Days slowly brighten. In our area, weather has been warm and recently dry. Grasses and foliage are growing, buds are forming and early flowers bloom. One could easily be seduced by the sumptuous allure of spring. You may want to consider holding back — even a bit — and allowing the restful energy of winter to remain in your life. The full, glorious explosion of spring energy is coming and with it many months of Yang energy. The natural world will be full of growth and expanding energy for much of the year. A big part of living in flow, or harmony, is this elegant balance between Yin and Yang.

A Google search of Yin and Yang produced the following:

“The ubiquitous yin-yang symbol holds its roots in Taoism/Daoism, a Chinese philosophy. The yin, the dark swirl, is associated with shadows, femininity, and the trough of a wave; the yang, the light swirl, represents brightness, passion and growth.”

How does this concept matter in our daily lives? Our culture is well known for its work ethic and we learn early on that praise comes from hard work, intensity, pushing through, accomplishing, getting things done and then doing more. This is Yang. With modern conveniences and technology advancing we are even more productive as our lives increasingly accelerate. Our world has become bigger and bigger as we tune into global news and use the Internet to connect more and more broadly and expansively. How often do you find yourself (too) busy? In and of itself this is not a negative and having a full and meaningful life is a good thing. Issues arise when life becomes unbalanced.

Learning to purposely balance our ever-present Yang culture with Yin behaviors becomes important. Ask yourself what activities help you feel relaxed. What are you doing when you feel rejuvenated? I like to think about when I want to “Lean in” and when it’s time to sit back. Actually scheduling Yin time may be valuable. Some examples are adequate sleep, practices like, Yoga, Tai Chi, Qi Gong and mediation. Enjoyable hobbies, walking in nature, fun time with family and friends can all help create and maintain balance in our lives. There really is something to the old adage, “balance work and play.” We can also practice pausing and checking in, even while in motion. It’s about getting quiet inside — even during busy times. So before the full Yang energy of spring explodes around us, pause. Embrace some springtime activities AND enjoy the winter’s naturally restful energy. Sink in and soak up comfort … quiet … and peace.