Kerryn Boogaard Kerryn Boogaard
Beverly Goldsmith Beverly Goldsmith
Zoe Bingley-Pullin Zoe Bingley-Pullin

Maintain a buoyant state of mind:

Keeping thought buoyant is good for your health.
By Beverly Goldsmith
Date: July 24 2013
Editor Rating:
woman_floating

Watching the nightly news can be depressing. It can leave you thinking the world’s a sad and sorry place.  Even amongst acquaintances, bad news from someone may drag your spirits down. It can be tough to remain emotionally on an even keel and stay positive.

No one enjoys the “sinking feeling” that often accompanies upsetting news. Some people can deal with it as if it’s nothing more than a blip on their emotional radar. For others, feeling down can seem like a way of life. While not acting indifferent to suffering, most of us want to resist the creeping tide of fear or despair, and to respond to life’s difficulties with strength and composure.

This is where buoyancy can help keep our head and heart above the water line. Described as a state of mind, buoyancy is an inner capacity that carries you back to the surface when bad news threatens to pull you under. 

Coupled with resilience of spirit, it helps you recover your equilibrium, and prevents a downward spiral into depression. Buoyancy is a powerful, uplifting mind-quality. It resides in a person’s thinking. It’s a mental mechanism that lifts one’s mood and allows a person to resurface from the depths of unhappiness. Cultivating this mind-tool, can increase your ability to stay on top when things get you down. 

Here’s some ideas for doing this.

1.  Visualise being buoyant

Newspaper editor, Arthur Brisbane, once famously said, “Use a picture. It’s worth a thousand words”. So if you’re mentally dragged down by news of misfortune, the following thought-image may trigger your mental buoyancy and help you cope.

It’s Summer. The sand is warm between your toes. Out in the bay a lone yellow buoy floats resolutely on the surface. You watch as the turbulent incoming surf washes over the top of it. Momentarily the marker buoy disappears beneath the force of the incoming wave. As the breaker sweeps by continuing its journey onto the beach, the buoy suddenly bobs to the surface again and resumes floating. You notice in your mind’s eye that although the force of each incoming wave threatens to sink the marker by pulling it down under the water, the buoy floats up effortlessly. The air inside it has made it completely buoyant. It never sinks to the bottom.

2.  Increase buoyancy levels

An unknown author once quipped, “Good news about someone never gets past the door, but bad news will travel a thousand leagues away.”

Evidence of this can be seen in everyday conversations, as well as in the media. Rather than drowning people in news of ill health, hopelessness and despair, why not look for, and pass on, good news that is encouraging, inspiring and thought-lifting.

Tip: Circulate good news more often. Think of it like putting on a mental “life-jacket”. Constructive, encouraging ideas about how to remain happy and healthy can free a person from the quicksand of depressing thoughts.

3.  Activate hopefulness

To bounce back quickly from discouraging information, grab hold of your mental lifeline – hopefulness.

According to experts at The Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research“You can’t change what’s happened in the past, but you can always look toward the future. Accepting and even anticipating change makes it easier to adapt and view new challenges with less anxiety …. Don’t ignore your problems or try to wish them away. Instead, figure out what needs to be done, make a plan and take action .… know that your situation can improve if you actively work at it.”

The benefits of hopefulness are highlighted in the personal experience of an ancient writer. Downcast in his thinking, he started sinking into despair. He needed a mental “flotation device”. So, he activated hopefulness in what he called a life-saving, thought-sustaining, Life-force. This resulted in his thinking being lifted up. Like the unsinkable ocean buoy, he regained his natural composure and buoyancy of spirit.

Peace of mind doesn’t have to sink out of sight.

Drawing on resilient-type thinking, embracing the concept of buoyancy and being hopeful, can keep you afloat when bad news gets you down. It’s already helped individuals to remain emotionally on top and to maintain a healthy mental state.

* * *

This blog first appeared on Spirituality and Health Connect.

Share This Tweet This Email To Friend
Recent Comments
4 Total Comments
Marie says: 2013 08 17
Rating:

Thanks, Beverley, for the helpful tips to stay buoyant. It was nice to discover that the “ancient writer” who felt himself sinking into despair was in fact one of the Psalmists. I love the Psalms. They speak to my heart and lift me up.

Beverly Goldsmith says: 2013 09 07
Rating:

Thank you Marie for your comment. So glad you liked the words of the “ancient writer”. Inspirational ideas often have an uplifting effect on our thinking. It helps to keep us buoyant.

wallens says: 2015 11 19
Rating:

Thank you very much for writing such an interesting article on this topic.  This has really made me think and I hope to read more. twitter auto followers free subscribe

wallens says: 2015 11 23
Rating:

It turned out to be Very useful to me and I am certain to every one of the observers here!  umar akmal

View All Comments
Post a Comment
* your email address will not appear

Please enter the word you see in the image below:


Post a Comment
* your email address will not appear

Please enter the word you see in the image below:33343


Your Comment has been posted
Related Articles
christmas_island_detainees
The Anglican Church in Australia has written to the Prime…
Read more
peacefulness
Letting emotional pain in, and responding to it with compassion,…
Read more
loving_couple
Sex therapist, Jacqueline Hellyer, with top tips for new parents.
Read more
teflon_frying_pan
When it comes to stress, it's better to be more…
Read more
Cry babies

Dry your eyes!
The newest additions are on their way from the Babies who cry real tears!

Shipping-containers-freight-wallpaper-preview

Latest Tech Used In Shipping Containers
Read how the shipping industry has revolutionised

Motherpedia cover-2

Win 1 set of a 4-book hardcover illustrated boxed set
Barbara Murray’s new 4-book Sound Stories is perfect for parents and educators and could assist with NAPLAN results

Motherpedia cover (4)

Where to celebrate Oktoberfest Australia
Get ready for this celebration!

Motherpedia cover-4

A Fortnight of Foodie Experiences at East Village
A taste of East Village. What's in it for me?

Globber my too fix up cover

We Try: Globber My TOO Fix Up
A scooter that grows with your child

Throw a winning cricket pitch

3 Steps to a Winning Backyard Cricket Pitch
Ex-Adelaide Oval legend curator Les Burdett shares his tips for getting your backyard cricket pitch test match ready this summer

A bike that follows your kids life cycle - motherpedia - cover

A Bike That Follows Your Kids Life Cycle
Check out the Bunzi 2-in-1 gradual balance bike!

Moonlight lifestyle

Moonlight Cinema to bring…
Moonlight Cinema announces brand new Western Sydney venue

Screen shot 2019-11-26 at 8.29.12 am

Your Magical Christmas Wonderland…
Adventure park is about to light up the night sky with its "Christmas Festival of Lights"

Screen shot 2019-11-21 at 11.11.36 am

The Preston Market Gets…
It's time to feel pumped up for the holiday season!

Bruno-kelzer-zqzuigxcvrq-unsplash

Bunnings team members get…
Help raise funds by buying a snag or donating at your local store.