Power Up Your Soul’s Purpose

Solar Plexus Chakra, Manipura

The third chakra, manipura, is the solar plexus, and it’s through this energy center that we access “the fire in the belly” and harness the heat of fire so we can blaze a trail that is in alignment with our soul’s purpose. Developmentally, we are moving from the “we” of the first chakra and the “you and me” of the second chakra to the “me” of the third chakra.

The third chakra embodies the energy of self-confidence that says, “This is me. This is who I am.” You know how the planets orbit around the sun? The third chakra helps you find your inner-sun-center, your personal power. The third chakra is “the house of the soul.”

When this chakra is underactive, you may find yourself playing small and feeling trapped by feelings of unworthiness. When this energy center is overactive, you may find yourself conceited, narcissistic, and hustling to prove your worth. When this energy center is in balance, there is a strong sense of “I am enough.” No hiding. No performing. You are present. Connected to your center. You stand your ground with both confidence and humility.

Each of the next practices invites you to be in the moment with attentiveness and presence so you can sense your power and harness your strength.

[Also read: “Using Flowers to Enhance Chakra Energy Flow.”]

Stop the Energy Leaks

The fundamental question of the third chakra is, What are you giving your life energy to?

When you unconsciously give your power away to someone or something outside of you, you actually lose prana—your life force energy. Imagine you’re trying to heat up your house in the winter, but you leave a big door open; the cold will get inside, and it will take way more energy to heat the house.

Notice for the next few days: Which choices deplete you, and which choices give you life? When you make choices that are life-giving, you start to become an actual powerhouse—an energetic forcefield of potent and palpable life energy. If there’s an area of your life where there’s an energy leak, then it’s time to cut the cords so you can reclaim what’s yours.

We so often give our power away because we think we have no other choice. One of the most common ways we give our power away is through our attention. We focus on gossip, news, drama, social media, or other people’s problems as a means to tune out or numb ourselves from feeling whatever it is that we’re feeling. Through distraction, we become depleted. It takes intention and heat to own your power because you are choosing to take full responsibility for your energetic force field. With great power comes great “response-ability.”

Response-Ability

Response-ability is your ability to respond. When you practice response-ability, you are conscious of your power, and when you default to reactivity, you are asleep to your power. All of us go through this process of floating between sleep and awake. Practice patience and compassion with yourself as you become more aware. The gift of becoming more response-able is that you get to have more of a say in the matters of your life. In any moment, you can remember your power to choose.

Here are ways we stay asleep to our power.

• Waiting and expecting someone else to do the work
• Cynicism: “It is the way it is”
• Tolerating bad behavior from others
• Staying in a toxic job or relationship because “we have to”
• Alcohol and drugs
• Outsourcing our power to others
• Distractions that keep us playing small
• Making choices that dishonor our soul’s needs.

Awaken to your response-ability. Your actions—no matter how big or small—have a magnificent ripple effect into all areas of your life. In every situation of your life, you can ask yourself, By making this choice, am I reclaiming my personal power, or am I giving my personal power away?

Excerpted with permission from Trust Your Truth by Shannon Algeo. © 2021 Shannon Algeo. Reprinted in arrangement with New Harbinger Publications, Inc.

Keep reading about chakras: “Tune Into Your Major Chakra to Design Your Optimal Sacred Space.”