Stress in relation to the Five Elements 

When your body gives you a nudge and you don't listen, it will give you a smack.

Carl Jung 

During my acupressure training many years ago, a good friend gave me this quote and offered to help with the "smack ". His intention was to “de-stress me through the medium of laughter”. Everyone I know is affected by stress in their lives in one way or another. So the idea of “getting rid of IT” seems like a waste of energy; I was juggling a full time job, raising a child, and going to school.   Looking back it was a recipe for stress. 

Five Element Theory is a relation between the Bodymind or our thoughts and emotions with the outer world or all of nature. The seasons and climate changes affect both our body and psyche. Learning how to use our energy to understand and control stress frees us and allows our life to move more fluidly. Gabor Mate MD in his book When the Body says No - The hidden cost of Stress calls this process ‘psychoneuroimmunology’ or ‘the Bodymind connection’ 

Stress is simply body energy that has become stuck. The more we cram into our lives the less flexible we are forced to become causing our energy to take on a horizontal holding pattern. Shoulders and neck tension is chronic in our fast moving culture as well as low back pain.

All new ideas begin with the Wood element – the spark of new ideas. This could be just a nudge of a thought, “I’ve got to do something about the busyness of my life; I’ll crash if I don’t.” Carl Jung once said, “If your body gives you a nudge and you don’t listen it will give you a slap”. The simple act of pausing to notice this one thought is all that’s needed to begin.  

As we move into the Fire element, our spirit starts to come alive. This often feels like a longing or inspiration; starting a meditation practice; eating healthier, some quite time in the morning.

 Moving into the Earth element is where we nurture the idea. Action often begins here, as we look for ways to make these insights happen. Worry is the body’s gift that shows us change needs to happen soon. Illness or injury can become the turning point needed to initiate positive changes needed.

In the Metal element we look at what we can let go of. It is the clearing out so something more positive can move in and take hold. It’s also the last strong hold where old ideas struggle to hold their ground. There will be grief or a sense of loss with this process at the same time our inner critic will be loud and obnoxious as ever. Staying open minded at this point is crucial since we are moving into the Water element and we start to see ourselves manifesting  will to become is born.

Whatever we choose to begin letting go of, the stress causing factors in our lives is easiest if we start with what we can do. All too often instant changes with the desire for instant relief can become overwhelming (Tell me why? Because it is impossible?). A simple recipe for New Beginnings is best started with one small change at a time. It’s then bound together with a bulky supply of discipline, seasoned with insights, inspiration from others and served with a healthy dose of gentleness. When we find ourselves spinning out of control again, notice the pause, and then follow it home.