…Because sometimes, seeing is believing!
It can be challenging to discover and integrate building a habit of relaxation. And sometimes, it feels like work… Just like a spoonful of medicine, you know you need it – so you grimly try to make room for it, in an already overflowing schedule.
It’s a stressed-out and stressful, busy world we all live in. Sometimes slowing down can feel like a wistful wish. And so can finding fun ways to relax.
What else might be possible for you if – instead of feeling stressed, tired, anxious, and dragging yourself through life – you could feel greater joy and relaxation?
It really is possible to change this… That’s why I designed the “Gamma Doodling” group.
You’re interested in improving your concentration/focus.
You‘d like to connect more deeply with your sense of intuition.
You want a fun way to clear “blocks” in your creativity or your problem-solving.
You long to feel deeper joy and spontaneity.
You’d like to see visual evidence of the changes you’re creating in your life.
And, most importantly, you’re willing to risk trying something new, just to see how it helps you become more of who you truly are!
But it’s true. And it’s powerfully backed in this group by the science of brainwave re-training. (So what’s that? More on that later).
Doodling is a simple, easy, do-it-anywhere activity which anyone who can draw a simple line can do (Yes, you too – regardless of where you are on the creativity spectrum, from artist to stick-figure draw-er…). And all it takes is a pen and paper.
It’s self-soothing. There’s something about the creative, repetitive nature, and particularly when you have no intended outcome, which creates measurable relaxation benefits.
It teaches us to celebrate making ‘mistakes’ – to see them as unintended surprises, which can mirror a life-lesson: It’s how we adapt and respond to the unexpected that really matters. There’s always learning to be integrated.
Improved self-esteem  – It just feels really good to begin with a simple squiggle, and witness something beautiful emerging, one small stroke at a time.
Brainwave re-training is like using training wheels on a bike. It supports, creates and trains real physical change in the brain – developing new neural pathways which, with practice (more re-training) then become self-sustaining… with us then being able to more easily move into greater relaxation, creativity, and focus, at will.
Historically, research on brainwave re-training has reported it helping with stress, anxiety, relaxation, ADHD, learning disabilities, memory, mood and behavioral problems. (If you really love reading about science, click here for more information about gamma and the research).
And what are gamma brainwaves… how do they help us change?
Scientists have studied the brainwave patterns of long-time Tibetan monks who’d had many years of meditation. Unlike newer meditators, when asked to focus their meditation on compassion, the monks’ E.E.G.s consistently showed them cycling more extensively in gamma, within the brainwave frequencies associated with deep compassion and unity consciousness.
With new technological breakthroughs, these states of deep relaxation, once only experienced by monks who’d spent many years in disciplined meditation, can now be experienced by you. The sound technology we’ll be using creates the most optimal environment for doing just that.
Personally, I love gamma doodling! And I’m just gonna say it… I’m no artist.
Over the subsequent few weeks, it increased my intuitive creativity… supported my developing creative new ways of solving problems… And it’s also helped me relax into spontaneity… for me, there’s a deep joy in just allowing something to unfold spontaneously… I feel both more relaxed, and more focused. Besides all that, it’s just plain FUN!! And since those initial experiences, doodling has continued to deepen all these aspects of me, in me.
Beginning with a short focusing topic [**], we then share a 10 to 15 minute guided visualization meditation, to deeply connect with the gamma frequencies.
We doodle in silence for about an hour, allowing the gamma frequencies to stimulate and inspire our creativity, to help us experience greater focus and relaxation.
We share (for those who wish to) in a circle at the end to notice, explore and deepen our experiences, with others in the group.
[**] Short weekly focusing topics may include: getting unstuck – understanding brainwaves and re-training your brain; working with patterns in our lives – problem solving (using foreground/background); balancing light and dark; adding in color.
As with all my work (please see my warm disclosure page for more details), these sessions are intended to support you in connecting to your own inner healing resources.
Cathy Malchiodi, PhD., in Psychology Today magazine (regarding Zentangle, a ‘doodling-like’ activity).