The Sea in My Mind: Coastal Calm and Creative Flow

Finding Calm and Creativity

I don’t live by the sea.

There are no gulls outside my window (apart from the occasional visit!), no salt breeze in the air.

But somehow, the coast remains one of the most grounding, inspiring places I know.

Even from a distance, it plays a central role in how I calm my mind and spark my creativity.

Part of that connection comes from childhood. I spent most of my holidays by the sea in Devon, Cornwall and Dorset—places etched into my memory with the warmth of sun-creased days and windswept adventures. Those visits shaped how I feel about the coast: not just as a destination, but as something deeply personal and familiar.

There’s something timeless and healing about the ocean, I call it coastal calm. And while I may not hear it daily or see the waves with my own eyes, I carry it with me—in thoughts, in colours, in moments of stillness.

Dorset Cliffs

A Mental Escape to the Shore

On days when life feels overwhelming, I close my eyes and imagine the coast. The sound of waves rolling in and out is like a slow, steady breath—an invitation to pause. It’s become a kind of mental escape: no suitcase, no travel, just a quiet return to something familiar and safe.

The coast reminds me to slow down. It has no urgency, no need to be anywhere else. In imagining it, I give myself permission to rest. This is mindfulness in its most natural form—using imagery and memory to find peace right where I am.

Colours, Sounds, and Sensory Calm

Even in my mind’s eye, the colours of the coast bring comfort. There’s the misty blue of early morning tide, the silver-grey of clouds mirrored in the water, the soft gold of sunlight scattered across wet sand. These tones don’t shout; they soothe.

The sounds are equally vivid in my memory: the rhythmic pull of water, the occasional cry of a seabird, the soft hush of wind moving through dune grass. These aren’t just pleasant details—they’re anchors. They remind me to breathe, to come back to the present.

Loving a Place You Don’t Live

There’s something beautiful about loving a place you don’t live in. It becomes dreamlike, sacred in your mind. The coast has become a part of who I am—not because I’m there physically, but because it shows up in my thoughts, my creativity, and my sense of calm.

It’s a quiet kind of connection, one that doesn’t need to be explained. You don’t have to visit daily to carry a place in your heart.

Coastal Inspiration in Everyday Life

I often draw on the coast in my creative work. Whether I’m writing, sketching, or simply thinking through a problem, the coast is there—its mood, its textures, its palette.

The coast offers an endless source of inspiration, inviting artists to explore its myriad forms, moods, and meanings.

If you’re like me and feel connected to the sea even from far away, here are a few ways to bring that feeling into your day:

• Create a coastal playlist – soft instrumentals, waves, ambient seashore sounds.

• Use colour to reflect the coast – blues, whites, greys, driftwood tones.

• Journal from a coastal perspective – describe an imagined walk along the beach.

• Bring in natural elements – shells, sand, sea glass, or even just a candle that smells like salt air.

These are small ways to stay connected, but they make a big difference.

Creating Ocean-Inspired Art

One of the most fulfilling ways I stay connected to the coast is through my art.

Creating ocean-inspired pieces—whether it’s painting seascapes, sketching waves, or creating abstracts with texture to mimic the movement of water—allows me to channel the energy and emotion of the sea.

I often work with soft blues, sandy neutrals, and deep greys, letting the palette reflect the moods of the ocean I remember from both my childhood and adult life. Even abstract marks can hold the rhythm of tides or the rough texture of coastal rocks. Art becomes a quiet meditation—each brushstroke or pencil line echoing the calm I feel near the water, even when I’m far from it.

Coastal Painting on Wood

Final Thoughts

The coast doesn't need me to be there to do its work. Its presence in my mind is enough to ground me, soothe me, and inspire me. In a world that often feels loud and fast, it offers something softer: a reminder of rhythm, reflection, and the deep calm that exists within us all—if we’re quiet enough to feel it.

Even from miles away, the coast is close.

Do you have a place that lives in your memory, even if you’re far away from it?

I’d love to hear about it in the comments,

How about a little challenge ?

This week, try sketching or writing something inspired by the sea—even if it’s just from memory. You don’t need to be by the ocean to feel its presence.

Thanks for reading—I hope this brought a bit of the sea to wherever you are today.

Until next time, stay grounded and inspired.

Sue x