Working with Pitta: Harnessing the Fire Within
In the fast-paced world of everything, employers are increasingly bringing wellness to work. More effective than taking pranayama breaks and mental health days, is understanding personality through the lens of Ayurveda. It is quite refreshing and adds perspective to how balance is truly communal. This is the Magazine’s “Working With” mini-series. Very on-brand, we take Ayurveda living to the next level where it can actually be useful beyond its ancient philosophy and terminology.
You either get why Miranda Priestly does not understand ‘why is no one ready’ or you flip the flip-phone into the fountain like Andy Sachs.
Among the three doshas, Pitta stands out as the fiery force of transformation. When synchronized, Pitta individuals radiate confidence, sharp intellect, and unwavering determination. But when excess heat builds up in the body and brain, it shows up for work. The workplace, that is. And she clocks-in early. Pitta’s positive fire can manifest as irritability, impatience, and burnout.
How do you work with a Miranda Priestly?
Ever more challenging, how do you work when you are Miranda Priestly?
THE SCIENCE
The Embers of Pitta’s Fire
Pitta-dominant individuals often exhibit heightened HPA (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal) axis activity, leading to increased levels of cortisol and norepinephrine, hormones the research and supplement community harp on as responsible for stress response and alertness. It is true to an extent. But there are innumerable other molecules and pathways responsible for our biggest wellness concerns.
Additionally, Pitta’s fixation and ambition may be linked to dopaminergic pathways, which regulate motivation and goal-directed behavior. However, excessive Pitta can lead to neuroinflammation, marked by elevated interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and heat shock proteins (HSPs), contributing to heightened emotional reactivity and stress. This suggests that Pitta is the perfect representative of how Dosha Dressing is healthier and more logical than one-dimensional ‘Dopamine Dressing’.
Passionate Leader or Devil in Prada?
Working with a Pitta personality is exhilarating. They are visionaries, problem-solvers, and natural leaders. Their sharp intellect and decisive nature make them excellent strategists. When discomposed, their intensity turns into perfectionism, impatience, and frustration. Signs of an overheated Pitta colleague include short-tempered reactions to inefficiency, overworking and expecting the same from others, and difficulty delegating due to high standards. Their inner-heat exhibits digestive issues from acid reflux to colitis.
5 Strategies for Cooling the Fire
Whether you are one or work with one, do not get burned. Channel Pitta’s fire:
Nourish: Replace the third round of Starbucks with a rose tea or coconut water. Pass on Carbone’s Arrabbiata Rigatoni for their Lasagna Verde and side of asparagus. Sip on their Cucumber Lemonade or Chamomile Cup to add a daily dose of cucumber and mint. These increase hydration and decrease harshness.
Dress: Style workday wear with beiges and pastels, linen and silk (5000 Hz), and wedges and ballet flats that promote equability. These add tranquility, flexibility and comfort. Note that the frequency range of fabrics depends on quality, so the rawest forms of linen and silk offer more emotional balance and sleep.
Support: Stimulate emotional resilience with probiotics found in a cup of yogurt, miso soup and cornichons. Lactobacillus plantarum and Bifidobacterium bifidum reduce gut inflammation and stabilize mood by regulation of serotonin and GABA.
Breathe: Find an empty meeting room to reduce stress and emotional reactivity with a cooling breath technique. Sheetali Pranayama lowers cortisol levels, enhances parasympathetic nervous system activity, and restores Neuropeptide Y.
Adapt: Encourage structured breaks, collaborative problem-solving, and humble communication to prevent burnout and frustration. Together these can promote synaptic plasticity, which increases emotional regulation.
BOTTOM LINE
Pitta’s fire is a gift. It fuels ambition, intelligence and leadership. But like any powerful force, it requires careful calibration. By understanding the biological and Ayurvedic foundations of Pitta’s temperament, we can work with the fire, not against it, creating a workplace and lifestyle that thrives on balance.
