After a PhD on the subject and half-a-dozen published papers, I’ve done the hard work of establishing a theoretical foundation for Mental Gravity. The relationship between gravity, the body and emotion is a deep philosophical and neuroscientific question and at this early stage we still don’t have a concrete, bulletproof answer, but the clues are there. Lots of smart people besides me think gravity has a direct impact on health and wellbeing, including mood and emotion, but we’re still searching.
We don’t have to wait for the final answer to these deep questions to take advantage of what we already know. I do know for sure that a psychological approach to gravity is a helpful way to think about mental health, and then to act on it. And not just in terms of depression, but in a holistic sense that includes both the positives and negatives, what we often call “life’s ups and downs”.
Think about it for a moment. A smile is up, a frown is down. Pride lifts, while shame lowers. This emotional expression seems hardwired into our biology. Gravity is a key part of our body language, expressing our internal feelings to the world.
We already use this language instinctively:
Mental Gravity is not a simplistic toy model of emotional life. It is a practical framework for understanding how the forces shaping our inner worlds can be bent toward meaning and fulfillment. In psychology, the "scientist-practitioner model" reminds us that the best science comes from a combination of thinking and doing.
That is why I am launching a new company and app, simply called Mental Gravity. We are moving beyond abstract theory to deliver practical mental health promotion tools, such as coaching and guided exercises, to help individuals and groups navigate life. This is not a clinical "cure," rather, it is an educational framework designed to build mental fitness, which is the mental equivalent of staying physically healthy and well.
I am not launching this venture alone. I am working alongside Professor Brennan Spiegel, a world-leading researcher from Cedars-Sinai and author of PULL: How gravity shapes your body, steadies the mind, and guides our health. Together, we are developing a broader framework called Biogravitational Medicine, where Mental Gravity serves as the psychological component. By managing risks and working with an expert Advisory Panel, we are turning theoretical science into a safe, effective, and non-stigmatising practice. The mind is an awe-inspiring place if you view it from the right perspective. It is time to find your footing and learn to work with the gravity of your own inner world.