Learning about the chakra system has been a huge blessing in my life as it makes understanding myself so much easier. I believe that using the chakra system to find your values can lead to a deeper and more intentional understanding of why you do, seek, think, and crave certain things in life. The chakra system can lead you to feel more at peace and reveals a layer of insight that goes unchecked when you don’t comprehend your emotions and their connection to your actions.
By the end of this article, you’ll walk away with 5 personal values that are deeply connected to your purpose, and an explanation of how you can practice these values daily. You’ll also gain insight so that you can interpret reasons why you may feel disconnected from your purpose or lost on which direction to take in any area of your life.
What are core values?
Your core or personal values are like a compass that keeps you heading to your true north. Think of them as your personalized guides that work only for you to keep you on track toward your purpose, goals, and intentions.
They are completely individualized and usually are the same throughout all stages of your life. One value may be prominent in your 20s vs your 40s, and occasionally your values may shift. For example, in your 20s you may value discipline strongly in your yoga practice and you build a practice that resonates with you and this value. But in your 30s you may value devotion to your practice which alters how you practice. Discipline and devotion are extremely similar and carry the same significance as a value, but may shift meaning as you grow as a person.
This subtle change may also reflect in what chakra the value is focused on. Discipline is related to the solar plexus chakra, which builds confidence, while devotion is associated with the heart chakra, which focuses strongly on compassion. More on what this means soon.
What are chakras?
Chakras are energy centers that reside in the core of your body and run up and down the length of your spine. These energy centers determine how information that you take in is received, organized, stored, and let go of.
As information comes in it may get stuck, built up, or unbalanced in certain chakras which may lead to skewed beliefs, strong wants, or overvalued priorities.
Just as your core values are your navigational compass, your chakras are the map to help you determine what’s important, and where and what to focus on to find balance and create harmony physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
What are my core values?
Ask yourself the following questions below one at a time and then scan through the lists of values under each chakra. Go through all of the lists and chakras for each question. Notice what comes up, and how your values may change.
Be mindful of choosing values based on what you think you should value or how others may judge you. No one has to know these values but yourself, be honest!
I recommend narrowing down your choice to 5 core values. Keep refining until you get just 5.
- Which values are important to me?
- Why are they important?
- Which values get me the most excited?
- Which values feel like a need, a non-negotiable?
These lists of values have been created using the issues and balanced characteristics laid out for each chakra based on leading chakra expert, Anodea Judith’s book, Eastern Body Western Mind. My knowledge gained through over 500 hours of yoga teacher training and self-studies was also used to determine these values and their associated chakra.
These are by no means the only values you may have, but give you a great place to start!
Root Chakra
- Safety
- Security
- Survival
- Grounded
- Self-preservation
- Health
- Home
- Trust
Sacral Chakra
- Pleasure
- Desire
- Balance
- Fun
- Sexuality
- Movement
- Feeling
Solar Plexus Chakra
- Discipline
- Achievement
- Adventure
- Authority
- Leadership
- Recognition
- Responsibility
- Success
- Wealth
Heart Chakra
- Love
- Compassion
- Connection
- Gratitude
- Kindness
- Loyalty
- Relationships
- Self-Respect
- Contribution/Service
- Devotion
- Trust
Throat Chakra
- Communication
- Authenticity
- Enthusiasm
- Honesty
- Respect
- Truth
- Creativity
Third Eye Chakra
- Clarity
- Intuition
- Imagination
- Self-Awareness
- Curiosity
- Growth
- Influence
- Knowledge
- Learning
- Optimism
- Wisdom
Crown Chakra
- Empathy
- Purpose
- Spiritual
- Inner Harmony
- Peace
- Religion/Spirituality
- Wisdom
Now that you’ve narrowed it down to 5 values, look at each that you’ve chosen. When you think about each value is there a comforting sensation that arises in your body? It may help to close your eyes and think about all that is associated with each value. It could be a sense of deep knowing, a warmth, or a sense of spaciousness.
If anything such as a stickiness, darkness, a tightness or constriction, anything that feels icky, is a different type of clue. Perhaps it’s warning you that a value you choose is not necessarily one you’re craving to be connected to.
Your body holds wisdom and can give you clues as to what path, or in this case, values, you need to follow. By focusing on the sensations you feel you’re moving out of your head and what you think you should like as values and instead connecting with your intuition.
If you don’t feel anything, that’s okay! This type of work may take time as you reconnect with your body and let it lead the way instead of your mind and what it thinks is “right”.
What do my personal values mean?
Take a look at your 5 core values and see which chakra each value falls under. If you have multiple values that fall under one chakra this could mean that your karma (what you have to learn in this lifetime) is heavily focused on this chakra. There’s nothing wrong with this, just something to be mindful of!
Root Chakra (Muladhara)
If you have value(s) that fall under the root chakra then you likely crave security, want to know that everything is going to work out, and need to feel safe. When one of these needs isn’t met then it can shake your foundation and who you are to your core.
To balance the root chakra and focus on your value(s) here I recommend:
- Grounding exercises that get you out of your head and into your body. This could be putting your bare feet in the grass, placing your hands on your body, focusing on your breath and practicing a longer exhale than inhale.
- Yoga classes and meditations that focus on the root chakra or earth element.
- Making your home, or at least a space in your home that feels like it’s truly yours.
- Prioritizing having an emergency fund as a backup plan.
- Journaling on the best-case scenario instead of the worst-case scenario.
- Repeat root chakra affirmations.
Sacral Chakra (Svadhishthana)
If you have personal values that land in the sacral chakra category you likely are someone who loves to feel and are guided by your emotions. You crave being in places that soothe you (aesthetic cafes anyone?), and you’re driven by your wants. You seek pleasure by also crave balance and it can be a struggle to follow your desires while keeping a balance in your life!
To balance the sacral chakra and focus on your value(s) here I recommend:
- Asking yourself daily “What do I want to do?” It could be taking a bath in the middle of the day, going to work in a cafe, or going to look at paint samples at the store. Follow your desires as much as you can no matter how small they may feel.
- Practice yoga classes that are focused on the sacral chakra and the water element.
- Spend time in or near water. Water is said to be very healing and may help you feel soothed.
- Journal on what your desires are. If you could have, do, or be anything without any restrictions, what would your answers be?
- Allow time in your schedule to do whatever you feel at that moment. An hour of unscheduled time so you may read, get creative with an art project, or research an upcoming trip you’ve had on your mind.
- Practice sacral chakra affirmations.
Solar Plexus Chakra (Manipura)
If you have any values that land in the solar plexus you likely are a doer. You like to keep busy, think achievements are important, and like recognition. As a solar plexus value holder you take on responsibility (even when you don’t want it, but you know you’ll do it right), want to feel like you’re contributing to society, and can sometimes value wealth or fame a little too highly. Discipline is important and when you’re not it can cause anxiety and chaos in your life. Confidence is a key indicator of this chakra and can often become unbalanced through overcompensation.
To balance the solar plexus chakra and focus on your value(s) here I recommend:
- You need to do, but make sure you’re doing the right things. Are you doing a task simply to check it off of your to-do list? Or are you doing the task because it furthers your business, connects you with someone, or makes your life easier?
- Practice solar plexus yoga classes or fire element sequences.
- Create schedules or containers for yourself (hello, boundaries!) that hold you accountable for doing the work, but also give you free time. You can’t always be doing.
- Wear clothes, make-up and do your hair in ways that feel good to you. Your outer appearance may feel important as it’s how you show your true self to the world. Value these things and give yourself permission to spend time on them and watch your confidence soar!
- Write, repeat, and say solar plexus chakra affirmations.
Heart Chakra (Anahata)
As a heart chakra value based individual you likely crave compassion, softness, and loyalty. You may find yourself believing strongly that love trumps all is a belief that all have, crave close connections with others, and silently demand respect from yourself and others. You believe that peace can be found but may still struggle with the how in your own life. Community and being able to trust others is very important to you so you feel less alone.
To balance the heart chakra and focus on your value(s) here I recommend:
- Check-in with what relationships feel authentic. Who do you feel valued and respected by? Who is loyal to you and compassionate towards you? If there are people who don’t, it may be time to reevaluate a relationship or at least set up some boundaries.
- Take time to practice heart chakra yoga poses and air element yoga.
- Journal on what things (or people) in your life aren’t giving you peace.
- Follow through on your promises to yourself. Not only will this give you more confidence, but practice self-respect. That 6AM yoga class you said you’d try? Go! If you don’t love it then you don’t have to go back but at least you respected your desire to give it a go.
- Set intentions using heart chakra affirmations.
Throat Chakra (Vishuddha)
If you’re a throat chakra value holder then communication is important to you. You may blow up or react poorly towards someone if you hold in something that’s on your mind, or hold in what you want to say for fear of judgement or not feeling valued. Honesty and truth are rulers in your life, so much so that a little white lie could leave you feeling fake, inauthentic, or worried that you may get caught (even if it’s not serious). You likely will not do things with enthusiasm if it’s not something you want to do and may have a hard time faking it.
To balance the throat chakra and focus on your value(s) here I recommend:
- Chanting is a good idea for you as it can help you get used to using your throat chakra and opening up your voice. Or singing in the shower may feel more suitable for you.
- Focus on throat chakra yoga sequences or ether (space) element classes.
- If you’re unsure of if you should say something to someone, journal on it and see how it feels to let it out in this regard first.
- Therapy or private coaching is likely a good idea if you tend to say too little for fear, or say too much. But be mindful that this is not to avoid your communication with others but to test drive your communication skills with a professional first.
- Say out loud throat chakra affirmations.
Third Eye Chakra (Ajna)
The forever-learners, must understand how things work, and imaginative folks land here. If your values lead you to the third eye chakra you likely crave knowledge and are thus always after the next course. You may have strong intuition (even if you doubt it) or are full of many ideas but struggle to put those ideas into something tangible. This can lead to frustration and overwhelm.
To balance the third eye chakra and focus on your value(s) here I recommend:
- Do a brain dump. Get all of your thoughts and ideas, everything on your to-do list out of your head and onto paper or your notes app on your phone.
- Focus on third eye chakra yoga or light element yoga.
- Balance the amount of knowledge you take in versus practicing. To embody knowledge is different than knowing. This could look like actually getting out and teaching yoga instead of only learning about it.
- Allow yourself to be creative to tap into your intuition. This could be as simple as coloring and not trying to make everything match but letting your intuition pick instead.
- Test your intuition and learn to listen to your gut reaction by pulling cards daily.
- Focus on third eye chakra affirmations.
Crown Chakra
Last but not least if any of your values landed in this chakra category you may have a strong belief in a higher power, need to deeply connect to your life’s purpose, or crave guidance through spirituality or religion. Having a strong connection to yourself is important, and you may see empathy as a very strong or desired trait. But without guidance or a connection to yourself or a higher power you may feel lost and struggle to pick a direction and stick with it.
To balance the crown chakra and focus on your value(s) here I recommend:
- Create some kind of space in your home that is dedicated to connection. This could look like a dedicated space where you roll out your yoga mat or a small altar where you place your crystals or pull cards from. I highly recommend having a candle here!
- Practice crown chakra yoga classes or sequences that focus on the thought element.
- Try Kundalini yoga as it pulls your energy up to your crown chakra.
- Spend time in meditation allowing your thoughts to come and go. Try setting a timer for 5 minutes to begin and do it for 40 days to complete a Kriya.
- Meditate using crown chakra affirmations as your focus.
Next Steps
- For support and assistance in learning how to integrate what you’ve learned here join Sacred Exploration, my 1-on-1 yoga & coaching framework to gain confidence, and courage, and follow your purpose.
- Practice with me & subscribe on YouTube!