Blue mind

Blue Mind is the name of the feeling of calm, relaxation, and comfort that occurs when we are near water, whether it is swimming, sitting and looking at the sea, being by a river, taking a bath, or even just drinking a glass of water. Just sitting and watching the waves hit the shore, looking at the sunlight reflecting on the water surface, or seeing water rippling gently from a distance, the mind calms down strangely, until sometimes we unintentionally pick up our phone to capture the moment without realizing it.

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This feeling of comfort might seem like it comes from beautiful images, the color blue, or light and shadow on the water, but science explains that water actually affects our body and brain. This concept was explained by Wallace J. Nichols, a marine biologist, who calls this state Blue Mind. He found that just being near water or coming into contact with water in various forms can help us feel happier, improve mental health, improve relationships, and make the brain work better too. One reason is that water helps increase hormones related to happiness and bonding, such as dopamine, serotonin, and oxytocin, while also reducing stress hormones like cortisol. The color, sound, and touch of water also help slow down the heart rate and make the mind calmer.

  Nichols further explains that Blue Mind is the opposite of Red Mind, which is a state of brain stress, rush, and anxiety, the kind we are familiar with in modern daily life.  

  Ultimately, water might not be just the environment around us, but it is something that is connected to our body and brain from the very beginning. The rhythm of movement, color, sound, and the feeling that water gives, all gradually adjust our internal balance without us barely knowing. And sometimes… the peace we are trying to look for might not be far away at all, but is right there, near the water, near ourselves.