Part of our greatness is also our downside

I want to talk about something that, as an Earth, I know firsthand.

Part of our greatness as Earths is also our downside.

We do not take criticism very well. We don’t like being told what to do. We often feel deeply misunderstood.

Other types do experience this, of course, but I think they experience it differently. Other types can hear an idea they don’t agree with, or get criticized, and it might sting for a while but they’re able to roll with the punches, reject what they don’t like, and move on.

Whereas us Earth types can really hold on to criticism. Or uncomfortable feelings. Or complex situations. We can really hold on to them for… years.

I think we’re actually quick to judge and come to conclusions about things. We can even be a little bit impulsive in our actions and the way that we do things. But it takes us a long time to get over things. We can process things pretty quickly — but we can still hold on to a lot of hurt feelings. Things just kind of simmer and stick within us, like mud. It stays within us, and doesn’t move so well.

There’s something else that I think is connected to all of this. Rebbetzin Yitty Neustadt mentions her in sefer that when she thinks about children who struggle as teenagers, kids who go ‘off-the-derech’ — she thinks a lot of them are earth types. Because of being misunderstood so much, not really feeling like they fit in. Like they’re different from everyone.

Because we ARE different. We feel things at a level most people around us don’t. And when the world keeps reflecting back that your inner experience is too much, or doesn’t make sense, or just doesn’t land — the cost of that is very real.

Being an Earth is not easy. But knowing that, this isn’t a burden you have to carry alone. I live the Earth experience, the intensity, the sticking, the being misunderstood, and I’ve found ways to work with it. If you’d like to talk through your own experience with someone who’s been there, let’s connect. Schedule a chat here: 1:1 Sessions with Rena.

Warmly,
Rena

P.S. Don’t forget to connect with me on WhatsApp. I share visual reminders to anchor these ideas and link to new content weekly.

If this episode resonated with you, I recommend Get Along With Everyone: Especially Those You Find Most Challenging by Rabbi Shimon Gruen. This is the book I referenced when talking about the four element types — it’s the framework that shaped how I think about fire, air, water, and earth, and why certain people seem so different from everyone around them. If you’re a practitioner and you’re starting to see your clients through this lens, or if you recognized yourself as an Earth and want to understand that more deeply, this is where to go next. Order a copy here — this is an affiliate link which doesn’t cost you anything extra and helps support my work.

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