When you hear about the idea of the “Earth Element” it should evoke the avatar of someone who is grounded, solid and reliable. If you’re an earthy type, YOU are the one who shows up in a crisis, who handles the situation, and in fact, KNOWS the best way to do it.
And because not everyone KNOWS, it can feel like EVERYTHING is on your shoulders to handle. And because nobody else is AS RELIABLE, it can be so DISAPPOINTING to ask for help and not receive it the way you’d like. And because it feels like IT’S ALL ON YOU… There’s so much to figure out… to anticipate… to look at from all angles… How are we going to…? What if…? Well then… Plan B… and let’s review plan A one more time…
Rumination, cycling thoughts, worry are earth element dysfunctions. The inability to digest one’s thoughts is taxing to the body. It drains energy leaving less life force for physiological processes, causing issues such as: indigestion of food, acid reflux, poor appetite, loose bowel movements. This is not to mention that it siphons off energy that could otherwise be used for productivity, creativity or just enjoying life.
If all of this sounds familiar, you can find relief with a 2-pronged approach:
1.Give your brain a rest. Find things that get you out of your head. For some people this is meditation. There are so many types of meditation. It is a misconception that an active mind means you’re bad at it. Moving your body is another great way to give your brain a rest, for example, yoga, qigong, hiking or swimming. Many of my patients find that doing flow state activities can feel meditative, such as diving into an absorbing creative project. What are YOUR flow state activities?
2. Raise the vibration of your eating routines. The way you digest your thoughts is reflective of the way you digest your food. Set yourself up for success by making sure your nervous system is in parasympathetic (rest and digest) mode when you eat so that digestion of food (and thoughts) is more efficient. This looks like eating at regular times (even if you don’t eat three meals per day). If you get absorbed in work and forget to eat, set a timer. Bonus points for just eating when you eat, no working, scrolling or eating on the run.
Whether you’re an earth element personality type or someone dealing with an earth element imbalance, rumination can be draining. If you experience it with high levels of anxiety or digestive difficulty, acupuncture and Chinese Medicine can jump start immediate relief and support a sustainable shift in the pattern. Do you want to chat about it? You can schedule a free, 15-minute discovery session opens in a new window::HERE::
(Photo by Tyler Nix on Unsplash)
