Dear Gallbladder,
I know you’re having a hard time. I’ve been putting you through the ringer lately. You see, it’s 2020 and this year has been fraught with uncertainty. It’s requiring daily decision making to happen while also feeling courageous or fearful! It’s challenging us to take action or to risk being complacent.
The stakes of these decisions have never felt more important. As if that wasn’t enough, I’ve been examining patterns of old behavior with the lens of racial inequality AND am marinating in all of the unknowns of this pandemic, not to mention the future of our country.
The daily potato chip habit isn’t helping anything either, I know.
You, dear Gallbladder, have an important job in being known as a “pivot” or a source for turning points, new beginnings, and new stages of life. It’s a lot of responsibility to have every other organ system rely on you to make decisions and then follow suit. (Su Wen, Chapter 9). Your strength in connecting us back to our guiding principles, now more than ever, contributes to creating a new and more just world. I’m sorry I’ve been staying up too late reading headlines. I know that my disrupted sleep makes your job harder.
2020 has been the perfect storm for you, Gallbladder, and lately I’m feeling the effects of overtaxing you. From here on out, I promise to give you the attention you deserve and commit more deeply to passion, inspiration, action, and assertiveness.
Love,
Kim
“The Gallbladder is responsible for what is exact and just; determination and decision stem from it.”
– Su Wen (Chapter 8)
A “curious organ” (as it does not transport impure substances), the gallbladder serves us and our bodies well during challenging times. Although not critical to living, it is an unsung hero and vital in many ways. It helps us make decisions, gives us courage and aids us in judgment. The gallbladder is seen as a pivot or turning point for new beginnings. If functioning well at the beginning of moments of decision, the other organs follow its directional movement forward.
How’s your gallbladder doing?
Signs of Gallbladder Imbalance
lack of courage
inability to express opinions
indecisive
impulsivity
uninspired
procrastination
anxiety/depression/anger
panic attacks
dizziness
insomnia (vivid dreams or frequent waking)
tension headaches (accompanied by neck and shoulder pain)
bloating, indigestion
Gallbladder’s Friends
healthy expression of all emotions
coconut oil, olive oil, and fish oil
fresh fruits and vegetables
vitamin C
fiber
regular vigorous exercise
turmeric
beets
avocados
blackberries
lemon juice
apple cider vinegar
dandelion
Gallbladder’s Enemies
repressed emotion
resentment
bitterness
sugar
alcohol
fried foods
dairy
