Buoyancy

August 3, 2025

The other day I woke up feeling buoyant after a good sleep and a joy-filled day with family and friends. The love and laughter that filled these walls lingered, lifting my spirit and energizing my whole being. It was testament to the power of connection, especially in times when so much feels broken and torn apart.

Since I am a lover of words and meanings, I looked up the actual definition of “buoyant” to give me some insight:

Buoyant: having buoyancy

a: capable of floating;

b: cheerful;

c: capable of maintaining a satisfactory high level.

I associate the word buoyancy with water and the ability to stay afloat, even when waters are rough. How do we find buoyancy so that we don’t get pulled under in a strong current? Whether we are undergoing a personal storm or a collective one, we can put on our lifejackets and look up at the sky. The waves may wash over us, but we won’t drown.

Another meaning for buoyancy is resiliency, or “an ability to recover from or adjust easily to adversity or change” (Miriam-Webster). I would challenge the word “easily” in this definition. Resilience is not always easy. Let’s say the ability to recover or adjust with patience and grace. Stay above the undercurrent. Survive. Maybe inch toward thriving.

What does a proverbial lifejacket look like? We know connection gives buoyancy because we are hard-wired for connection. We need each other. We crave a sense of belonging. I would say we also need hope. Without it, we fall into despair and lose our buoyancy. Joy is definitely woven into our lifejackets. Without it, we feel the weight of the world.

Our lifejacket is made up of the things that energize, empower, and uplift us. We can craft it with our own authentic materials and life-giving rituals. It’s like a personal survival kit. Pay attention to what brings you down and what lifts you up. We get to choose what we think about and focus our energy on each day. I try to start the day with high thoughts and stay there, but it’s a balancing act. I slip and fall again and again.

Exposure to the news is a risky pursuit, and it’s easy to swallow too much water. I approach staying informed with caution and awareness. I know when I start feeling edgy and irritable that I’ve absorbed too much news and negativity. Riding the exercise bike and reading a good book after work is one way to refocus and refresh my energy. I get some buoyancy back.

Exercise helps relieve tension and stress while increasing blood flow to the brain. It helps me sleep better, which is vital for buoyancy. Meditation also helps me stay afloat by connecting me to the presence of God within. This balances and calms every cell in my body. Writing, reading, cooking, and doing puzzles all help me to weather the storm. I think of the Bible verse: “Taste and see that the Lord is good” (Psalm 34:8). For me, this means being fully present and using my senses (taste and see) to experience the goodness of God within creation and everyday life. This gives me buoyancy.

Staying buoyant on a daily basis is not easy, but it starts with intention and awareness. Connection, hope, joy, movement…..build your own authentic survival kit. Another key to buoyancy is letting go of struggle and fear. In their place, I have added the mantras “I surrender” and “I trust” to fortify my faith and my lifejacket as I navigate these waters. It is so easy to feel overwhelmed and discouraged; the best I can do is surrender to Love and trust that I am both held and free.

Presence is the portal to power and peace. As I practice being present with others and myself, peace shows up. I am empowered and uplifted. Love and wisdom expand. Connection, hope, and joy are restored. I am buoyant.

Rise & Shine,

ej

Elisa J. Juarez