For us humans, where there is water, there is life. While water is an inseparable part of our planet – the giver of life on earth, it occupies 75% of earth’s land. All forms of life on the planet thrive only on water. Water represents eclectic connotations in culture, tradition, spiritualism, science, and art. Among blue objects in spirituality, water signifies life, calm, fluidity, and abundance.
As per scientific research, water induces a calming effect on our senses. This calm is often called the Blue Mind science, the study of the aquatic environment. In human psychology, the soothing blue color of water and blue objects or light, relaxes and calms the raging minds, enhances clear thoughts, and increases of concentration, while studies like blue mind science are a step forward towards understanding the importance of the aquatic environment around us.
What is blue mind science?
When we go near any water body like a lake or a pond, our senses instantly become calmer. The depth of water and the vision of blue unfurls our thoughts and makes us feel light. Elements of aquatic environments like the waves of the ocean and tides of the sea have the same effect on us.
Many neuroscientists have found out through MRI, brain mapping, EEGs that the sound of water made remarkable improvements to our neuron connectors. So the concept of Blue Mind is inspired by the powerful impact of the aquatic environment around us. The study of blue mind science emphasizes on the connection of water, which helps the brain function- improve cognitive power and aid moods and emotions, too. It is exploring beyond the ocean waves, lakes, water bodies and blue objects. As a new stream of study in aquatic stimulants for healthy functioning of the human brain and human senses.
Blue mind science and the water connection
75% of our brain is made up of water. The human brain requires sufficient amounts of water to function. This water helps in taking the nutrients to our brain, which in turn facilitates our other functions in the human body. Thirst and dehydration can trigger memory losses, loss of attention and often induces stress with inactivity and lethargy.
Blue mind science investigates and promotes the magical influence of water resources. For instance, sitting at the beach and gazing at blue objects like waves can unfold many blocked emotions and clears the passages for better cognitive behavior. Simply looking at the waves triggers the feeling of freedom, fluidity and absence of burden. It paints a flawless picture of our physical world, free from challenges, hurdles and agonies, which we experience in our daily lives.
Scientific evidence also put forth that a one-week break, away from the hustle and bustle of life, can fire up the creative intelligence in humans. Millions of peace seekers thus, select the beach trips more often than any other destination. To add, things as simple as taking a shower or bath show significantly positive influence on our senses, including our mind.
Physical activities like swimming, kayaking, river rafting are said to enhance our mental and physical well-being. Mentions of aquatic environment playing a key role in human lives can also be found in ancient civilizations like Roman and Egyptians. These civilizations made use of water for therapeutic purposes, while they bathed with a variety of essential oils and Epson salt, to relax their mind. A term called “immersion therapy” also tells us the benefits of soaking in a bathtub with hot or cold water. The process helps lighten the muscles in the brain and puts a stoppage to raging thoughts to a considerable extent.
Impact of water on our senses
Our senses – visual, auditory, and touch behave differently in different circumstances and environments. Various research and case studies on brain functioning and cognitive behaviors have revealed that water unfolds healing powers for our senses. It measurably reduces hormones that trigger stress, depression, and anxiety.
On the other hand, being in touch with water increases peace of mind. Professionals like marine divers and swimmers experience incredible effects after diving into the ocean. They share that by being in water, and feeling the absolute loss of gravity, illuminates the inner being, and brings an incomparable serenity. While musicians also share that being near the water bodies made them extraordinarily creative and ignited their senses to think more innovatively.
Here are some of the points which say the positive impact of water and aquatic environment on us:
- Removes stress, relaxes the brain
- Produces calm-inducing effects on the brain, no medication can do that
- Increase creative thinking
- Creates feelings of compassion
- Contributes to professional success
- Promoted overall well-being- mind, body, soul
- Connects to the aquatic environment
Principles of blue mind science
The mere sight of blue color unwinds emotions of various kinds. The release of happy hormones dopamine and serotonin come into effect as soon as a human brain and eyes see the vastness of water in front. Water stimulates the brain cells to produce multiple happy hormones and boosts creative thinking. Simultaneously, a sudden rush and inexorable flow of clogged emotions unfold in the mind when people who spent hours amid any kind of water sources. Activities like kayaking in lakes filled with water and fishes make people fill with happiness and incomparably true feelings of joy.
Blue mind science works on principles of water being the primary source of well being. And it is also linked to blue objects, which denote water and water bodies. The said impact of blue color on the mind is found to be similar to what being around water can invoke.
To understand the principles of what blue science relates to, let’s look at the below points:
- Water is beneficial for our mind and inner being.
- Water promotes a meditative state that helps us become happy, positive, and productive.
- It induces calm and serenity while releases our clogged thoughts.
- Water has significant effects on hormonal release in our body.
- Experiencing deep water can make us focused and creative.
- There are physical and cognitive effects of water.
Blue mind science and the blue state
Scientists and researchers further state that a raging mind or the red mind can be efficiently tackled using blue mind science and exposure to blue objects. As per the studies, in the modern age, where social media reach is far and quite deep into our lives, contemplating a world without the smartphone is tough. Stress has come up as a by-product of such exposures. Around 90% of the young people reportedly deal with some kind of social media-induced stress and anxiety, at some or the other point of time.
Psychologists clarify that this is subsequently heightening the red state growth. Humans are reaching a point in which their minds are getting burdened and heavy with self-induced stress. Countering these effects, studies like blue mind science are promoting the blue state with blue objects or elements like water. It is emerging as a viable tool to minimize the red state and promote healthy brain functioning, without stress.
Additionally, there are other ways, which reportedly treat depression, is Hydrotherapy. Hydrotherapy involves spending time at spas, showers, and pools, also taking hydro-massage. Many medical practitioners have recommended hydrotherapy to fight stress, fatigue, chronic pain, as well.
Blue mind science as the boon in modern-age
Going further on the growth of technology, the usage of social media and the addiction of using a screen have surged drastically. As a downside of being socially hyperactive, billions are spending time online sans any physical meeting or communication. The numbers of social interactions versus digital interactions favor the former, clearly. And according to the American Psychological Association (APA), the ongoing social media trends are heavily impacting our social behaviors, especially that of young adults.
About 90% of the young people are constantly checking their social media accounts while many are falling into the trap of isolation. Isolated and without any kind of direct social contact, millions are being exposed to stress and depression early and inadvertently. And, therefore, the influences of the digital age are making us vulnerable to conditions which were absent in the past. While studies like blue mind science and exposure to blue objects have emerged as a boon.
Blue mind science, as an ideal solution to counter such changes, is helping people not to fall for self-induced isolation and seek balanced social relations with a calm and healthy mind. Fighting through the dullness or monotony, humans can now effectively tackle everyday challenges by a few hours of exposure to water and blue objects. The release of moods enhancing hormones like oxytocin, serotonin, and dopamine around water bodies is noteworthy. Water bodies like oceans, lakes, rivers, fountains, waterfalls, and also the showers at home are turning out to be excellent ways to relax the hyperactive minds. Blue mind science is thus, successfully engaging all the senses of a human body to be better and clearer.
