If we are too pure in all things that we do, it will weaken the immune system, and separate one from society and worldly experiences.
This doesn’t mean we should go out and get intoxicated at every opportunity, or to eat as much fast food as we can stomach, or yell at everyone who may bother us slightly.
It simply means that if we spend all of our time avoiding any possible emotional or physical contaminate, we will disconnect ourselves from the world so much, that even the slightest disturbance will send us spiraling out of control.
I know someone who raised her son on such a strict organic vegan diet, that the boy can’t go to a friend’s house because anything he tries to eat there will make him so sick, he can’t have any fun! Halloween is no fun for him because he can’t eat any of the candy he collects. In order to go to a baseball game, he has to bring along his own container of nuts and seeds, and longingly watch his friends eat the junk food there; knowing it would make him sick if he tried.
According to Chinese medicine, it is considered best to be slightly imbalanced toward the Yin side of things. Yin energy implies more acceptance and adaptation to change.
What Exactly do I Mean by Yin?
The Yin/Yang duality concept has been around for ages. The earliest recording of the terms dates back to a collection of folk songs from the first millennium B.C.
Traditionally, Yin is associated with cool, damp, dark and feminine. Yang is associated with hot, dry, bright and masculine.
The Chinese character for Yin represents the “shady side of the hill” while the character for Yang represents the “sunny side of the hill”. The two sides of the same hill.
Traditional Chinese medicine states that the fundamental cause of a disease is the impaired flow of these equally important universal life energies that are present in all living things. This results in blockages, depletion, or imbalance.
Once we begin to understand the basics behind Yin and Yang, we will be able to find them present everywhere.
How Can We Find Balance?
It is no secret that our atmosphere is constantly changing. We should be able to adapt somewhat. But we have spent so much of our lives seeking comfort, that our ability to adapt is quickly disappearing.
A fantastic exercise that I have seen and experienced great success with, is trying to consciously remain even-minded when something really exciting is happening. Something good.
With time, this practice begins to overflow into other areas of life. Including the bad.
This practice is challenging but effective.
By challenging ourselves, we can finally relax into the flow of this continual change. When things don’t go our way, we can try to keep an even mind. When this happens, we will finally be able to have health and balance in all areas of life.
Source cited: East-West Herbal Correspondence Course by Dr. Michael Tierra O.M.D.
