Understanding the Mind of a Pitta

When we talk about balancing pitta dosha, it’s common to focus in on the foods to eat and the exercise to do. But Āyurveda teaches that all disease has its root in the mind. It’s important to understand how our moods contribute to dosha imbalance (and how dosha imbalance contributes to our moods).

The lessons found in this blog post are critical to a deeper understanding of Āyurveda and how you can create true healing, no matter what your dosha is.

If you’re new to Āyurveda and want to learn more about what your dosha is, take the Discover Your Dosha quiz here.

If you’re ready to better understand the mind of a pitta and how you can support holistic balance, read on!

 

Pitta “types”

Though most people talk about people with pitta dosha as one type, I find that folks with lots of pitta dosha tend to show up in two different ways.

Some pittas are quiet, studious, and OK to be in the crowd. They’re the technicians and the folks who like accomplishing a task.

The second type of pitta that I commonly see are individuals who are loud, in charge, and the center of attention. These pittas have charisma and a bold nature.

What these types both have in common is their intellect and command of their duties and roles. Think of the expert computer programmer who quietly holds the entire company together. Or the CEO or project manager that masterfully switches tasks to support their team, no matter what is needed. Both of these have the capability and fiery sharpness of pitta.

 

How pittas show up in the world

Pitta people take on a lot, because they know they can handle it. When others say “maybe”, pittas feel a pressure to say yes because they know of their superior abilities. They keep taking on more and more tasks and responsibility, doing a magical juggling act. Unfortunately, this pressure to say yes and take on too much can lead to burnout over time.

Another sign of pitta dosha is a tendency towards anger. Pittas want things to move quickly, and that involves resolving conflicts. They won’t shy away from the conflict or hope it will blow over. They want it out in the open and ready to transform. Many pittas can actually be scared of this anger and confrontation and hide it – moving towards becoming more passive aggressive. This pitta fire can also show up as impatience and it can seem impersonal (which we’ll learn later couldn’t be further from the truth!). Pittas don’t always have an accommodating or smooth communication style. They want the facts, and they want all communication to have a purpose.

Pittas end up in charge of a lot of things. In balance, they are great managers! But out of balance, they can be controlling or micromanage the people around them. When a pitta can find patience for people to do things their own way and in their own time, they will feel more satisfied and not experience burnout.

Pittas can get caught up in the appearance of things – what will look good on my resume, what will people think of this? As a result, they can sometimes not be authentic to themselves and can feel unsatisfied with their work or life.

 

The heart of pitta

Pittas are passionate people. They feel things deeply. For some pittas, this can be scary! They’re used to being ruled by their rationality. Fear of their big, open heart can lead them to shut it out and try to intellectualize or disengage instead of getting caught in messy emotions.

However, the most powerful, satisfied pitta is a pitta who is connected to their heart. When a pitta connects to their deep care in the world, they develop empathy for those around them, leading to more patience, understanding, and deeper connections. It also means that they can put their powerful intellect and abilities to great work. They work tirelessly for a cause that’s important to them, and as a result, they achieve great success.

 

In Conclusion

Pitta dosha rules the fire of transformation. The best pittas are aware of their gifts and their skills, AND acknowledge the gifts and skills of others. They fully integrate their hearts and express care for those that are around them.

Do you have pitta dosha in your constitution? How do you notice you’re out of balance, and how do you know that you’re in balance? Let me know by leaving a comment below.

 

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