In this episode of “5 Minutes,” Dr. Robert Svoboda explores the connection between doshas and the basic influences they can have on personality.

It would be an oversimplification to say that these two things are always directly connected, because there is much more to personality than simply how the body is functioning. But it is also fair to say that the foundations of personality are always being influenced by the foundations of the doshas in the body. Those doshas are influenced not only by where you live and what kind of diet you have, but especially by your constitution, because that is what you tend to return to when you are in situations where you do not know what else to do.

Most people do not have only one dosha in their constitution. Most people have two, and sometimes even three, predominant doshas. It becomes more complicated to describe how these different doshas interact, so here we will simply consider the basic influences of the doshas on personality.

Let us begin with Kapha, which is the easiest to understand. Kapha is made of earth and water, and it is the dosha most associated with mass and stability. People with a lot of Kapha often require a great deal of energy and encouragement before they begin doing something or become enthusiastic. But they have strong inertia, meaning that once they truly begin something, they tend to continue doing it. This can be positive or negative. They may remain committed and consistent, but they may also become fixed in a particular way of thinking and continue remembering how things were.

Therefore, people with strong Kapha tendencies are often consistent and steady, but they may need stimulation to begin moving and becoming enthusiastic. Once that energy is activated, however, they tend to continue.

Pitta people generally have a natural amount of enthusiasm and energy. The challenge is that because they are fiery, they can burn themselves out, burn other people, or consume too much of their surroundings through their intensity. Fire is always looking for something to consume, and Pitta is often looking for something to achieve and something to overcome.

For Pitta people, it is important to understand that this is part of their natural constitution, but they must also remain aware of it so that they do not overuse their energy or overwhelm others. Pitta generally has consistent energy, but the tendency is to push too hard and not manage that energy properly.

This brings us to Vata. Vata people often have a great deal of energy, but it does not always last for a long period of time. There may be a strong burst of energy that later disappears. Therefore, it is important for Vata people to develop stamina, consistency, and the ability to move forward in a balanced way.

Vata people are often very good at original thinking and generating new ideas, but they may not always have the consistency needed to bring those ideas into practical form. This is often where Pitta people can help, because they have the drive to accomplish things, while Kapha people are often good at maintaining and managing things because of their natural steadiness.

This is a very complex subject, but these are some of the basic influences of the doshas on personality.