Are You the Fire That Warms, or the Fire That Burns? Understanding Pitta in Leadership

"You have a fire in you" – many of us have heard it before. But what does it really mean?

It means we are driven and passionate.

It can also mean we are at times emotional and quick-tempered.

I generally don't believe in "good" and "bad" personality traits. It is a spectrum. In moderation and under control, a fiery personality is full of energy and passion. In excess, it flares up into anger and aggression.

Ayurveda (ayur = life, veda = wisdom), often called the "sister science of yoga" and recognised as one of the most ancient forms of holistic medicine, speaks of five elements that make up the entire universe and us within it: Air, Water, Fire, Earth and Space.

These elements combine to form three doshas, known as vata (air + space), kapha (earth and water) and pitta (fire + water). These doshas are believed to govern a person’s physiological, mental and emotional wellbeing. While we have all three doshas present in our mind and body, most of us tend to have one or two doshas predominating.

Wondering which one is yours? Here is an online test you can take to find out.

Pitta is commonly described as hot, light, sharp, oily, liquid and mobile. A fundamental principle of ayurveda is that "like attracts like", meaning that foods and activities with these qualities increase pitta dosha, and for those of us with a predominantly pitta constitution, too much of these can lead to aggravating this dosha.

There are also times of the year and times of the day when pitta is naturally higher. The pitta season covers the warm or hot months from late spring until early autumn. During the day, pitta peaks between 10am and 2pm, which is when our digestive fire is at its strongest, and the ideal time to have our biggest meal. During the night, pitta time falls between 10pm to 2am, the period of internal cleansing and the most valuable and restorative sleep time.

How does our leadership benefit from a balanced pitta?

🥇 We are highly motivated, goal-oriented and competitive

🌟 We have high expectations of others and inspire them to strive for more

👑 We are innately strong, courageous natural leaders

💡 We are quick learners and confident decision-makers

⚡ We brim with energy and thrive on a good challenge

What happens if pitta is agitated (in excess)?

😡 We are irritable, hot-headed and our fiery nature takes over

⚒️ We become workaholic and perfectionist

😤 Our tenacious nature can lead to conflicts

❗ We get impatient and overly critical with others

A diet balancing the pitta dosha features cooling foods like tofu or basmati rice, sweet foods like green plantain (delicious in a waffle!), astringent foods like chickpeas or asparagus and bitter greens like cabbage

How to balance pitta so that our internal fire keeps feeding our momentum without scorching the ground around us?

According to ayurveda, "you are what you digest", meaning that health and wellbeing start with a balanced diet.

People with a pitta constitution tend to have a strong metabolism, so regular, nourishing meals are essential, otherwise we can quickly become 'hangry'.

🤢 Foods to avoid, or eat with moderation:

• Pungent (spicy): hot peppers, garlic and onions

• Sour: citrus fruits, tomatoes, vinegar and fermented foods

• Salty: salts, celery, seaweed

• Foods with heating quality: buckwheat, corn, yeasted bread

• Oily foods, such as most nuts and seeds

😋 Foods to favour:

• Sweet: fruits and most grains

• Bitter: dark leafy greens

• Astringent: Legumes, lentils, cauliflower and some fruits (like apples and pears)

• Cooling foods like cucumber and courgette

• Calming herbs and spices: cardamom, coriander, fennel and mint

😴 Maintain a consistent sleep routine.

Aim to be in bed by 10pm to benefit from the most nourishing sleep time during the pitta period (10pm to 2am). Rise by 6am before the heavy, sluggish kapha time begins, leaving you slow and inert as well if you sleep in.

🧘‍♀️ Choose calming activities

Engage in soothing activities, such as slow yoga, tai chi or swimming to prevent the accumulation of excess heat in the body. For those like me who still crave more vigorous exercise, opt for the early hours or the evening, when the temperature is cooler, to avoid overheating.

😤 Take time to slow down and cool down

Make meditation a daily habit. Pitta's dual nature of fiery energy combined with the water element's constant motion mean that it can be challenging for us to still still and quiet our mind. This is completely normal, so if this sounds like you, know that you are not alone. Precisely because of this restlessness, regular practice is essential, and over time you will notice both progress and tangible results.

Practice cooling pranayama, or breathwork, for example the sitali breath, to help soothe your body and calm your mind. This is especially important after vigorous exercise.

Thank you for reading, and have a wonderful week ahead.

The light in me honours the light in you.

Namaste