Mindfulness & The Ocean

The ocean is my place of peace. Since I was a child I have been drawn to the ocean in times of stress, anxiety or uncertainty and as I’ve settled into adulthood I find this to be the case more now than ever before. Only in recent years did I discover that there is scientific evidence showing that the ocean has a positive effect on mental health. The solace I have always sought from the ocean makes so much sense knowing that it is grounded in science, but I never needed that confirmation, the way the ocean makes me feel was evidence enough for me.

What is mindfulness?

Mindfulness has become a bit of a buzzword recently and for good reason! Mindfulness can be defined as the human ability to be fully present and aware of where we are and what we are doing. The human mind is prone to drifting to things that are not in our immediate reality, like thinking about what you’re going to have for lunch or what route you will take to get to a certain location. It's totally natural for the mind to wander, but sometimes it can start to feel a bit busy up there and mindfulness can help quiet things down. Bringing oneself into the present and focusing on the now is a great way of refocusing on reality and can help bring a sense of calm to high stress moments. 

I have found mindfulness particularly beneficial when I am having a really positive experience and I am feeling a lot of joy. Oftentimes I get caught up in what’s coming next and mindfulness has helped me to really focus in on those beautiful moments.

The ocean and mindfulness:

Being near the ocean is an inherently sensory experience. The sound of the waves, the smell of the sea, the salty taste of the air, all of these combine to create a powerful all encompassing sensory experience… the senses are engaged and activated! This is leveled up when you enter the ocean and  it physically surrounds you and adds in the sense of touch. Having all of the senses engaged helps hold the mind in the present moment, this is passive mindfulness. When the mind starts to wander and you actively bring it back to the present this is active mindfulness. 

Spending time near and in the ocean can help bring a sense of mindfulness on days when the mind is buzzing with thoughts and plans and ideas. It can help bring focus and clarity by quieting everything down a little bit. There is even evidence to suggest that simply thinking about the ocean (not even necessarily physically being near the ocean) can help boost one’s mood and bring a sense of mindfulness.

Harnessing the ocean as a tool to support your mental health:

Mindfulness can be used to combat anxiety, stress, and feelings of overwhelm. The ocean is a great way of tapping into your mindfulness. Add those two things together and you’ve got the power of the ocean supporting your mental health!

The next time you are feeling overwhelmed and like your mind is just getting a little bit too loud, take a moment to think about the ocean, really focusing in on the waves, the sparkle of the water, the taste or the salty air. One better would be to take yourself to the ocean and submerge yourself if you can. Let the ocean hold you for a few moments and let everything else slip away and really be where you are, present and mindful.