When you’re suddenly propelled into the adult world with no preparation besides knowing how to square root a whole number, life can get pretty stressful. There’s no doubt that your chakras have probably been thrown out of whack. Your seven chakras help center your inner being, so it’s important that they are aligned. It’s like your center of gravity- when it’s thrown off, you fall down! Luckily, I’m here to show you how to repair your anxiety-ridden chakras.

The root chakra (represented by the color red) focuses on feelings of being grounded and secure. Financial stability is the focal point to this chakra. If you have a steady, well-paying job then you are set. When you are not financially stable, your mind and body is bombarded with constant stress. Being financially independent allows you to forget the feelings of being stressed out and focus on higher levels of emotional well-being.

The sacral chakra (orange) is all about being flexible and open. This chakra is an integral part to a twenty-something. You’re creating the course of the rest of your life when you are in your twenties, so it’s important to have an open mind when trying out new experiences. For example, I never thought I would enjoy working with Pre-K students. As cute as little kids are, I’ve never had the desire to work with them. After accepting an out-of-the-blue job offer for a paraprofessional role in a Pre-K classroom, I couldn’t be happier! I absolutely adore this new job and all of my little kiddos! My little anecdote is a great example of why it is so essential to LEAP out of your comfort zone and welcome any opportunity that comes your way! In doing so, you will align your sacral chakra and feel more energized and compassionate about the world around you!

The solar plexus chakra (yellow) represents one’s self confidence. To align your solar plexus, do things that make you feel HAPPY about yourself. Whether it is music, make-up, cosplay, working out-whatever makes you feel good about yourself, DO IT! It’s easy to get caught up in comparing yourself with the illusion of your so-called “perfect” Facebook and Instagram friends. However, when you realize that everyone has their insecurities and flaws, you can focus on the things that make YOU feel sexy and own it!

The heart chakra (green) is all about that dreaded word everybody cringes at- LOVE! However, this chakra doesn’t deal exclusively with romantic love. A big focus lies in loving others- your family, friends, and people around you. When you’re a young person, passion is an idealistic trait. As true as this can be, it’s important to forgive and move on. There’s no reason to criticize other’s actions- just feel love for everybody as we’re all venturing along this river of life together! As The Beatles say, “All We Need Is Love!”

The throat chakra (bue) deals with communication- the way you communicate with others and how you communicate yourself to the world around you. We were born with two ears and only one mouth- which means you should listen more than you talk! Not actually listening leads to a great deal of miscommunication. Pay attention to the inflection of one’s voice, body language, and the context in which they are speaking. Millennials are often accused of being self-centered, so prove everybody wrong and be a great communicator by simply being in the moment and LISTENING!

The third eye chakra (indigo) focuses on inner growth and spirituality. Meditation, yoga, and unionizing oneself with nature are surefire ways to cleanse this chakra. Outdoor activities like kayaking and hiking can also be beneficial. Young people nowadays are constantly connected to their phone- this constant connection to the outside world tarnishes this chakra! It’s important to disconnect once in awhile in order to rejuvenate.

The crown chakra (violet) is the seventh, and final, chakra. This chakra is the deepest connection one can have outside of ego. While the third eye chakra is all about inner growth and “finding yourself,” the crown chakra focuses on letting yourself go. An easy way to do this is to delve into your passion! A big pressure on twenty-somethings is to “work, work, work!” This obsession with success easily leads to one becoming burnt out with no energy to do nothing after work except open a bottle of wine and watch Netflix (no shame- we’ve all been there!) It’s important to understand the bigger picture of life and be grateful. Whether it be surfing, writing, art, or volunteering, find an activity that you lose yourself in. When you lose track of time and forget all of your worries, that’s when you know you’ve found your passion. You experience a Zen-like ambience (maybe you decide to become a Buddhist monk, who knows).

I hope these tips help out your distressed chakras! A quick tip to reenergize ALL of your chakras at once is to imagine each color of the chakra wheel engulfing you in a warm pool of light, working your way up to the crown chakra. If this is your first introduction into chakras, it might seem a bit confusing at first, but once you employ these tips, you will begin to reap the benefits of newly-aligned chakras!