Today, I am going to write about a topic that lately has become extremely helpful for me to navigate the challenges of daily life: the balance between yin and yang.
Perhaps like many of you, I was vaguely familiar with the concepts of yin and yang and the classic representation: a circle divided into two swirling halves with small dot of the opposite color in it.
Yang is represented by the lighter color. It is associated with the day, the light, activity, movement and warmth. Yin is represented by the darker color, and it is associated with the night, the darkness, stillness and coolness. As the diagram suggests, both of them are complementary and intertwined:
- Too much yang can lead to aggressiveness, restlessness, anxiety, greed, anger and physical issues like headaches, digestive problems, skin issues and so on.
- Too much yin can lead to lack of motivation, apathy, sluggishness or depression.
Both yin and yang are needed for balance. None is superior.
However, today’s always on, rushed world, full of light and screens, is very yang. It has become normal to be continuously stimulated, enticed, challenged. We expect immediate responses to our asks and messages. Multitasking is the norm. Unless we consciously decide to resist it, we are going to be carried by this omnipresent force of yang. Rest, stillness, and even sleep are considered a luxury. Do you remember the last time you did nothing?
But what if we said enough? What if we reclaimed our yin space, our pauses, our stillness? Would this impact our productivity and our sense of accomplishment?
No. It would actually increase our productivity and our sense of peace. An unbalanced life can only be sustained for a short period until a myriad of physical, mental and other issues start to appear. A balanced life is much more sustainable in the long run and leads to improved wellness and wellbeing. But we need to be diligent about it, otherwise, yang will prevail.
All these reflections came to me just this week. I was having a very yang week: work trip, customer events, presentations, while trying to stay on top of my nutrition, exercise and relationships. The day after my trip was planned as another yang day: long run, work, do the groceries and laundry, and so on. But the night before, when I returned home, I was feeling exhaust. So I decided to make the following day a yin one. The run can wait. I don’t need to focus on non-urgent tasks at work, and I the deliverables don’t need to be perfect, just good. I can cook an easy meal. Groceries and laundry can wait. I can make time for a nourishing yoga practice and some meditation. And do this without guilt, thinking that the day is being optimized, not wasted. And it surely was. The following day, I woke up recharged and ready to take more yang. Not sure if this would have been the case otherwise.
If you are reading this, I invite you to slow down and make room for some yin in your life. Postpone that appointment you don’t feel up going to. Take an easier day at work if you can. Even an off day. Nourish yourself with nutrient dense food that is easy to prepare. Practice mindfulness activities that you enjoy, like reading, gardening, knitting, journaling, meditating, practicing gently yoga.
You are not wasting your time. You are investing in long term health and wellbeing, and a sustainable lifestyle.
Enjoy the stillness.
Namaste.
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