 2nd Chakra Balance: Is Comparison a Healthy form of Motivation?
In contemporary society we are exposed to 15,000 bits of information per second, which at any given moment includes a combination of Images, Words, Sounds, and various other external stimuli such as touch, motion, smell, and so forth. Information (implying all forms of external stimuli), may have practical uses, or may simply serve to distract or entertain. Information can Tell us what to do, Show us what to do, Suggest that we do something, Suggest that we not do something, Inspire us to do something, or simply, Inform us of Something, in which case, we Metabolize the Information without applying it to anything in particular. Now, let’s talk about Images and Emotions. Images are long-proven to elicit Emotional Responses in viewers, and often used deliberately in advertising and now Social Media, to elicit very specific Emotional Responses from viewers. We may see a model wearing a catchy outfit, and feel a sudden urge to purchase the outfit for ourselves. We may see an image of an animal at an animal shelter, and feel inspired to rescue a homeless animal. Examples of Image-induced Emotional stimulus and response are endless. Have you ever “Fallen In Love” with an Image of someone, without knowing or having met the real person in the Image? Furthermore, can we really call this an Authentic experience of Relationship? (No.) Go back and analyze: What about the Image inspired feelings of Love or Longing or Admiration for this person? Without having met him or her, your mind began to fill in the gaps of unknown information: what is he or she like in person? Notice how you began to form a Relationship with the Image, not with the actual person. What did the Image Inspire you to do, or change about yourself? Example, Women are more prone to change hair Color than men, so often use Images of other Women to Inspire changes of hair Color and style. Men are more prone to be motivated toward Physical Fitness when viewing Images of other Men, but are not necessarily as emotionally invested in appearance as women are. Many people I read for and talk to mention having physical symptoms of 2nd Chakra dysfunction. Reminder: the 2nd Chakra is located at the level of the Lower Abdomen, and governs post-digestive metabolic functions primarily in the Large Intestines. 2nd Chakra dysfunction is usually experienced as IBS, Fatigue, Flat Emotions, Loss of Interest in Life, Joy, and Creativity. The 2nd Chakra is an Open Chakra, meaning we both send and receive energy through this Chakra whenever we engage in Relationship with another person. Where 2nd Chakra Dysfunction begins is when we Imagine we have a Relationship with a person, when we really don’t. This phenomenon is often Image-driven, meaning, we “Fall In Love” with the Image of a person without having an actual, in-person connection to them or with them. An Image-driven pseudo-relationship can cause Delusional Thinking (time and energy spent on daydreaming and fantasizing about an impossible or synthetic reality) and at the very worst, Obsession. Now we define Envy, a common Emotional Response belonging to the 2nd Chakra, triggered by Visual and Material Stimuli. Envy is experienced when someone we perceive to be superior to ourselves, has something that we want. An example might be a designer handbag, a luxury car, a “perfect” face, an attractive spouse, a high-level career, and so forth. As soon as we feel the onset of Envy toward another person, we may harness this energy to manifest as propulsion for Self-Improvement. If we see a well-toned Fitness Enthusiast, we may decide to embark upon a Fitness Program to re-shape our own body. If we encounter a wealthy person (which is unusual because wealthy people are usually to busy working to be seen in casual contexts) we may be inspired to apply for a higher-paying job to increase Earning and Spending Power. If we follow a well-known Author on Facebook, we may decide to finally write the Book we’ve always wanted to write, and so forth. A small percentage of the population stops short of Transforming feelings of Envy into feelings of Aspiration or Motivation. Instead, they practice Avoidance of whatever it is they perceive they cannot be or have (so limiting!). Certain Women for example, will simply avoid situations like Beauty Pageants or even Poolside Parties if they know other Women will be there who are more “advantageously beautiful” than they are. Certain Men who experience Body-consciousness around other Men will actually avoid going to the gym in order to protect feelings of Self-Esteem. In short, Envy can be either a Powerful Motivator, or a Powerful De-Motivator. How you harness your experience of Envy is entirely up to… you! 2nd Chakra Balance is all about Relating Realistically to the world around us, while avoiding negative comparisons based on impossible ideals. Realistic Goals, especially those that are appearance-related, must be set with personal abilities and limitations in mind. Even despite perceived limitations (self-evaluation), we may still be able to reach levels of Success and Self-Improvement even though they may not be perfectly representative of what we saw someone else doing or achieving. A person who stands 5’5” tall, would do well not to compare him-or herself to someone who stands 6’4” tall, and vice versa. The best way to maintain Balance in the 2nd Chakra is to accept your own physical reality, and work with it! If you find yourself struggling with constantly Comparing yourself to others, specifically to what you see in Images posted online, remember this: Inspiration is the Higher Vibration of Comparison. As soon as you sense a feeling of Envy creeping in, Stop, evaluate what you are envious of (what they have that you don’t), and realistically assess how you might go about achieving, earning, or otherwise getting what they have that you don’t, for yourself and by yourself. Don’t stop short on Envy! Transform it into something useful: Inspiration. What we see in someone else that we might like to have, realistically could be part of our life experience too, although perhaps in a slightly different form, the form that is most suitable for us. As we strive to maintain realistic Relationships with the world around us, we consistently achieve Harmony of 2nd Chakra functions. When we do find ourselves constantly Comparing ourselves to people in Images posted online, it might benefit us to take a break from Online activity for a while, to get re-centered on ourselves, and ultimately, the image we see before us in the mirror every day. Constant Comparison with no outlet for Information Application or Authentic Relationship causes 2nd Chakra Spin-Cycle, when we don’t really know who or what we are actually in relationship with, the Image or the person in the Image, especially since Images will never respond to our need for Energetic Reciprocation. Images are just images: don’t let them Spell-Bind you into impossible, self-defeating thought patterns or Imaginary Relationships. Be realistic, Love yourself, and take care of the Reality that really matters: your life… Offline. ~ MHCI This article references http://www.researchgate.net/publication/260117917_Body-Related_Envy_A_Social_Comparison_Perspective_in_Sport_and_Exercise Afterthoughts: A. 2nd Chakra Imbalance is also caused by being too open with others about sex, money, work, or one’s personal life, family issues or marriage partner; by giving with expecting to be given something in return, by taking from others with a sense that they owe you something. These behaviors are all classified as traits of Co-Dependence which essentially values the Other above the Self. B. For those who feel de-motivated through the experience of Comparative Self-Evaluation, hire a Fitness Coach, Nutritionist, Beauty Consultant, Professional Astrologer or other accredited Lifestyle Coach to help work within the framework of your unique set of assets and limitations. MHCI Color Card Readings are also a great way to gain insight on where and how you're stuck in 2nd Chakra Spin-Cycle, and how re-Balance it. For Color Reading Enthusiasts, I recommend the 5-Card Comprehensive Reading to see where you're stuck, what your Strengths are, what Colors will help you get re-motivated, and what Spirit wants you to know about your current life path. Request your Reading here: www.colorreadings.com Or, create your own Color Card Readings! MHCI Color Oracle Cards are back in stock, available here: http://www.colorreadings.com/color-store.html
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