This ancient insight into the nature of life and the universe applies to personalities as well
Some of us probably know this person.
His charisma draws people to him like a magnet. His enthusiasm is infectious, and his entrepreneurial spirit means that he’s always working on some new, exciting business venture. He seems to constantly be pushing boundaries, exploring new things, and living an exhilarating life. He hardly sleeps yet still manages to have boundless energy.
This is a yang person.
And some of us may know this person as well.
She’s shy and soft-spoken, quiet and thoughtful, and prefers books to people. Her movements are relaxed and graceful; if she had her way, she would go to bed early and wake up late. Happiest in her own company, she has a rich inner life and, as a result, often seems lost in the clouds.
This is a yin person.
What Is Yin and Yang?
The taiji is an ancient Taoist symbol that often represents yin and yang. The dark half represents yin, and the light half represents yang. You’ll see that a dot of each exists in the other, demonstrating that each is mutually dependent, needing the other to exist.
Contrary to what many people believe, yin and yang aren’t opposing forces; they’re complementary. The two halves are dynamic and constantly changing, one into the other and vice versa. The taiji illustrates that although duality exists, each part can’t exist without the other and can, in fact, coexist harmoniously.
Yin and Yang isn’t just an Eastern concept, however. As modern science advances, it finds aspects of harmonious duality throughout the human body and the physical world, from the way hormones and neurotransmitters have their counters to turn different processes on and off in the human body to the positive and negative qualities of protons and neutrons that make up our atomic and molecular cosmos.
Yin Yang Theory
The earliest written reference to yin and yang goes back to the “Book of Changes,” or I Ching, which dates to approximately 700 B.C., although it was likely a part of the culture even before that. Yin yang theory was the focus of the Yin Yang School during the Warring States period in China from 476 B.C. to 221 B.C. This school was sometimes also called the Naturalist School, and its objective was to use nature’s laws positively to man’s advantage, not through controlling and overpowering nature as in modern Western science, but by aligning with these laws. Its ultimate goal was to act in harmony with nature’s laws to benefit mankind and all life on earth.
The Yin Yang School also set out to interpret natural phenomena, including the human body, in health and disease. Over time, the yin-yang theory became a central element of Chinese medicine, and it remains to this day.
One of the unique things about yin yang theory is that yin and yang aren’t static but fluid. This differs from the Aristotelian logic that dominated Western thinking for over 2,000 years, believing that objects were defined as one thing and not another, i.e., the table is round; the table isn’t round: Both can’t be true.
Conversely, according to the yin-yang theory, everything has both yin and yang aspects. Using the table example, the top of the table would be yang and the bottom yin, the table’s exterior would be yang, and the underneath and interior surfaces would be yin.
Using another example, yin and yang also depend on what’s being observed. Compared to the sun (hot, bright, active), which is yang, the earth (cool, blue, and full of oceans) is yin. But the earth would be considered yang when compared to the moon (cool, dark, quiescent), which is more yin in comparison. It’s a concept that’s simple yet profound, and its applications are infinite.
Below are some examples of yin and yang
Yin and Yang Personality Traits
Yin and yang can also be applied to aspects of our personalities.
Everyone is a dynamic mix of both yin and yang attributes, but some people are more yang, and others are more yin. Childhood is naturally a more yang time with the explosion of growth and development and the boundless energy of youth. We gradually become more yin as we age, slowing down and becoming more introspective.
People who tend to be more yang are expressive, magnetic, active, outgoing, highly social, and love being out in the world and doing things.
People who are more yin tend to be quieter types who enjoy solitude and inward activities such as reading, writing, and meditating. They also prefer forests, mountains, and the ocean to loud parties with many people.
Even though we all have yin and yang aspects that fluctuate constantly, most of us have a “nature” that tends more to one or the other.
Examples of Yin and Yang Personalities
Yang’s personality type always makes me think of my father. He had a large personality, and everyone noticed when he walked into a room. He always effortlessly managed to be the center of attention because of his charm and magnetic personality. He would bring his guitar and sing as a musician, pulling whoever was within earshot into his orbit with his music and rich, velvety voice. He was highly social and thrived at the center of every social gathering.
I, on the other hand, am very yin. Quiet and shy, I’m happiest alone, my head buried in a book. I live in my imagination and can spend countless hours (time permitting) lost in ideas, thoughts, and creative pursuits. An afternoon walking in a forest surrounded by nature is my idea of heaven, and there isn’t a book long enough or a cup of tea big enough to suit me.
Life also has its yin and yang phases. As stated above, children tend to be more yang as they’re in the growing, high-energy phase of their lives. But, as my grandmother always told me, our personalities become pretty clear from an early age, and these are perhaps our natural tendencies.
As we get older, many of us tend to slow down and pull inward. For some, age teaches us confidence and to be more “comfortable in our skin,” helping us be more extroverted than we perhaps were in our youth. We can also make a decision to change a part of our personality, such as being more outgoing or taking steps to slow down and relax after noticing our tendency to overwork. All of this self-awareness can help us become more balanced, which is the key to a healthy, happy life.
Above are only a few examples of some yin and yang attributes, but the list is really limitless. Knowing a bit about ourselves and our tendencies can help us in myriad ways.
Cultural Differences
In the West, we tend to value the yang personality and yang traits in general, such as being high-energy, ambitious, outgoing, and confident. In the East, however, value is placed on the more yin aspects. This is reflected in a societal inclination toward introversion and even in the regard for elders, people in the yin phase of life. After a long life of living and learning, our elders are imbued with something not present in the young—wisdom.
How Knowing If You Are Yin or Yang Can Help You
Other than the fact that humans have a deep desire to know and understand who we are, there are other ways this information can help us, especially in terms of health and well-being. Because yin and yang can be applied to everything in existence, knowing if we tend to one or the other can help us navigate life with more awareness and stay healthy in the process.
Yin Health
If you tend to be more yin, then you might be prone to illnesses with cold or dampness as the cause. Because yin is itself associated with cold (as opposed to heat, which is yang), be mindful about staying warm, especially in the colder months. Wear enough clothing when you go out in cold weather, eat warm foods to balance your yin energies (especially in winter and colder months), and try to be more active. This will help keep energies moving and create more yang to balance your yin.
Yin conditions also tend to come on more slowly and be chronic, with more subtle symptoms, so some awareness is advised in keeping your body balanced and harmonious. Thankfully, this mindfulness is one of the strengths of yin types.
Yang Health
If you tend to have more yang attributes, there are some things to be aware of. Because yang is associated with heat and activity, be mindful about staying hydrated and getting enough rest. In the hotter months, be sure to balance your yang nature with cooling foods, slowing down, and getting enough sleep. Yang types are more susceptible to “burnout,” as they tend to push themselves too hard, sometimes to the point of exhaustion. Be mindful not to take on too much and balance your ambition and high energy with some introspective activities such as yoga, qi gong, contemplation, journaling, or meditation.
Yang conditions tend to come on quickly and become more severe, so balance is key, especially in the summer months, when yang energies are most intense. Yang types tend to have robust immune systems and recover quickly if not depleted.
Now that you know a little more about what it means to be “yin” or “yang,” which do you think you have more of? Or are you a perfect balance of the two?
Yin and yang are simply one lens we can use to understand our natural tendencies and inclinations. We’re all a beautiful and unique mixture of yin and yang energies, which should be celebrated because they make us who we are. This knowledge can help us be mindful of what can throw us off balance and how we can come back to the equilibrium that we’re always striving to attain.
With the wisdom of this ancient philosophy, we can see the world in a new way and acquire some self-awareness that can help us in all aspects of life.
Emma Suttie is an acupuncture physician and founder of Chinese Medicine Living—a website dedicated to sharing how to use traditional wisdom to live a healthy lifestyle in the modern world. She is a lover of the natural world, martial arts, and a good cup of tea.