. My imagination works through the abstract narrative, not visual imagery. Writing, on the other hand, involves describing these abstract thoughts in detail so others can picture them.
2. Memory and Learning: My memories are like a collection of facts and feelings, not pictures or videos. When recalling an event, I remember the sequence of events and the emotions I felt, but not the visual details. This means I rely more on lists and written notes than mental images to remember things.
3. Creativity: Despite not having visual imagination, I am still creative. I can come up with ideas and concepts, but I describe them in words rather than pictures. When I brainstorm, I jot down notes or create mind maps to organize my thoughts.
4. Social Interactions: Conversations about visual experiences can be tricky. When friends talk about visualizing their goals or recalling past trips, I understand them through logical and emotional context rather than visual context. It has made me more attentive to how others perceive the world and has enriched my interactions.

Embracing Aphantasia

Learning about aphantasia has helped me understand myself better and embrace my unique way of thinking. It also sparked fascinating conversations with others who experience the world differently. While I may not "see" with my mind's eye, my thoughts and imagination are vibrant in their own abstract and conceptual ways.

If you suspect you might have aphantasia, I encourage you to explore it further. Understanding how your mind works can be incredibly freeing and can open new avenues for self-expression and creativity. And if you, like me, have a blind mind's eye, know that you are not alone. We all perceive the world in our own unique ways, and there's beauty in every perspective.

We all experience the world differently, and the way we think shapes how we work, solve problems, and interact with systems.

I spend a lot of time helping simplify systems and make them work better for real people—not just ideal scenarios.

You can take a look at my TechFix service if that sounds interesting.

How Being a Visual Thinker Shaped How I Solve Problems

If you’ve ever felt like you think differently from the people around you, you’re probably right.

For me, that difference turned out to be visual thinking—understanding the world through pictures, systems, and connections rather than words.

For the longest time, I couldn't put my finger on why I struggled with traditional methods of learning, particularly in language-based subjects.

This discovery was like a lightbulb moment, helping explain why I found some things difficult while others came naturally.

The Problem: Traditional Learning Didn’t Fit

Throughout my academic journey, I struggled with the standard approach to education, especially in subjects that relied heavily on verbal communication.

English classes were particularly challenging, with their emphasis on written assignments and complex language structures. Despite putting in effort, I couldn't fully grasp them. Words felt jumbled, and it was frustrating to watch others progress more easily.

Discovering Visual Thinking

It wasn't until later in life that I came across the idea of visual thinking—and suddenly everything made sense.

I realised I naturally understand systems, objects, and processes by visualising them. When I look at something mechanical, I don’t read it—I see how it works.

Where It Became a Strength

Visual thinking isn’t a weakness—it’s a different kind of strength.

It allows you to see patterns, connections, and relationships that aren’t always obvious. It’s like having an internal model of how things fit together.

This became clear in areas like maths and engineering, where I could visualise concepts, map systems, and work through problems more naturally.

How I Learned to Work With It

Once I understood this, I started working with it rather than against it.

Diagrams, flowcharts, and visual tools became essential. They turned complex ideas into something I could understand quickly.

Technology helped too—interactive tools, simulations, and anything that made systems visible rather than abstract.

The Bigger Pattern

This isn’t just about learning styles—it’s about how people interact with systems.

Some people think in words. Others think in visuals, patterns, and structures. When systems are designed for only one way of thinking, they become harder for everyone else to use.

Related Thinking

This way of thinking didn’t come from nowhere—it developed over time through different experiences.

• How LEGO Technic Shaped My Engineering Mindset — where I first started understanding how things fit together
• My Early Computing Experience (Vic20) — where logic and systems started to click
• Why Modern Cars Are Overcomplicated — how that thinking applies to real-world systems today

What This Means

Thinking differently isn’t a weakness—it’s just a different way of understanding systems.

Traditional approaches often favour language and linear thinking, but many real-world problems are visual and interconnected.

In practice, that means finding ways to work with how you naturally think, rather than forcing yourself into a system that doesn’t fit.

Understanding how systems actually work often makes them easier to fix and improve.

I spend a lot of time breaking down technical problems and making them simpler to understand and manage.

You can take a look at my TechFix service if that sounds useful.