“I’m in the pursuit of happiness,
I know everything shines won’t always be golden,
I’ll be fine if I get there. I’ll be good.”
- Kid Kudi, Pursuit of Happiness
If you watch and observe a lake carefully you’ll notice that it’s always changing and yet it’s also always itself. It changes as the sun moves across the sky, and the light sparkles on the water at different angles. It changes based on the weather. Sometimes it is calm like glass and reflects things around it, like trees, sunsets, or mountains. Other times it is choppy and wavy; sediment is churned up from the bottom and the water is dark and opaque. Even if the surface is rough, the lake is calm below. The tall underwater plants sway with the waves, at ease.
The lake also changes between the seasons. In the winter it is frozen over on the surface, looking calm and peaceful. The ice traps everything below, wonderfully isolated from the rest of the world.
So through day and night and through the seasons and through the years the lake is always changing, but yet always still the same essential nature.
Our own mind is like the lake. Sometimes it’s highly reflective, and sometimes it’s choppy, but yet we are also always ourself. Sometimes memories are churned up from our past, and our mind becomes dark and rough. Other times we are blissfully sunny and tranquil.
The weather can affect our mind too. A calm, sunny, 70 degree day can make us smile and spend time outdoors. A rainy day can make us sad, and a stormy day can make us agitated. Even when our mind is troubled or reactive, we can drop down beneath the surface and find the stillness and calmness that is always there.
Research has shown that being close to water makes us feel better. It fills the mind with a meditative sense of calm and feelings of contentment. This feeling has been coined the “Blue Mind” by Dr. Wallace Nicols. Being near water expands our minds and puts us at ease. It promotes mindfulness and reflection. And even if you don’t live on a lake, you can create this feeling at home by having a fountain, or listening to wave sounds online.
The next time you are looking at the lake, notice its current state and if it is reflected in your own mental state. Use the healing power of the lake to enhance your well-being. Time to dive in.
Moriya Rufer is a water quality professional with 20 years experience working with lakes in northern Minnesota.
If you want to learn more about the Blue Mind, check out the book by Dr. Wallace Nichols: 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.
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