Certainly, physical strength is important, developing mental strength and resilience has also become imperative in today’s world, but to power up our inner strength, for me that’s where the real magic happens. To build unwavering confidence, a deep trust in ourselves and the willingness to try, this is inner strength. To stand up and perhaps stand out, to shine your beautiful light forward and the best part, building inner strength builds both physical and mental strength too.
From our energetic and subtle bodies, this comes down to developing our third or solar plexus chakra. Located in the space between our diaphragm and navel, when stimulated this area creates heat and truly is your inner fire, the fueling of tapas (discipline) and resolve. The element of the solar plexus chakra is fire.
An under stimulated third chakra is evident in one who feels they have no power. They allow others to hold power over them (bosses, family, partners). They feel trapped in the life they are leading, as if there is no way out. Because the third chakra represents our digestive process and adrenals, this leads to a series of physical issues from stomach unease to IBS or constipation and even adrenal fatigue. Emotional eating or control around eating (as in anorexia and bulimia) may also be present.
On the other side, when the third chakra is over stimulated it’s like a forest fire out of control. This comes through as anger, frustration, resentment. This could be acted out through unnecessary arguments or even violence, or it could be acted in. Neither are helpful. To build true inner power, we need a fire that is sustaining, that is well tended to and protected.
The amazing thing is one of the best things we can do for this chakra is physical exercise. To “blow off steam” remove excess heat from the body, to sweat it out. For those experiencing either the need for action or the shame surrounding either action taken or not, stimulating the core and finding our inner fire of confidence, purpose and connection is imperative. Anything that gets us moving is great, Yoga in particular because of all the twists that we do through class.
Along with this, physical exercise helps us feel stronger inside and out, it helps us process excess cortisol in the body and increases both endorphins, serotonin and dopamine – all beneficial for our mental strength too.
But perhaps you’ve already been doing this all along and it’s not quite catching? Some inner work is going to be necessary. Is someone stealing your confidence? Have you been made to feel shame in regard to certain actions or experiences in your life? What have you done to start the process of letting this go? The longer we hold on, the more this true strength will remain just out of reach. What is stopping you? Journal about it. Where are your blocks? Talk to someone about it – a psychotherapist or councilor. Start or continue a meditation practice, repeating the word “Ram” (pronounced raum, with a long a) the seed sound of the third chakra.
You’ve been working hard on your physical and mental strength, now take the same lessons inwards and build your inner strength, resiliency and power – you deserve it.
