If you're like most founders, you've been trained to choose between logic and intuition, structure and flow, drive and receptivity. But what if this either/or thinking is exactly what's keeping you stuck in crisis mode?
Today we're diving into the energy duality that ancient wisdom traditions understood but modern founder culture completely ignores—and how this blind spot is burning you out faster than any external pressure ever could.
Missed last week's insights on cooperation vs. competition in business evolution? Worth catching up before we explore how internal energy dynamics shape your external results.
Think of the last time you made a truly exceptional decision. What energies were at play? Was it pure logic and analysis, or did intuition guide you? What if your greatest strength as a leader isn't choosing between these approaches, but learning to harness both simultaneously?
The Energy Beyond Competition
In our last exploration of human excellence, we challenged the biological myth that competition drives success. We discovered that cooperation—not domination—is the true evolutionary advantage that propels both cellular systems and business ecosystems forward.
Today, we dive even deeper into the quantum reality of human potential (read here if you missed the intro to Quantum Biology) by examining a fundamental truth hidden in plain sight: we are energy beings first, physical entities second. And the interplay of energy polarities, also known as masculine and feminine energies, within each of us shapes our effectiveness as leaders far more profoundly than most realize.
This topic is very dear to me because, just like you most probably, I grew up in a world where they taught me I was a boy and I needed to act as such. I always felt I was missing the bigger picture of why sometimes I wanted to cry but couldn’t, why I liked to play with different kind of toys without feeling ashamed (I did play a lot with my sister though, so at least there I don’t think I was particularly traumatized 😅 ), why sometimes I wasn’t sure of myself and I just wanted to feel heard by someone. Without looking for specific advice on how to move forward (any male living/working with lots of females around would know that “when a woman has a problem, she is not necessarily looking for a solution"! 🤣 ). Especially today, with the latest geopolitical updates, remembering our true nature and not being brainwashed by the people in “power” is crucial to build the needed resilience for the build back (and yes, after this crisis there will be a huge renaissance, it’s just history repeating itself, once and again).
Here a reference for “the people in power”
But again, don’t take my word for it; this isn't just philosophy—it's reflected in our biochemistry, brain function, and behavioral patterns. When we misunderstand or suppress either energy, we create internal conflict that manifests as stress, burnout, and diminished performance. Instead, when we learn to balance and integrate these complementary forces, we unlock dimensions of creativity, resilience, and leadership that feel almost supernatural.
The most powerful leaders aren't those who excel at being either aggressive or nurturing—they're those who can seamlessly shift between energies as circumstances demand.
Ancient Wisdom Meets Modern Science: The Duality of Energies
Long before modern endocrinology documented the effects of testosterone and estrogen, ancient wisdom traditions recognized the dual energies that flow through all humans, regardless of biological sex.
Chinese philosophy gave us Yin and Yang: complementary opposites that create wholeness through balance. Yin embodies receptivity, intuition, and cyclical patterns, while Yang represents action, rationality, and linear progression. Neither is superior; both are essential parts of a dynamic whole.
Hindu tradition speaks of Shiva and Shakti: consciousness and creative power united in cosmic dance. Shakti, the feminine principle, manifests as the dynamic force that brings ideas into reality, while Shiva represents the ground of pure awareness from which possibilities emerge.
Carl Jung later identified these patterns in the Western psyche as Anima and Animus: unconscious feminine and masculine aspects present in all humans. His work revealed how psychological wholeness depends on integrating rather than repressing these complementary forces.
What these wisdom traditions understood intuitively, quantum biology now confirms scientifically: we exist as energy patterns in constant flux. The rigid boundaries between masculine and feminine are artificial constructs that limit our full expression and potential.
💡 Tools For Action: Understanding Energy Dualities
Why it Matters: Recognizing the distinct expressions of masculine and feminine energy allows you to consciously access both modes for different situations, expanding your effectiveness and resilience.
Step-by-Step. Identify Energy Expressions:
Masculine: Assertiveness, analysis, directness, independence, structure, logic-centered
Feminine: Receptivity, synthesis, intuition, connection, flow, feeling-centered
Track Your Default Patterns: Note which energy you naturally express in different contexts (work decisions, team interactions, creative processes)
Practice Conscious Shifting: Before important situations, ask which energy would serve better and intentionally embody those qualities
Pro-Level Insight: The most innovative breakthroughs often occur at the intersection of these energies—structured intuition or empathetic analysis.
Recommended Reading:
"The Way of the Superior Man" by David Deida (explores energy dynamics beyond gender)
"The Tao of Leadership" by John Heider (applies Taoist principles to modern leadership)
"Power vs. Force" by David R. Hawkins (examines energy calibration in human systems)
Quick Win: For your next important decision, consciously approach it twice: first from a purely analytical perspective, then from intuitive wisdom. Note the differences and integrate both perspectives.
The Biological Expression of Energy: Beyond Gender Stereotypes
Before going further, a crucial clarification: masculine and feminine energies are distinct from male and female identity. Every human being contains both energies in unique proportions that fluctuate throughout life and across situations.
These energies manifest biologically through hormonal expressions, but in far more nuanced ways than conventional wisdom suggests. Testosterone, often portrayed as the "male hormone," actually plays vital roles in all bodies, supporting everything from cognitive function to bone density. Similarly, estrogen influences not just reproductive health but also brain function, cardiovascular health, and emotional regulation in all humans.
What's concerning is the trend research now confirms: testosterone levels among men have been declining steadily for decades. A comprehensive study by Kristie L. Kahl found that young men in the West today have significantly lower testosterone levels than their fathers and grandfathers at the same age. This isn't just a biological curiosity; it correlates with rising rates of depression, reduced drive, and decreased sense of purpose.
I made a post about this a few weeks back.
But focusing solely on boosting testosterone misses the point entirely. The issue isn't simply hormonal; it's energetic. Our societal structures and expectations have created systemic imbalances that disconnect us from the full spectrum of our energetic nature.
The crisis isn't just declining testosterone. It's our collective inability to recognize and honor both energetic expressions within ourselves and others.
The Scientific Revelation: Adaptable Energies
What makes recent scientific discoveries so revolutionary is the growing evidence that our energetic expressions aren't fixed. They're remarkably adaptive, responding to our behaviors, social roles, and even momentary intentions.
In groundbreaking research published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Sari M. van Anders and colleagues demonstrated that gendered behaviors—not biological sex—were the primary drivers of testosterone fluctuations. When women engaged in competitive or power-oriented activities, their testosterone levels increased significantly. Conversely, when men participated in nurturing activities, their testosterone temporarily decreased while oxytocin (the connection hormone) increased.
Even more fascinatingly, Eyal Abraham's research on parenting revealed that fathers who became primary caregivers developed neural and hormonal patterns nearly identical to those of mothers. Their brains literally rewired, showing enhanced activity in regions associated with emotional attunement and intuitive response. Biologically, they became more "maternal" through the act of nurturing. (And yes this means that homosexual couples with children have the SAME balance of energies as heterosexual ones. There is a beautiful Netflix documentary on this by the way👇 )
These findings demolish the notion that we're locked into fixed energetic patterns based on biology. Instead, they reveal something far more empowering: we can consciously shift our energetic expression through behavior, focus, and intention.
For leaders, this is revolutionary intelligence. It means you can access decisive, analytical energy when strategizing, then shift to receptive, collaborative energy when building relationships or innovating. Not by pretending, but by actually altering your biochemistry through intentional practice.
The Quantum Advantage: Balancing Energies for Success
Our modern business culture, reflecting wider societal patterns, has traditionally overvalued and rewarded traits associated with masculine energy: aggression, linear thinking, competition, and individual achievement. This isn't just a startup phenomenon; it permeates corporations, educational systems, and political structures worldwide.
The costs of this systemic imbalance are increasingly evident:
Burnout epidemics across industries
Innovation plateaus despite technological advances
Trust deficits between leaders and teams
Decision failures from overreliance on analysis without intuition
Cultural toxicity that drives talent away
What remains largely unrecognized is the competitive advantage that energy balance creates. Organizations that integrate both masculine and feminine approaches consistently outperform those locked in one-dimensional thinking:
Decision superiority: Balanced leaders integrate data-driven analysis with intuitive pattern recognition, making decisions that analytical approaches alone would miss.
Innovation acceleration: The creative process fundamentally requires both energies—masculine energy to define problems and execute solutions, feminine energy to explore possibilities and make unexpected connections.
Team coherence: Leaders who embody both energies create psychological safety while maintaining clear standards, allowing team members to bring their full capabilities to work.
Strategic foresight: Linear projections (masculine energy) combined with systems thinking (feminine energy) create superior anticipation of market shifts and opportunities.
💡 Practical Application: Energy Assessment
Ask yourself these questions to identify your current energy patterns:
- Do I prefer structured or emergent approaches to challenges?
- In conversation, am I focused more on directing or understanding?
- When facing uncertainty, do I seek control or embrace possibility?
- Is my leadership style centered more on achievement or relationship?
The goal isn't to judge your patterns, but to recognize where you might expand your range.
For founders and leaders, the path forward isn't about rejecting traditionally masculine approaches to business. It's about expanding your energetic range to access the full spectrum of human capability. This might mean:
Balancing metrics with meaning: Complementing KPI focus with deeper purpose exploration.
Integrating structured and organic processes: Creating containers for both linear execution and emergent innovation.
Practicing presence: Developing the capacity to shift between directive and receptive modes as situations require.
Honoring cyclical rhythms: Recognizing that creativity, productivity, and renewal follow natural cycles rather than linear trajectories. Especially for women, there is a huge movement finally embracing publicly the power of menstrual cycles and how to direct energy based on their phases!
(I had a beautiful chat about this with Valerie Hirschhauser on the Founder Bible podcast. The episode is not live yet, but you can check out her talks on her own show: The Diary of a Female Founder).
Leaders who master this energetic flexibility gain what can only be described as a quantum advantage: the ability to operate simultaneously in multiple modes, accessing the precise energy needed for each situation without artificial limitations.
Let’s Wrap It Up: The Founder's Energy Evolution
The journey toward energetic wholeness isn't about becoming less of who you are. It's about becoming more fully yourself by embracing the complementary energies that already exist within you.
Start with this simple practice: For one week, before each significant decision or meeting, ask yourself: "Which energy does this situation truly need?" Then intentionally shift your state accordingly. Perhaps through breath work, physical movement, or simply setting a clear intention. Notice how this conscious shifting affects your effectiveness and wellbeing.
As we evolve beyond outdated competition narratives into more sophisticated models of human excellence, perhaps the most powerful step is recognizing that true strength comes not from dominating with a single energy but from dancing between complementary forces. Just as our cells have done for billions of years.
The most effective founders aren't those who excel at projecting power or nurturing connection; they're those who have learned to embody both, moving fluidly between energies as circumstances demand. In this integration lies not just personal wellbeing, but the ultimate competitive advantage.
💡 7-Day Energy Balance Protocol
Day 1: Energy Awareness
Track your energy patterns throughout the day. When do you naturally express more masculine or feminine energy?
Day 2: Intentional Shifting
Before each meeting or task, consciously choose which energy would best serve the situation.
Day 3: Physical Integration
Alternate between activities that embody different energies (e.g., strength training followed by meditation).
Day 4: Communication Balance
Practice both directive communication and deep listening in equal measure.
Day 5: Decision Integration
Make one important decision using both analytical thinking and intuitive sensing.
Day 6: Creative Synthesis
Apply structured thinking to a creative challenge, or bring creative exploration to a logical problem.
Day 7: Reflection and Reset
Review your experiences. Which energy shifts felt most impactful? What did you learn about your default patterns?
What has been your experience with these dual energies in your leadership journey? Have you found certain situations where intentionally shifting your energy created breakthrough results? Share your insights in the comments below.