Yin and Yang (Part 2)


I’ve been practising yin and yang since 2013 and didn’t even know it.

Yesterday I put myself in an uncomfortable situation.

I attended a meet-up yesterday on mental health.

I knew I didn’t fit in on a number of levels.

Age was one of the things that didn't make me quite fit in. 

Everyone was younger than I and we had different perspectives.

Meeting people with different perspectives is a good thing.

It expands your horizons.  

I attended an 8-week improv course that ended in March 2017.

This was an uncomfortable situation.

Week after week I’d get nervous before class.

What if I become tongue-tied?

I did. And I got over it.

I take time to reflect.

Every morning I say positive affirmations to myself while focusing on my breathing. 

An example of one of my affirmations is “Do whatever makes you feel uncomfortable.”

This daily ritual helps to slow down my mind and I feel ready to tackle my day.

Another activity that I like doing is blogging.

Blogging gets me to reflect on things. I like telling you my perspective on things.

I read a fantastic article recently by Duleesha Kulasooriya and Maggie Wooll called “Unlocking human potential…Proactive practices for individual elasticity.”

They use an analogy of a tree to demonstrate how we learn.

We need roots, a foundation if you will, so that we can be receptive to learning.

Activities like reflecting helps to slow down our minds and be receptive to learning. 

Shoots on a tree are outer manifestations of growth. 

Activities that make us uncomfortable like going to an improv class or attending a meet-up help us to grow.

The authors suggest that roots and shoots are complementary activities like yin and yang -- you can’t have one without the other. 

Companies can do things to encourage their employees’ growth.

They can offer employees the chance to attend an improv class.

Ironically we played a game in improv class where we formed a circle and we’d turn to our classmate to our right or left and declare “yin” or “yang” to each other.

Organizations can offer a lounge area that encourages employees to bump into each other, have impromptu conversations and exchange ideas.   

The authors provide some excellent infographics.


This infographic suggests activities that encourages roots.


This infographic suggests activities that encourages shoots.


I love these infographics. These infographics give me ideas on some other roots and shoots activities to try.

I was very excited to read Duleesha Kulasooriya and Maggie Wooll’s article. I recognized myself in the roots and shoots activities that they describe. Their article felt very validating.   

Do any of these roots and shoots activities resonate with you? 


Also Published On LinkedIn:  April 7, 2017
Image Credit:  Pixabay


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