The Ocean Heals: Touching on the psychological benefits of spending time in the ocean
On June 8th we celebrated World Ocean Day, a day dedicated to the conservation and protection of something that unites us all. And it really got me thinking.
At a time when I was in deep trouble, I heard a phrase from poet Nayyirah Waheed that really resonated with me. It goes,
“If the ocean can calm itself, so can you.”
And wow, it kind of changed my life. It’s a phrase I have come to use often. When I have felt worked up, overwhelmed, in over my head, and so anxious I don’t think my body can physically handle it, I say to myself: if the ocean can calm itself, so can I. I am able to slow my breathing and remind myself that though this feeling is big and overwhelming, the ocean has calmed itself from 100-foot waves and I too will find peace after this storm.
The ocean heals physically, mentally, and emotionally.
In the past year, I have spent a significant amount of time in the ocean. Every time I feel that water hit my face, I feel a sense of release.
As some of you know, the first few months of 2021 were incredibly dark for me. After graduation I needed to break away from the environment that felt so heavy. My best friend Clara and I jumped on a flight to South Carolina. We spent hours on end in the ocean, floating, boogie boarding, getting pummeled by waves, laughing ‘til it hurt. I remember flopping on my towel, letting the sun dry me and thinking, wow, what a release. I felt free. I felt like I could enjoy life simply, as a kid does. I washed away the pain. Those things that consumed my mind before felt much smaller. They didn’t matter in the ocean. I felt the healing happening inside of me.
Flash forward to now, a year later, being in the ocean isn’t just a vacation activity anymore. Since I started living in Hawaii, I try to get into the ocean every day. It doesn’t always happen, but I have noticed a significant difference in my mood and energy levels on days I do vs. the days that I don’t.
My whole day is changed when it starts in the ocean. The cold splash in the morning energizes me more than a strong cup of coffee ever has. For a few moments in time, I am a part of this world where I can float and play, and soak in all the vibrant colors. The buoyant salty water holds me when I need to be held. I feel weightless as I do flips and twists. I swim upside down and look at the coral as though they are clouds above my head. I dive under and look up at the sky all wavy and morphed. I like to reach my hand toward the sun, emerging into the air from beneath the surface. I watch as I leave one world and enter another, or belong to both simultaneously.
I love being an observer in a world I don’t belong to. All the fish, plants, and animals, they carry on whether I’m there or not. My outside world doesn’t matter when I’m in the ocean.
…And I’m not just imagining this stuff. It’s proven psychology.
When I was studying in Florence, I took a psych class called The Science of Happiness. Among many things I learned, a big thing I remember was the importance of connecting with nature regularly. Touching the earth, breathing fresh air, jumping in the ocean… those are all things that help to improve our happiness levels.
It’s called the Biophilia Hypothesis. According to Kellert & Wilson in 1993, the Biophilia Hypothesis is essentially human’s innate tendency to connect with nature because of how heavily humans relied on nature for survival from the beginning. This theory supports the notion that psychological well-being and stress levels are impacted by nature experiences.
Wallace J. Nichols, a marine biologist, wrote a book called “Blue Mind” where he discusses human’s innate gravitation and emotional connection toward the water. He proposes that a “blue mind” leads to increased happiness levels and therapeutic effects both physically and mentally. To sum it up, Nichols argues that the ocean has healing properties.
A study by Britton & Foley in 2021 looked at positive health and well-being impacts among groups of Irish surfers and swimmers through arranged activities. These activities included interviews, observant participation, body mapping, sensory exercises, and swim-along sessions. Participants reported feeling a sense of empowerment and identity detachment. They felt separated from some of their life circumstances and everyday life. Participants felt this separation opened the gate for them to all feel more connected and a stronger sense of belonging in a space where identifiers were stripped.
There are many psychology studies about this topic that I could go on-and-on about, but because I like to keep these posts short and sweet, I’ll get into it more another time. But the truth is, it doesn’t really take scientific fact to prove this. I’ve felt it myself and I know many other people who can say the same.
If you have felt healed by the ocean—please, tell me about it. Let’s talk. If you haven’t been able to experience this firsthand, my hope for you is that at some point in your life, you do.
The ocean heals baby, it heals.
Sources:
Britton, E., & Foley, R. (2021). Sensing Water: Uncovering Health and Well-Being in the Sea and Surf. Journal of Sport and Social Issues, 45(1), 60–87. https://doi.org/10.1177/0193723520928597
Kellert, S. R., & Wilson, E. O. (1993). The biophilia hypothesis.
Nichols, W. J. (2014). Blue mind: The surprising science that shows how being near, in, on, or under water can make you happier, healthier, more connected, and better at what you do. Little, Brown.
