The Solar Plexus Chakra
The third chakra is located at our solar plexus and is our right to act and to be an individual. This is our power center, our will, and our self-worth. The third chakra can affect our digestive system, liver, and gall bladder. Depending on if you are excessive or deficient it can result in digestive troubles, chronic fatigue, ulcers, eating disorders, and hypoglycemia to name a few. The shadow side of the third chakra is shame.
Whew. This chakra is a big one for me. I relate to it in way too many ways and on both excessive and deficient levels. Then again, I really relate to all the chakras, but this one really hits home for me. I’ve always struggled with digestive issues and when life gets stressful that is the first area where my body starts to signal to me that I need to calm down! Over the past several years I’ve really been addressing this and tuning into how I can gain my personal power back. On an excessive side, I tend to hold my anger in, lean towards the ‘Type A’ personality and have a bit of a competitive edge. I’m learning how to release this energy in a positive way and am finding myself much more relaxed and less controlling.
In general though when I’m feeling more on the deficient side, I take a look at the food I’m eating and try to address any changes I need to make there to help support my body. Then I take a look at where I may be feeling like the victim, or blaming others. Where do I feel a lack of confidence or self-esteem? These questions are a great way to start turning inward and finding out what our needs are and how we can take action steps forward to move past any setbacks.
One of the biggest action steps I’ve taken in the past was quitting my job in Post Production. My stomach was literally in knots for the longest time. It didn’t matter what I ate there was this feeling of a brick in my stomach. I had lost all of my personal power. I was miserable and I was really good at being the victim and blaming others for being unhappy. As soon as I put my notice in to quit, my whole body started to shift and improve. I was taking action steps to take back my personal power that only I had given away. I knew I was too young to be that stressed all the time and only I had control to change the situation. And since then it’s been a continuous stream of opportunities to continue to step into my confidence, my self-worth, my desires, and to trust my gut. Pun intended.
In order to build up our confidence and self-worth, we have to stop blaming others and start taking responsibility for our own lives. We do have power in that way and it’s not to be seen in a negative way. Yes, some go the opposite direction and become way too excessive with their confidence, but more often than not, I see people being deficient. Stepping into our own power, stepping outside of our comfort zones, stepping more into being ourselves is how we break down those obstacles that keep us imprisoned.
Shame, the challenge of the third chakra, happens when we begin to honor our thoughts more than our instincts. We begin to feel bad for decisions we’ve made and have a hard time trusting ourselves. The greater the shame that we experience the more power we lose and we don’t allow ourselves to make mistakes.
Whether you are deficient or excessive in the third chakra the first steps to take are compassion and self-care. Compassion that you are doing the best that you can with the information you have, and self-care to show yourself that you are worth it. You are worth being cared for, being heard, and stepping into your personal power.
I got your back. I’m here for you if you need someone to talk to about this to see if there is an area you’d like to improve on.
Now go to something nice for yourself, you deserve it!
Sending lots of compassion,
Laura