Ambitious Woman? The Dangers of Being "Too Much" in Your Masculine Energy

Are you an ambitious woman building a biz or career, as well as juggling the kids, the household, the finances and all the things?!

If this is you, you could be “stuck” too much in your masculine energy.

The impact of being too much in your masculine energy

When a woman is too much in her masculine energy, she may experience various challenges in her health, personal and professional life. Some of the potential effects of having an imbalanced expression of masculine energy include:

1. BURNOUT BABY: Constantly pushing yourself to achieve goals and take control can lead to feelings of exhaustion and stress. In this state, you’re likely producing way too much cortisol and burning through adrenaline, which can lead to fatigue and mood imbalances. Not to mention your gut and detox pathways switch off, which can lead to digestive issues, toxicity and inflammation.
2. Difficulty in forming relationships: Being overly assertive, competitive, or dominating can create conflict and make it difficult to connect with others on an emotional level. Also if you’re on the go all the time, you’ll struggle to slow down and connect, even with your kids or partner.
3. Lack of fulfilment: Without a balanced expression of both masculine and feminine energy, a woman may feel unfulfilled and like something is missing in her life.
4. Difficulty in experiencing vulnerability: Being overly focused on rushing through life and being in control can make it difficult to open up and be vulnerable. This can lead to a supression or repression of emotions, which can build up in your system and cause physical symptoms and disease.

Having a balanced expression of both masculine and feminine energy is important for health, overall well-being, fulfilling relationships and even your professional performance.

Yin and yang energy

What does it actually look like to be in your masculine energy? Let me introduce you to yin and yang (you’ve probably heard of this term!).

Yin and Yang energy is an ancient Chinese philosophy, which says that opposite and contrasting forces can be complimentary, and should be balanced. Yin is considered feminine energy. It’s internal, soft, rounded, flexible, calm, quiet and lovely. Yang, on the other hand, is masculine. It’s outward, hard, straight, solid, movement, fast, loud and lively.

Women, like men, should have a balance of yin and yang. Most high-achieving mums juggling all the things, are often expressing too much yang, or masculine, energy. This would look like always on the go, rushing, doing-doing-doing, over-working, over-exercising, and struggling to stop and be still.

Um, hello — this was me! And looking back, it started in my teenage years where I was obsessively studying to get good grades in high school and uni. Then went on to do a PhD at a very young age, and hardly took a break. Then the kids came along and I tried to be a super woman — juggling work, business, household, healthy eating, with super high expectations for myself (which I could never meet). It inevitably led to body burnout. I learned that the hard way.

Common signs of living too much in the yang energy include anger, restlessness, frustration, violence, inability to relax, headaches, insomnia, addictions and overstimulation.

Now, if you’re unlike most high-achieving juggling mums, and you’re actually living too much in the yin, or feminine, energy, this can also cause issues. This often shows up when you’re in a transition period, like maternity leave, or finishing up one job or business, and trying to figure out what you’re going to do next. Maybe all your kids are now at school — or left the nest! — and you’re floating around with more time, not sure what to do with your life, or what your purpose actually is. Most women floating around with too much yin energy show signs of oversleeping, overthinking, slow thinking, sluggishness, laziness, compulsiveness, apathy, overeating and weight gain.

How to balance your feminine and masculine energy

Are you living with too much masculine energy or too much feminine energy? Below I have compiled techniques that will help balance your energies.

If you’re stuck in yang/masculine energy, incorporate more of these yin/feminine techniques:

• Meditation
• Hypnosis
• Breathwork
• Restorative yoga
• Stretching
• Grounding in nature
• Restorative walking
• Gratitude journaling
• Humming
• Emotional Freedom Tapping (EFT)

If you’re stuck in yin/feminine energy, incorporate more of these yang/masculine techniques:

• Moderate-intense exercise
• Cold showers/baths/ocean swims
• Self-talk
• Hiking
• Sex
• Dancing
• Singing

I’d love to know how you go with incorporating these techniques, and if it changes your energy. Feel free to send me a message!

P.s. If you’ve been burning the candle at both ends for too long, and not even a chilled-out “yin” holiday restores your body, I think we better chat! Head here to book in for a “Connect The Dots” Initial Consult :)

Filipa Bellette is Co-Founder of Chris & Filly Functional Medicine. She is an accredited Clinical Nutritionist & Functional Medicine Practitioner. She is also a Ph.D. thought-leader, award-winning writer, and regularly published as a guest blogger & in the media. Together with her husband Chris Bellette, Filipa has worked with over 2,000+ busy, burnout clients in the last 10+ years, and specialises in producing healthy, balanced, and happy Mums & Dads…or as she calls it, a Power Parent! Filipa’s own passion for producing high-performance Power Parents came from her own personal experience of Mummy Burnout, after having babies and juggling the demands of business, family, and her failing health.