Five element personality types - which one are you?

According to five element theory what makes us different from each other is which element is more or less dominant in relation to the others. Knowing which of the five elements dominates your personality can guide you in taking better care of yourself. By keeping your element personality in mind, you will be able to make choices about your health and ultimately stay well. Are you a Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal or Water personality type?

WOOD TYPES
 

Wood personality type people tend to have a green complexion, long face with a pointed chin and wide shoulders. They are rarely overweight due to a fast-working metabolism. Wood types tend to be ambitious, have strong personalities and high vitality. They love life, and are so eager to succeed they can be highly competitive. They are extroverted, and have a strong sense of hope, vision, and purpose. However, Wood types are so driven they tend to manifest conditions due to stress such as high blood pressure, premenstrual syndrome, headaches, and tight muscles.

The emotion associated with the Wood element is anger. When anger predominates, a person becomes easily upset by frustration and obstacles and unable to appropriately restrain their feelings. They get angry easily and are prone to shouting. Wood types prefer mornings to afternoons.

If you are a Wood Type, keep your element balanced by taking time to replenish your energy with relaxing activities that quiet your mind and help your body stay flexible like yoga, tai chi, and meditation. Eat healthy food slowly and whilst relaxed, avoid alcohol and eat sour-tasting foods (which are beneficial to Wood types).

FIRE TYPES

Fire type people have a red complexion and a skinny face. They are full of muscles in the back and have a small head. Fire type people are energetic, fun, charismatic people who have a great deal of enthusiasm for whatever they are involved in. They are full of love and passion, seek out drama, and thrive on travel. They also enjoy expressing themselves verbally, and often speak rapidly. Fire types tend to laugh a lot, even when they are talking about something that isn’t funny. When it comes to relationships, Fire types have an enormous amount of social energy; a seemingly boundless capacity for interacting with others.

When Fire types have too much excitement in their lives, they can experience anxiety, heart palpitations, insomnia, and depression. When women who are Fire types are in peri-menopause or menopause, they are likely to have hot flashes or night sweats more often than other women. Joy is the emotion associated with the Fire element, therefore pleasure is the main focus of these people’s lives.  They can become jaded as a result of looking for constant stimulation. When they are not filled with excitement, they feel empty and hopeless.

Hot weather exhausts Fire people, as they are hot by nature. They should live on a low salt, natural food diet. They should not smoke or consume excess alcohol. Regular and gentle exercise, as well as relaxation techniques and stress management will help them relax. Create a schedule that includes time to nurture yourself. Spend time alone each day to write in your journal or meditate. It’s also important to stay clear about what is important in your life and what isn’t. Remember to eat regular meals, don’t allow yourself to get too hungry, and limit your intake of spicy foods. 

EARTH TYPES

Earth types have a yellowish complexion, round faces and big heads, a big abdomen, small hands and feet and lots of muscles. They have a sing-song voice, arm calm in temperament and like to be needed.

Earth types are compassionate, loving people who are apt to be nurturers and caretakers. They have a tendency to feel deeply compassionate toward other people, even strangers, and welcome all types of people into their lives. Because of their understanding nature, they are natural arbitrators who can resolve disputes between others quickly and effectively. Earth types have a strong connection with the earth, and they feel a great sense of comfort and peace when they are in nature. As a result, they are inclined to be environmentalists and conservationists. They also find solace in eating, and have a sweet tooth.

The emotion associated with the Earth element is worry. When a person is overly pensive and contemplative, they can become fixated on worrisome thoughts and ideas.

When Earth types give too much and neglect themselves, they are prone to digestive problems, food allergies, heartburn, fatigue, PMS, and easy weight gain. If you are an Earth type, imbalances in your life can also cause you to become excessively needy for love, affection, and attention. To keep yourself in balance, surround yourself with loving friends, maintain healthy emotional boundaries between yourself and others, say no when you need to.

METAL TYPES

Metal type people have a white complexion, square faces, small heads, small shoulders that tend to be bent forwards and small hands and feet. Metal types are quiet, meditative, intellectually sharp, spiritually inclined, and unusually creative. They seek perfection in everything that they do, and they are likely to be serious artists and craftspeople. They are self-disciplined, detail-oriented, and will naturally spend endless hours in a deep, almost trancelike state of concentration while they are involved in the creation of their art. In their personal relationships, they dislike small talk and they are usually very committed to a small number of people. Physically, Metal types have a fast metabolism and they often crave spicy foods.

The emotion associated with the Metal element is grief or sadness. When sadness takes over, a person may distance themselves socially. If you are a Metal type, when your life is not in harmony you are apt to have upper respiratory infections and skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis. Avoid mucus producing foods such as dairy products, bananas, oranges and peanuts. Don’t smoke and take part in deep breathing exercises. Metal types can suffer from ligament and joint problems such as tennis elbow, arthritis in the shoulder and rheumatism because they have a constitutional tightness in the muscles and joints.  Keep yourself in balance by doing regular aerobic exercise to enhance the health of your lungs, exploring your creativity, eating regular meals, and making sure that you maintain creative outlets for stress. 

WATER TYPES

Water type people have a greyish complexion, dark rings under their eyes, big heads, small shoulders, big abdomens, and backs longer than average. Water types are articulate, clever, introspective and self-sufficient.

Water types are seekers of wisdom. In their youth, they typically possess a quality of being “wise beyond their years.” As adults, Water types are known for being unusually deep thinkers, always searching for truth and meaning. If you are a Water type, you are a philosopher, comfortable in the world of your mind, and you often prefer your own thoughts to a superficial dialogue with other people. You are strong-willed, and seek out quiet, tranquil environments. Physically you are healthy, vigorous, and have enormous willpower and a tremendous capacity for endurance.

If you are a Water type and you spend too much time alone, or in “survival mode,” you tend to manifest conditions associated with the kidneys and bladder. On an emotional level, when imbalanced your normally deep reservoir of inner strength can spill over into fear. I frequently advise my patients who are Water types to keep themselves in balance by drinking plenty of fluids and socialising regularly so they don’t become too emotionally isolated.