Time to Dust off Your New Year’s Resolutions
Have you ever wondered why it is so hard to keep your New Year’s Resolutions? They may be kept for a week or two, and then no more. Well, it’s not really your fault! The time of year is wrong. In Chinese Medicine, winter is a season of storage. Work slows down. It gets cold out. It is a time for recovering our energy.
The four seasons correspond to Yin and Yang. Winter is the Yin within the Yin. Yin is the moistening, still, dark energy. Summer is the Yang within the Yang. Yang is the active, light, dry energy that is a counterpart to Yin. In spring – we call it the Yang within the Yin. The active, warm energy begins to grow in the midst of all that cold. In autumn, it is the Yin within the Yang and the colder, quieter energy begins to grow in the midst of the heat.
So back to your resolution; does this mean that I recommend not making one? NO. It is also a time for contemplating the last year and planning the next. But it is no fun to fail at your plan. So make that resolution and pick a date in spring to begin. Put it on your calendar and plan how you will accomplish it.
One very common resolution is weight loss. Winter is not an optimum time to lose weight. As I said, it is a season of storage. Our body wants heavier foods and more calories to keep us warm.
In spring life starts to grow again. It gets warm. We find ourselves wanting to do more. Let the energy of spring support your goals and you will find the progress is easier.
In our weight loss example, you will find that in spring, your body wants lighter foods. The salad that might give you indigestion in the winter is perfect as the weather warms. It is also easier to be active, again naturally supporting your goal.
So go ahead and start working on that New Year’s Resolution again. I wish you success achieving your goals!
Remember that acupuncture and herbal medicine can be helpful supports for endeavors like stopping smoking or losing weight. Please feel free to contact me for more information.
Tina Laue, M.S., L.Ac., Diplomate in Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM)
Tina has her practice in NW Denver at 38th and Tennyson.
You can visit her website at www.goodneedles.com or e-mail her at tinalaue@goodneedles.com.