At MEA, Our Mirror Neurons Are Dancing Together.

October 23, 2023

For those of you who’ve experienced an MEA workshop, you know that we’re a midwife for midlife epiphanies, and magic often shows up in the middle of the classroom. I’ve suggested that part of what’s happening is “collective effervescence,” when our sense of ego separation dissolves, and a sense of communal joy arises based on our shared mission or ethos.

But, there’s some great neuroscience to suggest that even more is at play, as outlined in this Scientific American article, “Brain Waves Synchronize When People Interact.” Here’s a quote from the article:

“Collective neuroscience, as some practitioners call it, is a rapidly growing field of research. An early, consistent finding is that when people converse or share an experience, their brain waves synchronize. Neurons in corresponding locations of the different brains fire at the same time, creating matching patterns, like dancers moving together.”

So, “being on the same wavelength”—while sounding like Cali-babble—is something that happens during an experience like MEA. It’s this kind of deep alignment when complimented by life-changing conversations, that helps people feel like their workshop was truly transformational. Often, we hear people say, “I don’t feel alone; these people get me.”

– Chip