Mental Health Balance: Part 2
Missed part 1? You can read it here.
You and your Chakras
Last week, we looked at the connection between our chakras, our energy body and the role it plays in our triggers. Our chakras, part of our energy body, work to allow the energy to flow smoothly, in, out and throughout. This movement of energy throughout every part of us is what makes us whole.
But what happens when that movement of energy stops? Or slows down?
Let’s take a closer look.
You know how you get that inkling feeling when someone is lying, or something just isn’t right in a situation? You know you should speak up and trust your gut, but you don’t want to make any waves, so you just let it go.
Your solar plexus chakra just slowed down. Energy stopped flowing as smoothly, still making its way through, but not in balance.
It keeps happening, every time you get that little niggle in the depths of your gut, but you don’t trust yourself, and just sweep it away.
Eventually, it will take a toll on you. You can’t limit the flow of energy and not have any effects from it. Imagine your arteries slowly clogging up. At first, it’s so little that blood can still flow through, even only slightly affected, but eventually, as the clog gets larger, and the blood flow weakens, you can experience a multitude of physical symptoms such as shortness of breath, nausea, sweating, fatigue, lower back pain. When a complete blockage occurs, you experience a heart attack.
Your energy body works in a similar fashion, with slow signs at first, but eventually, if the problem persists, you will be hit with a total rock-bottom experience.
So what are the signs?
Take a look at your mental health. Take a good look, diving deep into those feelings that you have, that you might be keeping under lock. Are you happy?
You see, a lot of us answer that question with a “Of course I’m happy. I have a good job, my kids are wonderful, I have a great partner, I love my house, I have wonderful friends.”
But is that enough?
Are you happy?
Do you absolutely love yourself, love your life and live life through laughter?
Trust that niggle. Trust those little feelings that come up as you navigate through those answers and start reflecting on what areas of your life might not be as balanced as possible.
When we explore our chakras, every chakra has its own meaning, where it stores different energy. It’s a good idea, as you’re reflecting on your mental health, to determine which areas you feel are in need, which chakras might not be flowing properly.
Root Chakra
Location: Base of spine
Colour: Red
The root chakra holds all that relates to feeling safe and grounded, as well as all of your family and ancestral karma.
Sacral Chakra
Location: Below your navel
Colour: Orange
The sacral chakra is where you hold your creative power. It’s also the source of all feminine energy (and no, it does not matter if you are a male this life, you still hold feminine energy).
Solar Chakra
Location: Above your navel
Colour: Yellow
The solar chakra is your gut instinct, your personal power. This chakra relates to your self-confidence, self-worth and self-esteem.
Heart Chakra
Location: Heart
Colour: Green (although most associate it with pink, and that’s ok too!)
The heart chakra relates to relationships. Your relationship with yourself, your family, your friends, co-workers, and anyone else you meet along this journey are reflected in your heart chakra.
Throat Chakra
Location: Throat
Colour: Blue
The throat chakra is your chakra of truth and communication. Whether you speak too much, or you speak too little, it’s all held here.
Third Eye Chakra
Location: Forehead, between your eyes
Colour: Dark blue/Indigo
The third eye chakra is the one that connects you to your higher self, the one that holds your intuition. It also helps you see clearly and stay calm and focused.
Crown Chakra
Location: Just above the crown of your head
Colour: Purple or clear
The crown chakra represents your connection to source energy. This isn’t a chakra that you need to worry about. If the other chakras are working smoothly, then this one will too!
As you were reading those, did one of them seem to hit you a bit more? Did you see yourself relating to one or more of them? Those are signs! Time to start trusting those niggles and start working on allowing energy to flow.
How do you work on that? One of the strongest tools you have at your disposal is your breath. Taking a deep breath, bringing awareness and focus to that area, and then releasing. Do it consistently, do it as often as needed, and you’ll soon start to see a shift.
Take the time to reflect on your mental health, to examine what makes you sad, frustrated, anxious or overwhelmed. Actually sit with those feelings, examine them, and try to dig through to the root of those feelings.
Is it really what your co-worker said that angered you? Or is it that she hit a belief in yourself that you’re not good enough? That’s your solar chakra.
Are you really angry with your boss or partner for not listening to you? Or is it that you don’t feel heard and have issues communicating how you feel? That’s your throat chakra.
Frustrated that your next-door neighbour always seems to have the newest smartphone and great clothes when you’re struggling to make ends meet? Take a look at your root chakra (and maybe your solar chakra too!)
Don’t judge yourself for what comes up, simply allow it to come to the surface and observe. Become aware, breathe and know that as you are breathing in awareness, you are allowing the energy to start to move again. You are healing.
Ready to dive deeper? Next week, I’ll share with you the power of breathwork and meditation to open your third eye and truly take charge of your mental health!
*This article was originally published for Connecting the Sound magazine in 2020.
