Rosalin Kuiper is a professional ocean sailor and studied psychology, specialising in team building in high-performance sport. Together with Boris Herrmann and Will Harris, she was on board the Malizia "Seaexplorer" in the Ocean Race 2022/23, from where she repeatedly posted on social media. She is still active on Instagram and Linkedin, where this article by her also appeared.

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 tried 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 inspires others to have me on their boat. I keep learning every day and strive to become a better and more complete sailor. I like to face my strengths and weaknesses and work on them. I see it as one of my strengths and missions to connect people through positivity and by 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:

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?

Do you have any questions or suggestions? Please feel free to contact me.