The experience of feeling up speaks to our sense of emotional location in the world, being high rather than low. A buoyant emotion is similar, but relates more specifically to the possession of something that enables us to remain up, given the strong likelihood of sinking down.
A buoy is a device made for floating on top of a fluid into which other objects would descend and be lost forever. Though its substance is heavy and dense, pulled down by gravity, a buoy contains within it a chamber of light and expansive material that counteracts the sinking feeling that would otherwise cause our descent.
Emotionally, we contain many different kinds of lifesaving devices, the psychological equivalents of inflatable vests or floating inner tubes. Sometimes, difficult times can pop these devices, however, leaving us with fewer tools to keep our heads above water. We are nonetheless capable of crafting new means of flotation, through the cultivation of relationships, adherence to healthy routines, or the development of new elements of personal character.
A wonderful part of buoyancy is the opportunity for rest it provides. We can remain on the surface without any floating objects to hang on to, but it’s exhausting work. When we’re buoyant, we can simply be ourselves, knowing that we have no need to worry about slipping down into the depths.
