The Energetic Messiness of This Year

This year has a kind of messy, stirring energy—the kind that pulls old stories up from the roots, the ones we’ve carried for so long they’ve become background noise. Many of the women I work with are feeling it: the sudden reactions, the emotional heaviness, the sense that something deeper is asking to be seen.

And while it’s tempting to push it all aside and keep grinding, this is actually an invitation. When we’re willing to look at these tangled inner threads—like Pride, which shows up in far more subtle ways than we think—we create space to lead, care, and perform with a sustainable performance, rather than constant energy burnout.

 

Why Pride Caught My Attention

I was thinking about Pride today. Honestly, I realized I didn’t really get it. I hear about the seven deadly sins and really didn’t think it applied to me until I went on a little journey through Western thought, Buddhism, and Classical Taoist Acupuncture. Let me share what I found.

 

The Western Lens: Pride as a Moral Problem

In the West, Pride is framed as an exaggerated personality trait—an “excessive love of self” or “inherent superiority.” That definition always felt like it was about someone else. My mechanic is way better at fixing cars than I am; am I not supposed to recognize his inherent superiority in that area? It all felt a little too sermon-y. I’m not looking for moral lectures; I’m trying to understand myself, find my authentic voice, and figure out how to sustain my energy in a demanding world.

 

The Buddhist Lens: Pride as Comparison

So I turned to Buddhism. Here, Pride isn’t always bad. A healthy sense of self-worth is necessary. Pride only becomes toxic when it leads to devaluing others. If you talk yourself up and use that to talk others down, that is Pride.

That clicked. Finally, something I could measure. If I’m being judgy or critical of others, then yeah, I’m tipping into Pride. Realizing that was a little ouchy, because I’m definitely guilty of it.

 

The Energetic Question: What Is Pride Doing to Your Qi?

But as someone who focuses on sustainable performance, I had to ask: What is Pride actually doing to our energy?

For that, I turned to Classical Taoist Acupuncture.

In this medicine, emotions aren’t just fleeting feelings; they are movements of Qi (energy). And from an energetic standpoint, toxic Pride is a massive energy leak the helps lead to exhaustion and burnout.

 

Earth Element Imbalance: Pride as a False Front

According to the medicine, Pride often stems from imbalances in the Stomach or Spleen—the Earth element. If there’s anything high-achievers struggle with, it’s digestive and energetic balance. From our food culture to how we work, our entire system seems built to throw the Earth element off. Take our modern work and education systems: endless busywork, constant output, and not enough rest. Overthinking literally weakens the Spleen, which acts as our body’s battery charger. No wonder so many of us feel drained and off-center.

When Earth is balanced, you have the sustainable energy to care for yourself and others without losing your center. You express natural empathy and fairness.

But when Earth is imbalanced and depleted, we lack true core stability. To compensate for this inner exhaustion, the ego often props up a “false front”—a form of Pride. It turns into, “No one understands my struggle. Why is this happening to me?” Maintaining this mask of having it all together when you are exhausted underneath takes an immense amount of energy. It is the opposite of sustainable.

That “why me?” energy can sometimes spark growth. But if it dominates, it tips into unhealthy Pride. Want more insight? Check out my Youtube episode on Rewriting Old Beliefs!

Metal Element Imbalance: Pride as Rigidity and Judgment

Pride also shows up in the Metal element, which governs the Lungs and Large Intestine. Metal is about value, integrity, and boundaries. In balance, it gives you quiet dignity—a grounded pride in who you are that requires zero effort to maintain.

But when Metal is off, it becomes rigid, judgy, and grief-filled. It’s the “I’m right, you’re wrong” version of Pride. It’s perfectionism turned inward, with little bursts of criticism spilling out onto others. This rigidity creates constant friction in your life and relationships, and friction burns through your energetic reserves fast.

 

Stopping the Leak: A Personalized Path Back to Balance

So, how do we stop the leak and return to sustainable performance?

Here’s the beautiful thing about Classical Taoist Acupuncture: it’s precise, personal, and strategic. Two leaders might experience Pride from the same external trigger, but their energy leaks are different. One person’s Pride might be rooted in a weak Spleen (exhaustion masking as ego), while another’s might come from a Lung imbalance (rigidity and judgment). Treatment looks completely different for each.

Healing isn’t about tearing yourself down or striving for moral perfection; it’s about rebuilding core stability so that the exhausting “false pride” isn’t needed anymore. Treatment might focus on strengthening the Spleen to restore your energy production, soothing the Liver to ease defensiveness, and calming the Heart to reduce the mental looping that drains you.

 

Earth-Nourishing Practices for Sustainable Energy

Lifestyle changes can also support this return to sustainable energy. Here are a few simple, Earth-nourishing practices you can try:

•Mindful Fueling: Eating slowly, chewing well, and creating a calm environment at meals so your Spleen can actually extract energy from your food.

•Grounding Practices: Walking barefoot, gardening, or hiking to reconnect with the Earth element and discharge nervous energy.

•Energy Cultivation: Qi Gong or Tai Chi for gentle movement that centers your energy rather than depleting it at the gym.

•Nurturing Acts: Cooking for loved ones, volunteering, or caring for animals. These channel nurturing energy outward, breaking the exhausting loop of self-focus.

Over time, these practices transform Pride into empathy, rigidity into adaptability, and exhaustion into sustainable power.

 

Pride as a Signal, Not a Sin

I’m realizing that Pride isn’t just a moral “sin.” It’s a signal that your system is running inefficiently and leaking energy. Awareness is the first step. The next step is choosing to plug the leaks, one mindful, grounded action at a time.

 

Ready to Restore Your Energetic Economy?

If you’re ready to move from burnout to sustainable performance, you can always book a one-on-one session with me—either in person or virtually. Together, we can map out the precise path to restore your body’s natural energetic economy.