The Menopausal Years Change You
While I know that all of you are not in the menopausal/midlife years of life, I can pretty much guarantee that you have someone close to you in your life who either is currently in, will be at some point, and/or has moved through this time. Perhaps in reading this, there will be some light and compassion shed on oneself as you navigate these years and/or for someone in your life who is or was doing so to the best of their ability.
To me, there is not enough conversation about these years and the profound changes that occur. I can say for myself I truly had no idea what was on the horizon.
While every woman’s experience is different, women enter these pivotal years at various ages (there is research that some begin to feel these changes as early as 35), and the diverse approaches, methods, and supplementation all work differently for every individual woman, there is certainly the overarching theme of CHANGE.
The menopausal years change you. Not just physically, but very much emotionally....and in how you relate and move through the world.
You are changed in how you show up both for yourself and others in profound, ever-unfolding ways.
I feel as though there is a tremendous focus on the physical changes. An abundance of conversation around what supplements, hormones, foods, and workouts we must take and do to counter the effects of menopause… a lot of talk about our bodies and the changes they go through. Yet, we are missing the boat around the conversations about how we, as midlife menopausal women change on a deeply emotional and relational level.
I can boldly say that this time of life is uncharted territory for every single woman out there.
We change from the inside out.
I am feeling so strongly in opening up the channels of conversation about the importance of learning how to be with our evolving selves in a very new way. There is nothing wrong with these changes we are experiencing, nothing to panic about or land in a crisis around. This is a natural and necessary aspect of aging. I feel that we, as midlife menopausal women, must learn how to meet this time with the whole of ourselves and learn how to work with all that is bubbling to the surface for us.
It’s like puberty in so many ways as it's erratic and unpredictable and can feel like an emotional roller coaster in moments. AND, I believe that it is a profound and empowering opportunity to get to know ourselves in a very new way in our own unique way.
It is an opportunity to strip ourselves bare and see what wants to be revealed. It’s humbling, it’s jarring, it’s confusing, and it’s tumultuous in moments. It is also beautiful, raw, vulnerable, enlightening, and incredibly exciting to be rebirthed at this juncture of our lives.
Midlife is a time of awakening.
Menopause is a channel for self-inquiry and deepening awareness of who we are at this potent time of being alive.
Let us, as midlife women, open up the channels of communication and conversation around this time of life.
Let's do this together.
Our next round of the Awakening in Midlife (in person) circle and coaching experience begins in October. Bi-monthly women’s circles plus 1:1 coaching with me. {If you are interested in a virtual circle, please do reach out!} Circles are held at my office in Central Boulder. Space is limited to 6 women.
We will dive into the many facets and themes of being a woman in midlife...the evolution and changes that we go through during menopause on so many levels impacting every ounce of who we are and how we relate to the world around us.
We need community during this potent time of life, there is no doubt. While I do not believe that it is a crisis moment in time, I do know and feel that there are many women suffering alone. Many women feeling alone and as though no one can relate to what they are experiencing.
Let us continue to have these conversations, break the stigma of menopause and midlife, and find ourselves in safe and supportive communities of women also learning who they are during this time of life.
Women learning how to be with themselves, in their relationships, and in the world on the whole in their evolving selves.
**If you are not local, yet are midlife/menopausal and are in need of support, I would be honored to work with you. I offer sessions both in person and virtually. Please reach out anytime and let's connect!