When was the last time you paused to notice the beauty of a full moon or a sunset, the feel of a warm spring breeze on your face, the symphony of colors of fall foliage, or the sounds of crashing waves? No matter the time of year, connecting with nature and the season itself will bring you happiness all year long.
Chinese Five Element Theory: Wu Xing
When one looks across many of the wisdom traditions, a common theme emerges which highlights the benefit of being in the flow of the seasons and nature in general. Studies show time spent in nature increases your creativity and recharges your brain. A simple activity like taking a walk can improve your mental health.
If you’re doing some self-reflection and ready to tweak your outlook on life and state of mind, consider the five phases to the Chinese Five-Element Theory or Wu Xing. It focuses on the rhythm of emotions and activities which correspond to the seasons. Our physical and mental well-being is impacted by the flow and balance of energy in our lives.
Water, wood, fire, earth, and metal are the five phases that make up the Chinese Five-Element Theory or Wu Xing.
The Chinese Five-Element Theory is also used in Feng Shui, which is probably a more familiar term because it’s associated with home décor. However you look at it, the goal is to find balance and harmony with the energy that surrounds you.
Every season has its pros and cons. Focus on the blessings each season brings to your life, and use those as a way to find harmony and happiness in your life.
|
Season |
Element |
Positive Emotion |
Challenge |
Activity |
|
winter |
water |
calmness |
fear |
period of stillness and retreat and a time to store and conserve energy |
|
spring |
wood |
sensitivity |
anger |
period of growth |
|
summer |
fire |
joy/happiness |
hate |
period of flowering and creativity |
|
late summer |
earth |
pensiveness & clarity |
anxiety |
period of transition, moderation, and transformation |
|
autumn |
metal |
courage, intuition |
grief/sadness |
period of harvesting/reaping what you have sown |
How to increase your happiness in the winter
Let’s face it – the winter is a tough time of year if you don’t like the cold and live in the land of snow and ice. The key to staying happy every season, and maintaining your inner peace, is to pay attention to the beauty that surrounds you.
Even if you don’t suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) or seasonal depression, the winter blues may be of concern at some point during the winter. That’s because the sun dramatically impacts how we feel, which is why phototherapy is often treatment for SAD.
Think about it. Is your mood different on sunny days versus cloudy days? Naturally, there’s less sun in the winter so it’s easier to feel down.
Look to the Chinese Five-Element Theory to find happiness in the winter. According to the theory, water represents the winter. It’s a time of stillness and retreat, and a time to store and conserve energy. It makes sense because you tend to stay indoors more during the winter.
Find beauty in the stillness. The freshly fallen snow on trees, the peacefulness of snow falling from the sky, or the crackle of the fire. The relative calm of life is somewhat relaxing too. Sometimes doing nothing is more powerful than doing something.
That’s why it’s important to get outside whenever you can, even during the winter. Take a walk on a Maryland trail. The fresh air and exercise have an impact on how you feel. Do you notice your shoulders relaxing as you walk through nature and listen to the chirping birds and the rustling of leaves?
If you can’t get outside, because of weather or other limitations, immerse yourself in a virtual mini-vacation. Visualize someplace you’d like to be that brings you a sense of peace.
I’ll take you there, on the 12 Journeys. It’s a short yet inspirational and motivational video that shows you how to embrace what’s happening around you – be in the weather or stress – and embrace it.
Each force in your life has meaning, and when you focus on the positive side of each element, you’re able to find happiness while growing as a person.
Since there’s so little sun, worship the sun that shines. You can do this with a warm cup of coffee by the fire or a window as the sun rises or sets, or try a yoga pose. Experts suggest the sun salutation.
Start your day off the right way by taking a moment for you through exercise or reflection.
Some people even break it up into a power hour. They spend 20 minutes on exercise, 20 minutes meditating, and 20 minutes reading and focusing on positivity first thing in the morning.
Calmness is a positive force in the winter.
On the flip side, fear is your challenge. Embrace your fears so they don’t get bottled up and surface as anger. Managing your fears is a key part of anger management, so much so it’s often called fear management.
Perhaps you see the anger rather than the fear driving it. Use this time of relative stillness in the winter, to allow those fears to surface so you can deal with them. An anger log is a great way to really find the sources of your anger.
If you feel overwhelmed by some of your emotions, let them go! Releasing them will bring you a new freedom. Letting go will help you find happiness so you can conquer those winter blues.
How spring affects your mood
When the flowers start blooming in the spring, and the sun shines longer, you naturally feel happier. Look at this time of year, for personal growth.
Wood is the second element of the Chinese Five Element Theory, and it’s the symbol of spring. It represents all the things in nature that begin to grow like the trees that sprout new leaves and grow taller and the fresh flowers that bloom.
Spring is about new beginnings. Your positive emotion is sensitivity and anger is your emotional challenge.
If you’re feeling angry, manage it so it’s not all-consuming. What’s driving it? Is it fear, uncertainty, or love?
Look to anger as a positive force rather than something that’s negative. Use the spring-time as a fresh start and transform the power of that anger into something positive.
During the spring, we hear about rebirth through spring cleaning or decluttering our homes. Use this as a time to also declutter your mind and body. What baggage do you need to shed — anger, fears, anxiety?
Think of it as a starting point. Plant some seeds upon which you can grow as a person.
While January is often the time of year many people set goals, revisit them in the spring. Are you achieving them? How can you make adjustments to bring your goals into focus again so you can feel good about accomplishing them?
Using the Chinese element of fire to your advantage
In the summer, you’re on fire! You’ll feel joy and happiness, and that leads to a period of creativity.
Think about it – you’re more active in the summer, and the weather is great – it’s sunny and warm. You’re finally able to get outside (in most climates) and soak up the sunshine, so it brings joy.
Use that fire in your belly to follow a dream or passion of yours.
If you’re passionate about losing weight and getting healthy, take advantage of the nice weather to live a healthy lifestyle. You’ll not only feel better, but a healthy lifestyle may reverse the effects of aging.
On the flip side, anger can build during the summer months. So, if you feel that fire burning in your belly, use that emotion as fuel for positive change.
Take small steps. This is a 10-step path to happiness so you can push through the anger, hurt, and resentment and find happiness in your everyday life.
Start with a technology timeout. Perhaps social media is getting you down. Spend more time in nature and less time connected.
Give yourself (and your brain) a break and spend some time in “disconnection.” Technology, as well as the failure of technology, often creates a sense of urgency, pressure, and state of low-grade anxiety which you may not even consciously notice anymore. This chronic hyper-alertness takes its toll over time and for many represents a modern-day version of “fight or flight.”
Summer is a great time to take a vacation. Spend more time with your family and less time in the office so you can focus on the joy and happiness of the season.
Transitions in late summer: Season of Earth
The Earth represents late summer. It’s a period of transition as you prepare for the fall and eventually the winter months. You’re pensive and seek clarity, while also feeling anxious. It’s a time of transformation and moderation.
If you think of this time of year, there’s a ton of transition in August and September. Children go back to school and routines set in again. The weather changes, too as the leaves begin to change colors before they fall.
Change is uncomfortable, but it has the potential to bring about a reward. If you’re stressed about work or life, manage it with mind and body exercises or guided tools so you can truly be less stressed.
See the powerful benefits in this time of year and challenge yourself to change something.
Acknowledge the transitions happening in your own life, reflect on them, and use them for good.
Chinese Element: Metal
Metal represents autum. It’s a period of harvesting what you’ve sown. It brings out the positive emotions of courage and intuition yet also grief and sadness as challenges.
When you’re having these emotional challenges, focus on the present, rather than the past or future. Be mindful of what’s happening around you.
Enjoy all the seeds you’ve planted throughout the year and celebrate the rewards they’ve brought you. Find the courage to be authentic because everyone else is taken. Celebrate the unique gifts that you’ve created and earned over the years.
Reflect on your life and those of others during this season of giving. Learn how to journal so you can find gratitude in daily life. Be thankful for the blessings around you.
That’s sometimes difficult to do during the holidays which brings us to the emotional challenges this time of year. Many people suffer grief and sadness this time of year especially if they’re dealing with personal tragedy, illness, or family issues. That’s why gratitude goes a long way this time of year. If you’re in a good spot, reach out to those who may be suffering.
The fall is a natural time to give – think Thanksgiving and the holiday gift-giving season. Write a note to someone you care about and express your sentiments, volunteer, or reflect on everything in your life that you have to be grateful for. This will keep you focused, even when life throws you a detour.
Even if you don’t feel like there’s anything to celebrate, find the silver lining. It’s there. Finding it will help you change your outlook.
10 strategies to find happiness every season
Think of life as a journey filled with positive emotions and challenges no matter the season of life you’re in. Look to different strategies and exercises to find happiness every season.
- Take a guided journey to remove stress.
- Take a technology timeout.
- Let it go.
- Find gratitude.
- Focus on the present rather than the past or future.
- Say yes to the life you have.
- Take time to do nothing.
- Experience the 12 journeys.
- Take a walk in nature.
- Breathe.
Bottom line – Do NOT become stressed about being stressed about your life. It is what it is. You can’t erase the past and you can’t predict the future.
Simply observe and do not judge. Adding an extra layer of energy and emotion on your stress cake is only going to make it topple over from the weight of all that stress icing.
Take small steps to tweak your inner soul.
If you do nothing else, just breathe! Practice taking slow, deep breaths. As you count to 3, inhale in feelings of calm and relaxation (expand your belly as you inhale). As you count to 5, exhale out tightness, pain, and feelings of stress (allow your belly to collapse as you exhale). Repeat the cycle 4 more times. There is power in the breath.
Think about the month we’re in now. What can you do to focus on the positive and become one with nature?
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