The 25 Body Type Diet

The Body Type Cafe




A Conversation with a Balanced Body Type


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Listen in on the Body Type Dialogue!

Imagine yourself surrounded by soft jazz, cushy chairs and hot mocha espressos. You've just entered your favorite cafe - and you're there to curl up, relax, and eavesdrop on the latest! This is no ordinary cafe with ordinary conversation. Each one of our Body Type Dialogue stories illustrates how the different body types think, react and deal with each other. You may read a story about a Heart man gushing over a cute latte-drinking Adrenal girl. Or, a Thyroid man may be discussing his marketing budget with his Lymph supervisor. Wherever the conversation leads you, you'll come away with a better understanding of the 25 Body Types, and learn how they may react in real-life conversations.

We hope you enjoy these whimsical stories and they help you gain a deeper understanding of the 25 Body Types.

"Hi, my name is Dale. You know, there's no room at any of the tables here, and I don't want to intrude, but if you don't mind..."

"Sure, have a seat. My name is Jody, I was just reading anyway."

"Great, thanks."

"No problem. So what did you order?"

"This is a Kona Gold."

"Isn't that grown off the Kona coast in Hawaii?"

"You got it."

"Sounds good."

"It is. So what are you reading, Jody?"

"Oh, nothing really, just a book on hiking trails in San Diego."

"Are you planning a hiking trip?"

"That and some mountain climbing. Which reminds me, I have to get some more gear before I leave next week."

"So how long have you been into mountain climbing?"

"Oh, since I was just a kid. I guess it comes with the territory, being a Balanced body type."

"You're a Balanced type? I've never had the pleasure of meeting a Balanced type before, so what's it like being you?"

"I have my fun."

"And...."

"And, I probably should get going."



"Hey, I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I was just curious, that's all. If you don't want to socialize, that's okay. I'll let you get back to your book."

"No, I don't mean to be rude. It's just that I'm not used to opening up to somebody I just met. It really takes me some time before I feel comfortable enough to share more about myself."

"That's okay, it was my fault."

"No, I really want to change. I don't have a problem making acquaintances, but it's not till after seeing someone for a while that I develop enough confidence in the other person to be comfortable talking to them on a deeper level."

"I understand."

"Actually, this would be good for me. So I'll tell you what, I'll answer all your questions on being a Balanced type, but then you have to tell me about yourself. Fair enough?"

"All right, that's fair. So where should I start?"

"Well, Dale, how about if I give you some background information first."

"Okay."

"Do you know anything about the Balanced type?"

"Just that your body type isn't controlled by any one single gland, organ, or system like the other types. It's dependent upon everything working together well. Balanced types have to blend all aspects of life to bring balance into their world. You need to find a balance between work and play, physical and spiritual states, mental and emotional expression, and relationships, both in the outside world, and in your personal lives."

"That's right. As a Balanced type, I try to balance my connection with both my inner and outer worlds, between people and life in general. I'm essentially playful and adventurous. When I'm at my best I embody the synergy that brings about balance."

"Do you ever find yourself out of harmony?"

"Of course. Ironically, for my type being "balanced" or in self-harmony, that’s not so much a description as it is a suggestion of our particular challenge."

"What's the challenge?"

"Balanced types are typically characterized by an equilibrium which is rather fragile. Since it can be easily disturbed, I find myself needing to learn how to secure and strengthen this delicate balance. It's only when I have secured this equilibrium that I can comfortably express myself in my thoughts, feelings, or actions without threat to my inner poise or tranquility."

"When I feel a lot of emotions that need to be expressed, I end up doing something physical to vent them. What about you?"

"It's essential that I find ways to release whatever undischarged energies I may be harboring. Emotions that I suppress are likely to somaticize, affecting my body."

"Has that ever happened to you?"

"Yes, I've had headaches, digestive problems, and other physical problems from suppressing my emotions."

"What have you found helps you express your emotions so that doesn't happen?"

"Adventurous activities. Whenever possible I seek out experiences that capture my imagination. I need adventure in my life. When I become intensely involved in adventurous activities, I find that they not only revitalize me and release negative, stored-up emotions, but I find these experiences result in a sense of joy and fullfilment, more than anything else I do."

"What was your most exciting adventure?"

"I’ve lived in a lot of different places. Japan is one that really stands out for me. I was there for three years during high school. It wasn't all fun. I didn’t speak the language, so I had to adapt to the language barrier. It wasn't that comfortable for me, but I did it. My parents gave me a lot of freedom, and believe me, I used it. I would take flights down to Okinawa or Korea for a weekend, or I'd catch the bullet train down to Southern Japan, just for fun. One of my favorite adventures was climbing Mt. Fuji. It was a two day trip, and by the end of the first day, we were half way up. I spent the night in a cabin with 500 Japanese travelers on the side of Mt. Fuji, and every single one of them snored in a different rhythm."

"That's funny."

"You wouldn't think so if you’d had to sleep through all that snoring. The next day we started our hike at about two in the morning so we could get to the top of Mt. Fuji to watch the sunrise. That's the big thing, sort of a spiritual experience. It was worth it, but that hike was tough."

"Sounds like you had a great time."

"I did."

"Tell me more about how you relate with other people. You seem sort of complex as a person. I just don't think I quite understand your motivations yet."

"Well, that's because Balanced individuals are by nature so sensitive to emotional as well as physical imbalances, we tend to be somewhat reserved with those around us. I know that I strive to avoid upsetting myself or others. I'm also inclined to suppress my feelings. At times, I may even bury them, like I was telling you before. I do that usually through denial. In the past, I used to retreat into a form of compulsive/addictive behavior. For some Balanced types, that can be substance abuse, constant activity, or losing ourselves in a relationship."

"Don't you find those behaviors to be obstacles in your relationships?"

"Unfortunately, I tend to distance myself in relationships. Sometimes it's a fear of intimacy, because letting people in can make me feel uncomfortably vulnerable."

"So, Balanced types don't do vulnerability?"

"It's not that. I limit deeper personal sharing to only a few, very select friends. I just feel insecure and cautious about making relational commitments. Usually, I need to wait until I feel very sure about the man I'm seeing before I can permit myself to develop a serious relationship with him.”

"So how are you once you find yourself in a relationship?"

"I'm generally light, playful, and imaginative, with a good sense of humor. I'm capable of performing, or being on stage with others, so to speak. I find myself to be quite adept at creating favorable impressions of myself, and good at attracting people to me. Yet, as I mentioned earlier, it's only after I get to know someone well that I'll genuinely disclose myself and allow the other person into my heart."

"What do you think about long distance relationships?"

"I've had some before. They work for me. Besides the obvious fact that they appear safe, I'm not needy in a relationship. I want to be with someone equally as self-reliant and independent as I am. So long distance isn't as much of an obstacle for me as it is for others."

"What other challenges do you have in relationships?"

"Despite the care I typically take in projecting a positive image of myself, I demonstrate other qualities that sometimes undermine my efforts."

"Like what?"

"The value I place on honesty is very high. Consequently, my desire to communicate truthfully can result in tactlessness or lack of diplomacy. In addition, the need for security and stability in Balanced types makes it particularly important for us that things work out as planned."

"What happens when things don't go your way?"

"I can become quite frustrated, both with myself and others. Some Balanced types who don't have much self-control can display a fit of temper or even rage that they later regret."

"Wow, I wouldn't want to catch you on an off day."

"I'm not that intense. When I'm upset about something, I control myself so I don't upset others. Instead, I'll lose myself in doing something either adventurous, creative, or constructive. I'll go see a movie, or do some drawing. If I don't create an outlet for myself, I tend to bury my frustrations. Ultimately though, it's always much better for me to try to regain my sense of balance than to try to distract myself until my feelings go away. Many times I've benefited by talking to friends."

"What happens when that sense of balance is missing from your life?"

"When that happens, I can tend to look to another person to supply it for me. I've used relationships before to try to establish a personal balance that I felt I was missing. I've lost myself in a relationship or two before. Doing so made me make commitments that were not good for my personal growth and inner peace. Let's just say that I learned, and that personal balance only comes from within."

"That's a good philosophy."

"It is, isn't it?"

"Yes, but how do you handle these issues at work?”

"In the world of work, I like to handle things in a way that ensures maximum predictability and control. I'm really not into group related projects. I prefer to work on a task by myself. In addition, I'd rather take on full responsibility for a project. In this way, I'm able to personally ensure that the job gets done right."

"You mean that if you aren't in charge of a project, you don't want to be responsible for it?"

"That's right. Of course that's not realistic in most cases. So I strive to do the best job I can. I'm meticulous on work-related projects, and I make sure all the details are covered. I'm a self-starter, and I find myself quite able to persist in the face of complications until a project has been satisfactorily completed. Although I tend to focus more on the big picture, and I'm not especially detail oriented, I still make sure I've adequately handled all the necessary small stuff and technicalities before I feel that my work is finished."

"Have you ever managed a group of people?"

"Yes, and I'm quite good at noticing when there’s a problem or conflict to be dealt with. I'm tactful with my criticism, since I'm aware and sensitive to other people's feelings, but I'd rather not have to be in the position of having to criticize or correct others. Even so, I won't let anything slide if the conflict has anything to do with my project."

"Is work challenging for you?"

"Not by itself, but balancing it with play is a challenge. Making adventure or art an integral part of my life has not only helped me discover the essential harmony required for my well-being, but facilitated deeper levels of personal integration as well."

"Are you an artist?"

"I've done some oil, watercolor, and air brush painting. I've always been into music and art. Balanced types have an affinity for the Arts; we're visually oriented. I'm very attracted to painting and sculpture, and I've loved music and dance since I was a kid. When it comes to art, I prefer a certain amount of structure. I'm not as into abstract art as I am into Monet's work. Because I prefer structure in my artistic endeavors, I would make a good musician if I decided to pursue that path."

"That's great, Jody. I'd be interested in seeing some of your work one of these days."

"I'd like that. Why don't we meet tomorrow and I'll bring some in."

"All right. Sounds good. And thanks for sharing your table with me. I'm sorry you didn't get any reading done."

"That's okay, I enjoyed talking with you."

"It was nice talking with you, too. See ya, same time tomorrow."

"Bye, Dale."

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