Yes, We Are Sinking… But Fantastic That We Can See the Coastline!

Positivity has always been my guiding force, both in life and on the water. Throughout my sailing career, I’ve learned that staying positive—even in the toughest moments—can completely change how we handle challenges. I like to share how my upbringing, experiences at sea, and lessons in teamwork have shaped my mindset, and how embracing positivity has become my life’s greatest strength. It’s challenging from time to time, but it’s something we can all practice every day.


Let’s start with a little experiment: the next time you pass someone, give them a smile. See what happens. You might be surprised to find that most of the time, the person will smile back. It’s a small gesture, but it can have a big impact. It creates an instant connection and a moment of positivity. This simple act is something I hold close to my heart, and it’s a big part of how I approach life, sailing, and everything in between.

Why Positivity Matters to Me

Positivity has always been central to who I am. It’s a value I was raised with, thanks to my parents. I remember a conversation I had with my dad not long ago. We were talking about life and work, and he said something that stuck with me: “Rosie, no matter what happens, always keep smiling.” That advice has shaped so much of how I view the world. Growing up, our family went through an exercise where we trained ourselves to speak only in positive terms. Instead of saying, “don’t run,” we’d say, “please walk.” We try to reformulate negative words, like no non or don’t into positive ones. It may seem small, but that shift in language had a huge impact on how we viewed and tackled life.

Even today, I catch myself doing it—when I read books or articles, I find myself rephrasing any negative-sounding sentences into positive ones. This habit is like a tool I carry with me everywhere, in every situation.

Positivity as a Life Goal

It has become more than only something I practice, positivity has become a core part of my life’s mission. I can trace this back to a specific moment—sailing the Volvo 65, for example. One day, the rain was pouring down, we all felt wet down to the bone and everyone was complaining about how miserable it was. I made a point to say something absurdly positive like, “Wow, it’s amazing how there’s more rain falling next to us than on top of our heads!” Everyone laughed, but for me, it was more than just a joke—it was a mindset shift. Even in the toughest moments, I’ve made it a sport to find the silver lining.

I remember the time my boat sank off the Dutch coast. It was one day before I was supposed to graduate from my psychology studies. I was on a delivery trip when we touched a sandbank, the keel broke off, and the boat sank. As I sat with a crewmate waiting for the Dutch Coast Guard, I made a ridiculous comment: “Yes, we’re sinking, but fantastic that we can still see the coastline!” My crewmate looked at me in disbelief. But even in that extreme moment, finding something positive made the situation easier to handle.

Positivity in Teamwork

I’ve come to realize that positivity isn’t just a personal trait—it’s contagious. When you approach a situation with a smile, people want to be around you. It brings a sense of energy and openness to a team setting. I’ve seen this firsthand on the boats I’ve sailed on. Even when conditions are tough and everyone is exhausted, if you can keep a positive attitude, it boosts the team’s morale. And it’s not just about what you say—it’s how you say it. That energy spreads.

In a way, being positive gives you a sense of control, especially when everything around you seems chaotic. Sometimes you can't change or control the situation around you, but what you can control is your own state of mind and perception and how you handle it.  That’s where the real power lies—positivity can lead the way in every aspect of your life.

The Science of Smiling

There’s actually a psychological reason why smiling works. When you smile at someone, it activates a part of their brain, the orbitofrontal cortex, which releases feel-good hormones like dopamine and serotonin. This is why smiles are so contagious! When I walk down the street or go to a store, I make it a point to smile so widely that people can’t help but smile back. It’s a little experiment I enjoy—and it always works.

It’s the same on the boat. A positive mindset is addictive, and people want to be around others who exude that energy. We all face challenges, but the key is to see those challenges as hurdles you can overcome. You might not be able to control the situation, but you can focus on controlling how you perceive it.

Seeing the Glass Half Full

I genuinely believe that my career has gone as well as it has because I strive to see the positive and act accordingly. I believe that’s what sometimes inspired others to have me on their boat. I keep on learning everyday and strive to become a better and more complete sailor. I like to face my strengths and weaknesses and work on it. I see it as one of my strengths and missions to connect people due to positivity and trying to create an environment where people feel empowered to be the best version of themselves. This is what makes sailing in a team context magical and so rewarding. 

It’s the same in business—relationships are built on more than just skills. They’re built on how you make people feel, and a positive vibe can take you further than you might realize. It adds so much value to your own life and to the people around you.

So, how can you bring more positivity into your life? Here are a few simple tips:

  1. Smile, smile, smile. It sounds basic, give it a try :)! Smile to other people wherever you are,, in a shop, on the street and to yourself in the mirror. Smiling spurs automatically a chemical reaction in the brain and will increase your feeling of happiness. Even when you feel sad, you can fool your own emotions with this trick.

  2. Positive wording. Challenge yourself to try to speak in positive terms. Like saying what you like or want instead of not. It’s simpler for people around you too.

  3. Find the silver lining. When things go wrong, make it a sport to find something good in the situation. It may feel forced at first, but with practice, it becomes second nature and it can get quite funny. 

  4. Surround yourself with positivity. Whether it’s friends, family, or colleagues, colors, music, food. Positivity in any form will reinforce each other.

  5. Focus on what makes you happy. For me, it’s the feeling of freedom and being autonomous,  sailing, close to nature, and being around people I love and care about. Find what makes you happy and prioritize it in your life. When you’re happy, you naturally radiate positivity.

Positivity is a choice. It’s a way of life. It’s the key to finding joy even in the most challenging situations, and it’s a tool that has carried me through my sailing career and beyond. But I have also discovered that sometimes it takes outside help to find solutions. Asking for support, in any form, from friends, family or professional help is, in my opinion, the best form of self-care there is!

I encourage everyone to support themselves in whatever way they need to be happy. For me, happiness is being autonomous, free, sailing, and surrounded by nature. For others, it might mean facing and resolving a challenge that’s holding them back. Finding the right support can help you get there. So yes, we may be sinking… but isn’t it fantastic that we can still see the coastline?

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