The Great Unbalancing Machine: Navigating Yin and Yang in Modern Life
The Great Unbalancing Machine
Modern life is the ultimate machine for throwing oneself out of balance, and it seems to get worse with each passing year.
We stay up later. We work longer hours. We sleep less than ever before.
On top of that, we are forever stimulated by our devices, and we rarely give ourselves a chance to actually unplug.
It's enough to make you feel crazy. I know it has for me...
And that's why it's essential to get back to the fundamentals.
Taoism
The ancient Taoists studied and observed everything in nature to see how it behaved.
Their observations showed that our universe is a constant dance of different forces. These forces are constantly interacting and finding their way into a natural balance.
They concluded that when things were in harmony, they function correctly and flow more smoothly.
When things become unbalanced, there is disharmony and dysfunction.
Yin and Yang
The most simple form they used to describe things is in the duality of Yin and Yang.
Yin and Yang are opposing energies or qualities that are present within all things and between all things.
Yin represents things that are more slow, grounded, cool, stable, etc.
Yang represents things that are more dynamic, fluid, warm, changing, etc.
All things can be described as some relationship of Yin and Yang.
Our Yang-Excessive Lives
As we take this back to reflect on our modern lifestyles, it becomes clear that we live with a nearly constant excess of Yang energy.
We are always on the go. Always doing things. Never stopping.
And when we don't allow our systems a counterbalance to this, the system breaks.
We develop digestion issues. Or headaches. Or insomnia. Stress.
From the Taoist perspective, much of the infinite list of modern ailments that plague us come from an excess of Yang.
When we don't allow enough balancing forces of Yin into our lives, we become unbalanced and suffer.
An Effective Dose of Yin
So what are we to make of this??
From the Taoist perspective, we can see the importance of making time in our lives for more Yin-dominant practices.
As a reader of my blog, you can imagine an obvious choice for this: Yin Yoga.
In fact, Yin Yoga gets its name from the Yin-dominant nature of the practice.
Yin Yoga is a perfect complement to balance our otherwise Yang-dominated lives.
But Yin Yoga is certainly not the only option here.
Anything that allows you a chance to unplug is a good candidate for these sorts of practices.
We could take up a meditation practice.
Or allow ourselves time to sit in the park.
We can go for a slow, quiet walk at the end of the day.
Reducing Yang Influences
In addition to making time for focused Yin practices, it can be equally valuable to remove Yang excess from your life intentionally.
Notice how much time you spend on screens.
Notice what time you go to bed.
See how you respond to these stimuli and how they affect your mood and energy level.
How many of these are necessary and could be easily eliminated?
Of course, getting rid of all of the Yang excesses in your schedule will never be possible. Still, every bit you can eliminate will make a difference.
With time and practice, you will tune into your natural balance of Yin and Yang and adapt accordingly around it.
Learning to Practice This For Yourself
The hardest part of these things is starting in the first place, so here's a list of ideas to help you find more Yin within your life.
If you follow these suggestions consistently for a week or more, I guarantee you will start to feel more balance in your life!
● Notice when you feel the pull to stimulate yourself with social media or mindless browsing. Can you put the breaks on that and take a few deep breaths instead?
● Schedule at least 1 longer Yin-dominant practice (Yin Yoga, A more extended Meditation, etc.) each week, and be sure not to miss it!
● Each week, take at least one long walk outside without your phone. Bringing a friend or partner is okay, but try to avoid unnatural stimulation.
● Take at least 5 minutes daily to just sit, ideally in some form of meditation. I have plenty of guided meditations on my YouTube that can help you get started... ;-)
● Set a lights-out time for your electronic devices (except perhaps a Kindle/reader) so your mind can unwind before bed.
Conclusion
While the concepts of Yin and Yang are relatively easy to understand, it can take a lifetime of practice to really hone in on balancing them for yourself.
For me, shifting out of balance is a regular challenge that I face.
However, when I take the time to implement the steps I listed above, I feel better in my daily life, and I'm refreshed and ready to take on new challenges!
Give it a shot, and let me know how it goes. I promise you will appreciate the results!
If you'd like to practice with me right now, check out one of the dozens of free classes on my YouTube.
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