Why bother doodling?

Why indeed. 

If you are already an avid doodler then you'll know the answer. If you are not or you are looking for a fun and easy way to re-ignite your creative spark - then I've got the match.

This Sunday 01 February I’m running the next Mini Doodleicious Exploration and wanted to let you know there are still some tickets available to join in the fun. And I promise it is lots of fun!

I also wondered if you’d been thinking any of the following things…

1) Why bother doodling? It’s a waste of time. Time I have little of already trying to fit in all the things I want to do!

2) What a course about doodling! I know how to doodle – why would I need to learn this? (this is actually what my step-mum said when I was chatting to her about my upcoming courses and what I’m up to)

My response to these two questions is – I don’t teach you how to doodle, you’ll have your own doodling style. It’s much more about how you can use doodling as part of your wellbeing toolkit. Yes I have some different games and techniques to share with you, but you'll still do these in your own way. There is no right or wrong with doodling. Its very freeing. 

The simple act of Doodling can help with all manner of things such as improving focus, expanding your imagination, kick starting your creativity, helping you to get ‘un-stuck’ with a problem, using it as a meditation and evidence now suggests that by being creative you are also developing new brain cells. [there is research to back this up. A study conducted in 2006 by George Washington Centre of Aging, health & Humanities called Creativity & Aging.]

This to me is VERY exciting. And as I discovered on the course I ran last year – allowing yourself to doodle – to have permission for it not to be perfect and how it actually helped some of my lovely doodlers overcome a fear of drawing. It was pretty epic! Plus it’s FUN!

[Serious bit coming up] I use doodling for all kinds of reasons. I suffer from bouts of depression and can go from feeling as happy and bouncy as a lamb to being stuck down the dark recesses of a rabbit warren with no visible means of escape. Over the years I've learnt to recognise this much more clearly and am able to call on the different tools in my kit bag to stop me slipping too far down that rabbit hole. I know what it’s like in there and I don’t want to be back in that space. 

Hope this isn't all sounding too dramatic for you! Personally I've found that using different doodling techniques and games has helped me no end and one of the things about this mini exploration is if you’re feeling a bit down it helps lift you up. There is no pressure about the doodle having to look or be a certain way. It isn't meant to be a perfect representation of anything really. p.s I'm a coach, encourager and creative adventurer and have been through some sh*t but I'm not a therapist! [end of serious bit]

So if this is something that appeals to you and you’d like to see how doodling could help you – Come and join in the fun! You might just surprise yourself! 

OR if you are thinking – ooh I bet my friend….[fill in the  gap] would love this and so would my sister/brother/auntie…you get the idea! Please do share the details with them. Use the share buttons at the bottom of this post.

Share it with whoever you think would benefit. I’m all about sharing ways to re-discover or un-cover your creativity for a richer and juicer life.  I basically want to help as many people as I can and am on a bit of a Creativity Mission so can you help me by sharing about the Doodleicious-ness far and wide? A heart felt thank you to you. 

What have previous Doodleicious Explorers got to say about it?

Here’s a few of the lovely things past Doodlers have said on this Mini Exploration:
When I asked my lovely doodle explorers what did you enjoy most about this exploration? Some said:

• Looking forward to each day's challenge and wondering what fun task it will be.
• Knowing that a doodle doesn't have to take long and doesn't have to be perfect.
• Permission to try doodling!
• It's just been great fun. It's interesting to see other people's ideas and I haven't felt that my efforts were inferior even though technically some of them really were!

Some other lovely things...including a super film done by one doodler!

“The moment I saw this course advertised I thought Yes! That will be fun, that will loosen me up, it's a bargain. I was not disappointed. It's been a brilliant challenge full of laughs and surprises, so well done!” Mina Sassoon - Mindfulness Teacher

"It's quite meditative and revelatory, not necessarily both at the same time. I'm really enjoying the course!" - Clare Barry

If you want to see Richard's finished BIG doodle go here. NOTE no drawing skills are actually required for this doodle adventure! ;-)

And last but not least Jayne Dennett-Lewis shared 3 things she’d discovered on our Doodleicious journey: 

1. Doodling is more fun in colour, the brighter the better! 
2. Doodling can help me focus & concentrate or it can totally distract me & help me relax - both can be useful!
3. I am more creative than I thought, despite my lack of talent in some areas! 

For the full low down on the Mini Doodleicious Exploration and how to sign up for the cheeky price of £18 (includes a tree planting)– make your way over the Doodle Page!

Doodly Yours

Morwhenna
Xxx