Navigating Uncertainty & Challenges Through the 5 Elements
Background story
The shift in my life towards more freedom, meaning, and working with what I love began with a strong reaction from my body. After working intensively in Zurich to launch a consulting business for a Swedish company and making business trips every other week from Switzerland to Germany during the fall of 2018, both my partner and I felt that we needed a break.
At the end of December, we went on a well-deserved holiday and took the train to Geneva. From there, we boarded a bus that took us across the French border to Chamonix. We were greeted by majestic, snow-covered mountains. The evening was dark, but the snow and stars lit up the magnificent landscape. It felt liberating to be here, skiing off-piste every day from early morning until late afternoon for a week. The days were packed with incredible skiing and challenging runs. I learned a lot about off-piste skiing and my own abilities. Lactic acid and fun were two key words. I felt exhausted but at the same time happy and energized.
After our stay in the French Alps, we returned home to Zurich—only to leave again the next day for more skiing in Engelberg, a ski resort two hours away from us. That morning, I started to feel a slight soreness in my throat but still went out for a full day on the slopes. Later that evening, the symptoms worsened, and during the night, I woke up with a severe sore throat. I was feverish and sweating. My body had no reserves left to fight off a cold or the flu.
For three weeks, I stayed home on the couch, recovering. I mostly slept during that time. Slowly, as I began to feel better, I introduced slow walks into my daily routine. During those moments, I started reflecting on what I truly wanted. I realized that I didn’t want to feel this exhausted and worn out anymore. Even though skiing was fun, I saw that I was pushing an already overworked system even further. I was moving from one form of performance to another, even if they had different shapes and goals. I was living outside of my own body, driven by demands and ideas of external expectations.
The Elements
Now, you probably wonder what all this has to do with the elements. I will explain shortly, but first, let’s look at where the tradition of the elements comes from and what it entails.
According to yogic and Ayurvedic traditions, there are five main elements (bhutas in Sanskrit) that compose all life on Earth: earth, water, fire, air, and space. In the physiology of the human body, each element is connected to a certain sense. For example, earth is linked to smelling; water to tasting; fire to seeing; air to touching; and space to hearing.
These elements are believed to create the physical realm and our bodies. Each element has a unique set of qualities, and today I want to share more about these qualities and how to use them to navigate uncertainty and challenges. The main idea is that when the elements are balanced, we find ourselves in a harmonious, peaceful state. Often, we lose our balance during challenging and uncertain times; therefore, reflecting on the elements can bring us the desired equilibrium.
Earth Element
Look at the mountains; their towering presence reminds us of the resilience and endurance we can have when creating a strong, stable ground to stand on.
The earth element is associated with stability, grounding, and security. It’s connected to roots and a stable foundation. Reflecting on my story, I realize that I was all over the place—flying around, traveling long distances—and I didn’t have a stable place to land. As my yoga master says: “Reconnecting to the earth element is more about doing less than adding more. Simplifying, letting go, and getting back to our most primal selves can serve as a way to feel grounded and earthed.”
If we have an excess of the earth element in our lives, we may feel heavy; if we lack it, we may feel ungrounded.
Exercise to balance the earth element: A great exercise to balance the earth elements is to focus on your feet. Take off your shoes and socks and for 3-5 minutes walk on the floor focusing on each slow step you take. Feel the sensation under your souls. Do it a couple of times per day for a week or two. How do you feel now?
Water Element
The element of water is connected to flow, creativity, spontaneity, sensuality, and joy. In my story, my water element was unbalanced—I was relying too much on willpower, pushing forward instead of flowing with my own nature and needs. I lacked creativity and freedom.
A balanced water element manifests as a sense of freedom, opportunities for creative expression, and a deep feeling of joy and playfulness.
Exercise to balance the water element: Observe how water shapes stones over time, gently yet persistently, one movement at a time. It teaches us the power of consistent small steps. What is one small step you can take today to invite more joy, playfulness, and freedom into your life?
Fire Element
The element of fire is associated with transformation, purification, action, and willpower. One well-known fire myth is the Ancient Greek tale of Prometheus, a Titan who defied the gods by stealing fire and giving it to humans. Enraged by the Olympians' punishment of his family, Prometheus shared their fire, igniting the evolution of civilization. The theme of stealing fire—a sacred force guarded by the gods—appears in many folk tales across cultures.
Yet, fire in excess has the power to destroy. Wildfires can devastate entire neighborhoods and cities, just as unchecked fire energy in life can manifest as anger and irritation. Not coincidentally, the myth of Prometheus is fueled by anger. Conversely, too little fire can result in a desire to withdraw, low motivation, inaction, and a lack of willpower.
In my own story, as I shared in the beginning, I had an excess of fire—too much doing, too much pushing, too much reliance on sheer willpower. That fire began to consume me, burning through my life energy and resources.
Gazing Exercise (from Andrew Huberman’s Focus Technique) to balance the fire element: Fire needs both fuel and containment to burn in a sustainable way. When in excess, it can lead to burnout, impatience, or frustration. When lacking, it can cause lethargy, hesitation, or self-doubt. What do you need right now?
Find a comfortable seated position in a quiet place where you can focus.
Choose a point in front of you (about 2 meters away) to focus on, such as a small object or a spot on the wall.
Gaze softly at this point without blinking excessively or letting your eyes wander.
Hold your gaze steadily for 10–15 seconds, then look away and take a deep breath.
Repeat this process 3–5 times, each time increasing the duration if it feels comfortable.
As you do this, focus on the stillness of the point and allow your mind to calm and center on that singular focus. This trains your mind to stay focused and sharp, helping to harness your willpower.
Fire Visualization (Optional): After the gazing exercise, close your eyes and imagine a small flame in the center of your chest, representing your inner fire.
With each breath, imagine that flame growing stronger and more vibrant.
Feel the warmth and energy of the fire expand, igniting your motivation, creativity, and willpower.
Air Element
By now, you’ve probably gotten a feel for how the elements work, and you can guess what air represents. 🙂 The air element is connected to breath, movement, lightness, and clarity. What would we be without air?
I’ve already written about the power of breath and how it can transform our emotional and mental states in just a few minutes (read more here). When the air element is excessive, it manifests as worry, anxiety, and overthinking. When there’s too little air, our inner fire dyes out, leaving us feeling pessimistic and stuck.
What do you think—did I have too much or too little air in my story? I had too much—caught up in my head, overthinking, planning, and working nonstop.
Exercise to balance the air element: Take a mindful walk in nature or a park. Observe the air around you—the wind on your skin, the movement of the trees, the openness of the sky. If thoughts arise, acknowledge them and return to the present moment.
Space/Ether Element
The element of space is the most subtle of all, yet it is everywhere. When I studied nuclear physics, I was amazed to learn that most of an atom is actually empty space!
This element is associated with communication and wisdom. In yoga, we connect the space element with the 5th chakra—the Throat chakra—our center of expression, as well as deep listening, both to ourselves and others.
An unbalanced space element can manifest as difficulty in expressing ourselves freely, or, on the other end of the spectrum, as excessive talking with too little listening. In my story, this element was also out of balance—I struggled to voice my needs at work and failed to listen to my body’s signals.
To balance the space element, focus on both expression and listening. This exercise combines breathwork, voice, and silence to enhance the flow of communication and awareness.
Exercise to balance the space element: To balance the space element, focus on both expression and listening. This exercise combines breathwork, voice, and silence to enhance the flow of communication and awareness.
Throat Chakra Activation (Sound or Mantra):
Sit comfortably and take a deep breath.
Inhale fully, and as you exhale, chant a sound like "OM" or a mantra that resonates with you.
Feel the vibrations in your throat as you make the sound. Allow the energy in this area to open and expand.
Repeat for 3-5 minutes. Focus on how your throat feels as you speak and listen to the sound within.
Silent Reflection:
After your chanting, sit in silence for a few minutes, noticing the quiet space around you.
Focus on your breath and listen deeply to your body and thoughts. What do you hear from within?
Allow space for any emotions or insights to arise without judgment or interruption.
Integration - Reflection Exercise
Now, how can you use this elements in your life? There are many ways from reflection exercises, different mudras, chantings to spending more time in nature. In order to make it simple and easy to start with the teaching of the elements, here is a suggestion how you can reflect and explore the elements in your life in general or in a certain situation:
What is one area in your life where you need more stability and grounding?
What is one thing you can do to ignite your motivation or transform your energy in a positive direction?
How can you create more flow and ease in your situation?
What is one thing that could give you a sense of lightness and clarity?
What is one way you can create more space for clear communication and deeper listening in your life today?
Reflect on these questions and see what comes to you. Best done with a pen and paper.
If you would like more support in understanding your situation and receiving a tailored, personalized solution, book a 30-minute free coaching session. I would be delighted to support you on your journey.
Final Words
There is an intricate interplay of the elements, and we can balance them with the help of one another. Notice how everything is interconnected. Too much air makes the fire burn stronger, too little water dries out the earth. When you start focusing on one element, you will likely begin to balance the entire system.
I wish you an enjoyable journey as you explore the power of the elements in your life.