As we enter 2026, the Gregorian New Year invites a moment of introspection and reflection. This period is often framed around “resolutions,” yet intentions can offer something more fluid, flexible, and expansive – an invitation into what you truly wish to carry forward into the year ahead.
As we contemplate what these intentions might be, certain practices can gently support us along the way: Meditation, Journaling and Self Enquiry.
Inviting introspection and discernment into our personal practice allows us to begin releasing patterns, habits, and stories that have been woven into our being – often shaped by expectations we place on ourselves or those placed upon us by others. Through this unravelling, we create space to reconnect with our true essence and authentic self.
Self-Enquiry and Self-Study
Self-enquiry, known as Vichara in Sanskrit, is the practice of internal dialogue—an exploration of our true nature. Self-study, or Svadhyaya, cultivates self-awareness by helping us understand our thoughts, emotions, and inner processes at a deeper level.
Together, these practices invite us into an ongoing inner conversation – one where we explore our thoughts, emotions, and behaviours with curiosity and compassion. As we begin to map our inner landscapes, we naturally deepen our relationship with ourselves, learning to trust and listen to our own innate wisdom.
Self-study (Svadhyaya) and self-enquiry (Vichara) often oscillate and merge into one another. The reflections we begin with frequently give rise to deeper questions, guiding us further inward. Observing our mental and emotional patterns in this way can cultivate greater self-compassion and awareness, which then naturally reverberates into our relationships and the way we engage with the world around us.
Meditation, Brainwaves, and Synchrony
When meditation and introspection become part of our daily routine, their effects infuse our entire being – literally reshaping the brain through neuroplasticity and influencing cognitive function.
Neurons in the brain communicate via small electrical impulses. When groups of neurons fire together, they create brainwaves. These brainwaves are defined by their frequency (how many waves occur per second) and how synchronized they are.
A healthy brain is cognitively flexible, able to move fluidly between states of rest, creativity, focus, clarity, and deep restoration.
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Gamma – Memory, learning, and insight (30 Hz +)
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Beta – Active thinking and concentration (12-30 Hz)
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Alpha – Calm awareness, meditation, and clarity (8-12 Hz)
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Theta – Deep relaxation, creativity, and intuition (4-8 Hz)
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Delta – Deep, dreamless sleep and cellular repair (0.5-4 Hz)
We often associate meditation with calming the mind – and this is certainly true. However, long-term meditation practice can also increase gamma brainwave activity, the fastest brainwaves, which are linked to feelings of bliss, oneness, compassion, and heightened awareness.
Studies of highly experienced meditators such as Buddhist monks, show increased gamma activity and synchronization – sometimes even as their baseline state. This enhanced gamma activity supports focused attention alongside a profound sense of calm.
The Harmony Cacao Offers
Cacao contains several bioactive compounds that support and synchronise alpha, beta, and gamma brainwave activity, without inhibiting access to theta and delta states.
Research from 2018 suggests that cacao can increase gamma brainwaves by up to 541.5%. Gamma waves are associated with learning, memory, information processing, higher cognitive functioning, creativity, peak performance, and mystical or transcendental experiences.
By supporting neural synchrony and neuroplasticity, cacao helps harmonize the brain’s natural rhythm – allowing it to ebb and flow between different states with greater ease. This cognitive flexibility creates the space for deeper meditation, creativity, clarity, and self-enquiry.
A Cacao-Supported Practice for Meditation and Journaling
Begin by preparing your cacao with presence and intention.
- Drop into your senses.
- Notice how the cacao and whisk or molinillo feel in your hands.
- Observe the aroma, texture, and movement as you stir and pour.
As you sip your cacao, savour the taste and consciously invite its benefits into your body.
Keep your journal close by. Gently close your eyes or soften your gaze and begin to focus on your breath. Allow the cacao to guide you into a meditative space.
When you feel grounded, invite a prompt or question into your awareness. Take a deep breath and allow the response to arise naturally. Sometimes nothing comes – and that, too, is received with acceptance. Observe whatever arises without judgment.
From this place of witnessing, begin to write. Allow a stream of consciousness to flow, trusting what emerges.
Prompts
- What truly matters to me - beneath roles and expectations?
- Where do I act from habit rather than choice?
- What feels like my natural way of being?
- What would I like to cultivate or accomplish in the next 12 months?
Link : Learn more about the Science behind Cacao | & Cacao Winter Wellness Blog |
