It was a summer’s day. The sand was warm between my toes. Out in the bay a lone yellow buoy floated resolutely on the surface. I watched as the turbulent incoming surf washed over the top of it. Momentarily the marker buoy disappeared beneath the force of the incoming wave. As the breaker swept by continuing its journey on to the beach, the buoy suddenly bobbed to the surface again and resumed floating.
As I watched each incoming wave, I reflected on how that marker never sank to the bottom. Although it was pulled down under the water by the force of the sea, it resurfaced effortlessly. Why was it able to do this? The air inside it, made it completely buoyant.
Thinking of the unsinkable buoy, reminds me that individuals need buoyancy to maintain good mental health in difficult circumstances. Life can be tough. Some people are dragged down by unforeseen changes or misfortune. Others feel trapped by events that are beyond their control. This can cause them to plummet down into depression. But there is a way to surface from unhappiness.
Consider my experience. There was a time in my life when people’s disparaging comments, unpleasant circumstances and disappointments, would drag me down into despondency. I didn’t recover easily from feeling downcast and dispirited. I didn’t like being that way. It was like living on an emotional roller coaster.
Then one day I thought about an ocean marker buoy. No matter what you did to it – push it down, hold it down, it didn’t change the outcome. Let go of it, and the buoy rose naturally and easily to the surface. From this example, I deduced that to live a balanced, resilient life, I had to activate buoyancy in my thinking. The question was how to do this.
Mary Baker Eddy, a woman who triumphed over major disappointments in her life including the loss of a husband and child, gives the answer in her book Science and Health, p. 261. “Hold thought steadfastly to the enduring, the good, and the true, and you will bring these into your experience proportionably to their occupancy of your thoughts.”
From then on, whenever I felt myself heading mentally and emotionally downwards, I held persistently to the thought that divine Spirit had made me buoyant and was keeping me buoyant. I had the mental strength to remain on top of situations, and not descend into dejection. I could be happy and stay happy, independent of the circumstance. This new way of thinking spiritually about myself brought peace and healing. It gave balance to my life. There were no more excessive highs, or deep lows.
So, if the waves of despondency try to wash happiness away, or attempt to drag a person down, help is at hand. Buoyancy, the spiritual quality that resides in one’s thinking, can be activated. Right then and there it’s possible for an individual to recover quickly after experiencing a verbal, financial, or emotional setback. Spiritual buoyancy is always present, to lift thought up and restore a sense of balance. No one has to remain disheartened. Anyone can stay mentally afloat and remain emotionally ‘on top’. The sustaining power of divine Spirit is at hand to support them, and bring healing.
I’m a professional Christian Science Practitioner and Teacher. Through my prayer-based practice, I help people find happiness, health and healing.
Just the message I need badly today Beverly. Battles with depression have been a problem in my experience for many years now and seemingly has surfaced more aggressively of late. Your comments on buoyancy has given me a lift. Many thanks.
So glad that you found a lift from my blog today. No person, place or thing has the power to de-press you, because you are filled with spiritual buoyancy each and every day. Divine Spirit made you buoyant and keeps you buoyant. Affirming this with confidence brings better mental health and leads to healing.
Thank you so much Beverly. Today after arriving back home from my much loved grandsons funeral and all the pain and grief that seemed to surround me, I was having difficulty in ‘rising above’ it all.
Your inspiration was like a breathe of fresh air–exactly what was needed to bounce me back to the surface (to know what is really real). Thank you, thank you.
Glad Anne that this piece was so helpful to you today. Thank you for letting me know that it met your need and that it got you mentally back on top again. Not an easy experience for you, but you did well. I am sure that you will feel that spiritual buoyancy continuing to sustain you.