If you’ve taken the quiz and it comes out about 50/50 of two elements, what are you?
Just to quickly sum up, the 5 types are: wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. The EARTH type is in the middle of the spectrum in terms of introvert vs. extravert. The WOOD type is the fastest, most extraverted, and most confident. The WATER type is the slowest-moving, most introverted, and potentially the least confident — although their confidence may be boosted by the right type of parenting.
The EARTH types of the world are our caregivers, our friends-of-all, our peacemakers — the ones who are always looking out for the welfare of others. They tend to participate in many varied sports and activities of their many friends, and they are ambiverts — so they are like introverts who can be the life of the party.
For some of the common blends of two elements, I’ve come up with names, so you don’t have to choose your type or your child’s, if deciding between two types is that difficult.
WOOD plus FIRE = CAMPFIRE
FIRE plus EARTH = LAVA
EARTH plus WATER = MUD
WOOD plus METAL = AX
METAL plus WATER = CANTEEN
So now what? I will go over what to do if you or your child is one of these blends.
What if you are an even mix of wood and fire (campfire)? This means that you have the extreme confidence of the wood type, you may often rebel against authority, and are relentless at achieving your goals, but you also have a sensitive, creative side that needs to be fulfilled. And you may go nuts if you see someone else in that spotlight.
In order to keep your balance, it’s essential that you engage in meditative activities to help you calm down and remind you of what’s important in life. It’s not all about you. There is a world around you, but this blend is privy to making the fire go out of control, just like too much wood may keep a fire burning forever and this can get destructive.
Some ideas are to take a yoga or pilates class, do daily meditation, or just reach out to people you wouldn’t normally befriend. Find someone who looks calm and peaceful all the time — chances are, that’s a water type. You need some water friends to calm you down.
What if you are an even mix of fire and earth (lava)? This means that you have the extreme sensitivity and/or charisma of the fire type, but you also want to see others happy. You want everyone to get along, and may feel personally responsible if they do or don’t. Try to remember that what others do is about them — not you. While it’s nice to have a balance of needing the spotlight and seeing others happy, it can make you crazy to have these opposing qualities. Engage in activities that require you to temper your emotions. Play intellectually challenging games like chess, or do crossword puzzles to distract you from your extreme emotions.
What if you are an even mix of earth and water (mud)? This means that you have the ability to make friends with all different kinds of people, and you also cherish your time alone. You may be able to focus on one thing, but sometimes you can’t decide exactly what to focus on. You may be a target for bullies because you want to get along with everyone and see others happy — even at your own expense. You enjoy playing different types of sports, but you take your time a little more than some of the other players. One of your challenges is that you may sometimes feel stuck — in your personal or professional life.
So if you’re a mud type, the main thing you want to do is to set goals, and break them down into mini-goals. Write them in a journal so you keep yourself accountable and help train your brain to perform the right activities that lead you in the right direction. The mud types tend to get lost in many activities and decisions and become paralyzed, so the best way to maintain goals is to form a group with high achievers, and meet at some frequency, such as monthly or quarterly. These wood types will be a good reminder to you about how much you can accomplish when you focus on yourself and your goals, rather than worrying about what other people are doing. They may not be your best friends, but their energy will be beneficial to you.
What if you are an even mix of wood and metal (ax)? You are a high achiever who vacillates between being an introvert and extravert. You feel competitive with others as well as within yourself, and this can make you crazy. The best way to relax is to have some fire friends and/or artistic activities to inject some fun into your life. Take a painting class or join a group that sees plays and musicals regularly at your local theater. Volunteer to be a model for an art class with students painting portraits. Get creative with this and see how it loosens you and helps broaden your “go-getter” horizons.
What if you are an even mix of metal and water (canteen)? You are an introvert who enjoys solving problems and getting your details straight. You may love puzzles, but you do them more slowly than pure metal types. Your main challenge may be that you sometimes feel isolated or detached from the world around you. A great way to awaken your social side is to be receptive to earth people. Earth friends will naturally reach out to you and they are a great network for connecting you with others in your personal and professional life. Some earth activities that help you connect with others would be cooking, baking, and gardening. You could even use your technical skills to volunteer for a non-profit organization, and meet earth people that way.
So there you have it — for those who can’t decide between two elements, these are the most common blends, and their gifts and challenges.
What type are you? Are you one of these blends? Comment below!
