The world is heavy right now and it can be so easy to let your motivation to do much of anything waiver. Trust me, I've been in that position for the last few weeks. I kept pushing off what I knew I needed to do for the sake of ease and simplicity and well because I was downright lacking the motivation to do much of anything but live in survival mode. I'm here to tell you THAT IS OK! Sometimes we need to just be in our survival mode, take a step back, and then make the choice to move out of that survival mode. There is no "right" way to navigate our challenges. What does help though, is finding your motivation again and I've got a few tips and tools that I've used personally to help me navigate back into balance.
So where does motivation come from?
The reality is that there are so many different biological, emotional, social and cognitive forces that influence our motivations. There are two ways to think about where motivation can come from. It could either be extrinsic (outside of ourselves, think rewards, money, or praise from outside sources) or intrinsic (inside ourselves, like personal gratification, self-love, etc.). But physically & energetically speaking, our motivation comes from our 3rd chakra, the Manipura Chakra or Solar Plexus chakra (the space between our belly button and ribcage). The Solar Plexus chakra is represented by the color yellow and the element of fire.
This chakra focuses on the combination of tangible energy and divine intuition to call us to act in ways that serve our true self. As with all 7 of our chakras, each energy center can either live in balance or imbalance and reflects our behaviors, thoughts, and emotions. The 3rd chakra (wheel of energy in the body) is the powerhouse behind where our motivation comes from and it works with our digestive system as the driving force to get us where we want to go.
The reality is that there are so many different biological, emotional, social and cognitive forces that influence our motivations. There are two ways to think about where motivation can come from. It could either be extrinsic (outside of ourselves, think rewards, money, or praise from outside sources) or intrinsic (inside ourselves, like personal gratification, self-love, etc.). But physically & energetically speaking, our motivation comes from our 3rd chakra, the Manipura Chakra or Solar Plexus chakra (the space between our belly button and ribcage). The Solar Plexus chakra is represented by the color yellow and the element of fire.nd the element of fire.
A balanced 3rd chakra builds strength, courage, and willpower and will keep us feeling confident and motivated. An imbalance in this chakra can look like digestive issues, lower back pain, feelings of powerlessness, fatigue, lack of confidence and willpower. (Ahem... [me raising my hand to all of these imbalances] hence my reason for digging deeper into the power behind mind-body chakra practices!)
Maintaining balance in our 3rd chakra can help us stoke the internal fire and drive within us to move closer towards our goals and dreams while keeping our digestive system, core, and gut-brain healthy, happy, and sending positive messages to the rest of our body.
So what can we do when we feel out of balance?
Sometimes simply having the desire to accomplish something is just not enough. The key is remembering our why & finding what it takes for us personally to help us persist through obstacles and build endurance to keep going despite our challenges. Think about what is causing you not to act. Is it perfectionism, avoidance, self-doubt? Ask yourself "What can I do to move forward? To take that first step?" Because even if it's just 1 step. That one step today will lead to another tomorrow, and then maybe 2 next week. So keep putting one foot in front of the other and find your motivation to push through your obstacles. YOU are so worth it my friend!
Here are a few tips to help fuel your motivation and activate the Solar Plexus Chakra to help bring it into balance:
Physically
Practice yoga classes that strengthen and activate the core.
Add any kind of twists into your daily routine. (Even sitting at your desk, think about just rotating and twisting in your chair for a few breaths).
Get outside and into the sun.
Go for a run, walk, or hike in nature.
Eat yellow foods & incorporate spices like cinnamon, ginger, and turmeric into your diet.
Mentally
Create a mantra based on your personal power, write it down, and post it where you see it everyday. Think about I can or I am statements that bring your confidence to the next level.
Break down any goals into smaller steps to avoid becoming overwhelmed & try achieving that first step
Light a candle and practice a candle gazing meditation
Emotionally
Adjust your goals and set clear and firm boundaries
Journal & work on letting go of past traumas. I'm a HUGE fan of fire ceremony & it doesn't have to be complicated. Write out what you want to let go of and in a fire safe space, burn your writing and release what's no longer serving you.
There isn't a quick fix or a one size fits all approach to building your confidence and accessing your motivation. But taking that first step and digging deep into understand what fuels you will help propel you forward. Life is a journey, there is truly no destination. So go with the flow, find what helps you feel balanced and motivated and when you're having trouble accessing your motivation, remember your why.
“Those who have a ‘why’ to live, can bear with almost any ‘how’.” ~ Viktor E. Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning
Clere to try a restorative yoga class to help restore balance to the body. This practice is one of my favorites lately and it's my go to when I need to slow down and tune in!
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