From Burnout to Brilliance: Turmeric, Stress & Your Inner Fire

Ever felt like you’ve completely lost your spark? One moment you’re flying through deadlines, juggling family, work and life like a pro... fuelled by coffee, adrenaline and sheer determination. And then crash. Your body feels heavy, your brain foggy and suddenly even deciding what’s for dinner feels overwhelming.

Sound familiar? You’re not broken, you’re just out of balance.

That inner spark you miss?

It lives in your Solar Plexus — your centre of energy, confidence and personal power. When it’s well-tended, you feel clear, decisive and energised. When it’s out of balance, it shows up in very real ways.

The Solar Plexus & Stress: When Fire Falls Out of Balance

The Solar Plexus is often called your inner fire, the place where drive, willpower and resilience live. It’s what gives you the courage to act, to speak up and to move forward.

But stress can pull this fire off balance. It often looks like two extremes:

Burn too bright: workaholism, perfectionism, inflammation, exhaustion. This is the body stuck in fight-or-flight mode.
Burn too low: procrastination, self-doubt, paralysis. This is the body collapsing into rest-and-digest without energy, almost like the flame has gone out.

Most of us swing between these states, doing too much, then crashing into not enough.

And it’s not because women are wired this way. Far from it. Many of us are simply forced to perform in a world designed around masculine structures of productivity, achievement, pushing harder even when what our bodies really crave is nourishment, balance and pause.

Science Meets Ritual: The Golden Power of Turmeric

So, how do we restore balance to this fire? Not with more pushing but with steady fuel.

One of my favourite allies is turmeric, the golden spice that’s been treasured for centuries and is now celebrated in research. Its active compound, curcumin, is a natural anti-inflammatory, supporting gut health, brain clarity and sustained energy.

Turmeric Absorption Tip

Curcumin (the active compound in turmeric) is fat-soluble meaning it dissolves and is absorbed much better when eaten with fat.
Black pepper (piperine) slows down curcumin’s breakdown in the liver and boosts its bioavailability dramatically (by 2000% according to research).
Healthy fats (like coconut oil, olive oil, nut butters or coconut cream) help curcumin actually cross into your bloodstream and reach your tissues.

So the ideal Inner Fire trio for absorption is:

Turmeric + Black Pepper + Healthy Fat

Pair this with your breath, the body’s built-in anti-inflammatory. Slowing and deepening your breath signals safety to your nervous system, calming fight-or-flight and gently rebuilding your energy reserves.

In my Inner Strength in Action minicourse, I share energising breathwork practice designed specifically to help you reignite this inner fire safely and powerfully. For now, let’s start with a golden ritual in the kitchen.

Spiced Energy Turmeric Caramel Cups

These little bites are like confidence in edible form: sweet, spiced and wrapped in chocolate. They’re the perfect afternoon pick-me-up that naturally combine spice, fat and flavour for best absorption.

I like one mid-afternoon when my energy dips or when I want a nourishing treat. They store well in the freezer.

⅓ cup cashews, soaked at least 4 hours
4 dates, pitted
1 tablespoon almond butter
3 tablespoons coconut milk
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon orange zest
½ teaspoon ground turmeric
3 tablespoons shredded coconut
melted dark chocolate with a pinch of black pepper

Place all of the ingredients except the chocolate in a food processor and pulse until well combined. Set aside. Place 8 cupcake liners in a mini cupcake pan. Fill each liner with 1 full teaspoon of melted chocolate. Place pan in the freezer for few minutes to set. Once hardened, place 1 teaspoon of turmeric caramel in the centre of each liner. Cover with 1 teaspoon of melted chocolate. You can sprinkle some roasted pistachios. Place back in the freezer for at least 15 minutes to harden.

Why This Matters for You

Here’s the truth: you don’t need to overhaul your whole life to feel confident and energised again. Small rituals like a conscious breath, a golden sip, a mindful pause between tasks are enough to rebuild your fire.

That’s exactly the spirit behind my Inner Strength in Action minicourse. Over five days, you’ll explore the archetypes through breathwork, rituals and reflections that reconnect you with your strength. In the Solar Plexus module, I guide you through energising practice that helps you shift from burnout to brilliance because your spark was never gone, it just needed some attention.

Solar Reminder: Next time you feel scattered, burnt out or frozen, pause. Take one steady breath. Sip something golden. Remind yourself: your fire is still here, waiting to be tended.

See you in the next breath, Pavla 💛

Next up:

Open your Heart with the power of coherence breathing and a nourishing green ritual.

Categories: : breathing, Recipes, solar plexus