Thriving in Menopause
Why set the bar at surviving when we can thrive?
I’m all fired up about today’s blog topic. Normally information about menopause focuses on the bad parts without giving a platform to the positive. Today we’re going to change all of that. I’ve been sharing a variation of this information since I was in my early 30’s. Back then I was going by textbooks and hope. Now that I’m in the thick of it, I’m thrilled to report that I haven’t been making it all up for the past few decades. There really is a positive side to menopause. So, without further delay, let’s do this.
As we learned in this blog, a woman’s yin energy starts to wane at menopause. This allows the expansive yang energy to come to the forefront. This is the energy that gets stuff done. It’s bold, strong and expansive. That stereotype of a middle aged woman who’s lost all of her f&cks and speaks her mind? This is where that comes from.
Practically speaking, this energy comes at the perfect place in a woman’s life. If she’s raised children, they’re probably at an age where they can do much more for themselves. This frees up an incredible amount of space in a woman’s life. Often it’s a time of wondering what the heck comes next. This is where all that added yang energy comes into play. It may be causing hot flashes, but it’s also giving a bit of extra oomph to create your dream life.
It’s a transition period where you can be intentional with the direction the rest of your life takes. You’ve collected decades of knowledge at this point. For many households you’ve been the CEO, CFO, COO & CIO all combined into one job that you never got financial compensation for. You’ve learned countless tools and strategies to handle what life throws at you. You’ve survived and endured struggles and hardships and learned their life lessons.
Sometimes, women falter at this part. They’ve spent a lifetime putting the needs of others before them. They’re used to staying small. They’ve lost their voice. In these cases all of the heat of the yang energy gets stuck which can lead to bitterness, anxiety and anger.
When this happens, do what feels impossible, ask for help.
Get some outside perspective to help shift your thinking. Hire a coach. Do not wait, this is a pivotal moment in life that you can actually exit the experience in a healthier/happier way than when you entered it.
This is the part where you can take the expertise you’ve gained and combine it with the expansive energy of menopause and shine. The world needs what you have to offer.
Let’s go.