You know how the flight attendant always says if there’s an emergency, to secure your oxygen mask before your child’s? Well, it’s the same deal with knowing your 5-element type. If you know yourself and your natural parenting tendencies, you’ll be better at figuring out your child’s element and realizing how to adjust your nature to nurture your child.
And keep in mind that the key is balance — all 5 types have their positives, challenges, and possible imbalances. No judgments here whatsoever…
The 5 elements are wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. Here are 5 steps to figure out your type.
#1 — The first step to narrow down your type is to determine if you are an introvert or extravert, or an even mix. If you tend to be outgoing and derive energy from being at parties and other situations with people talking to you, then you are mainly an extravert, and are either wood or fire. If you prefer being alone to refresh your energy, then you tend to be an introvert, and are either metal or water. If you are in the middle somewhere, you may be earth.
#2 — Wood vs. Fire: If you are extraverted, you are probably either wood or fire. How do you know which one you are?
Wood folks tend to be ambitious, invulnerable, intense, efficient, and confidently work well under pressure. Fire folks tend to be more enthusiastic, sensitive, emotional, dramatic, and charismatic.
A wood parent may be more likely to encourage a child to pursue contact sports and other competitive activities. A fire parent may be more likely to encourage a child to write song lyrics, take an acting class, or openly discuss her own feelings with her child.
For a one-page reference guide for the wood or fire parent, please contact us.
#3 — Metal vs. Water: Metal adults adhere to a strict moral code or set of rules in various situations, and expect others to maintain that same high level of integrity. They want to see justice done in all situations, but others may see them as emotionally distant or persnickety. Water adults are extremely introspective, cautious, and tend to daydream. They keep their thoughts and feelings to themselves and prefer long periods of solitude. Others may see them as slow-moving and lacking punctuality.
A metal parent may expect a child to achieve developmental milestones precisely within the standard timeframe, and will tend to keep the child on a regular schedule. A water parent exhibits extreme patience with a child, but may not pursue enough social and extracurricular activities that could further the child’s development at various stages of life. Water parents also may not set or enforce enough rules, which could confuse the parent-child authority setup, depending on the element of the child.
For a one-page reference guide for the metal or water parent, please contact us.
“A wood parent may be more likely to encourage a child to pursue contact sports and other competitive activities. A fire parent may be more likely to encourage a child to write song lyrics, take an acting class, or openly discuss her own feelings with her child.”
#4 — Earth: If you are a mixture of introvert and extravert, you are likely an earth mom.
Earth people are nurturing, supportive, and put others’ needs ahead of their own. Does that sound like all moms? It should, as all moms have a little earth in them, or else we wouldn’t have chosen to become parents! But true earth moms carry this trait to the next level! They want everyone to get along, they are sympathetic to others’ needs, and they like to be in charge, but do not necessarily feel comfortable receiving credit for their work.
An earth parent will bend over backwards to make her child happy and comfortable at all costs. Sometimes we think of a doting grandma as an earth type, but some parents are also this way. It’s a beautiful way to raise a child, but when taken to extremes, this parent may become worrisome, overprotective, and overextended. When a mom is earth and her child is wood, this can spell trouble!
For a one-page reference guide for the earth parent, please contact us.
#5 — The Final Round
Are you confused? Do you feel you are a mixture of more than one type? Try this — think of what motivates you.
Do you love winning and planning, even in non-professional situations? You are probably WOOD.
Do you love being the star of the show, the life of the party, or were you the class clown when you were in school? You are probably FIRE.
Do you sincerely love taking care of people and seeing everyone happy? You are probably EARTH.
Do you love when everything makes sense, falls into a pattern, and justice is served? You are probably METAL.
Do you love having time to yourself, and contemplating your place in the universe? You are probably WATER.
What is YOUR type? Please comment below, and ask any questions this may have brought up for you.
