The solar plexus or third chakra is our centre of Knowing. When we make decisions based on this internal guidance system life seems to take on a kind of magic as people and situations flow into our experience effortlessly. Ignoring this information, because it might not seem “real”, can lead to stunted growth and energetic dead ends.
Thankfully my inner guidance system has always been very loud, but in many cases I’ve been blinded by what I perceived to be the truth when in actuality it was the opposite. It’s difficult to turn around from a perception or a decision that has already been formulated and brought into existence. But this is what we must do if we are to free ourselves from situations that really are not benefitting us.
How do we strengthen this power centre within us and allow our inner sun to shine more brightly? First we must acknowledge that the invisible information we are receiving carries weight. It’s easy to dismiss this information just because it cannot always be seen or felt through the physical senses. But if we become attuned to this energy and give it the credibility it deserves, it becomes an invisible helper in times when we most need help.
Being in touch with our emotions is the key to unlocking this guidance system. If a potential decision makes us feel extremely hesitant, contracted or queazy, this valuable information is showing us that it may not be the best decision to make at the time. On the other hand, if a potential decision brings about feelings of excitement, expansion and relief, we know this is a path worth considering and will enhance our growth. Sometimes we still feel a huge amount of fear and resistance making a decision that we know will benefit us, but it holds a different quality of feeling than a decision that is potentially “wrong” for us. There is still a feeling of “yes” despite the fear. And even if we end up making a “wrong” decision, it is still potentially very useful in helping us move into better-feeling choices.
It’s so easy to fall into the trap of believing that our answers lie outside of us, but the truth is, no matter how many external opinions you receive, there is nothing more valuable than your opinion to you. This is why it’s so important to develop a practice of connecting to your deeper truth. We can do this in a number of ways, such as through yoga, meditation, journaling, or spending time in nature.
It’s important to make the distinction between connecting with our Soul Self and not just hearing the opinion of our rational mind or ego self. The Soul is deeply connected to our heart, so any guidance we receive or decision made from this place is infused with the energy of Love. Fear, on the other hand, comes from limited perception. If we can remember that there is always another way of looking at things, that nothing ever really stays the same, we allow ourselves to break free into a more expanded viewpoint. Like standing on the edge of a beach watching a sunset, it may seem that we’re receiving a limited amount of light from the sun, but this does not in any way mean that the sun itself is limited. We just have to allow ourselves to receive the light that is always available to us.
