Mindset is everything.
Success in navigating perimenopause and menopause requires a positive mindset. Maybe you’re not there yet, but trust me….with the right tools and practice, you CAN turn things around. Here’s the thing about mindset. You get more of what you focus on, so if you are wallowing in all that is wrong, you are likely to have a harder experience.
Let’s take a look at how to reframe your thinking and some tools you can use for ANY situation in your life:
1.) Put yourself at the top of your to-do list
Many women are uncomfortable focusing any time, energy, money, or attention on themselves. But here’s the truth. The people around you WANT you to be at your best. You only get one life and if what you are doing is surviving vs. thriving, it’s time to take a good hard look at what and who you are saying yes to. Because if you are saying yes to other obligations, you are, by default, saying NO to yourself. Make a conscious decision right now to put yourself first and devote time to practicing the mindset skills you will learn here.
2.) Give yourself some grace and love
All women go through the menopause transition if they live long enough. And each one experiences her reproductive years differently. It’s normal to feel frustrated, overwhelmed, disappointed, or sad when your body is not cooperating in the way you think it should. But being at war with your body does nothing but ramp up your stress and decrease the likelihood that you will heal. Your body WANTS to be in balance…that’s its whole job. And it needs YOU to give it some love in order to do that. You are an amazing woman regardless of the symptoms you are experiencing!
3.) Use your body as a lab
I encourage my clients to look at what they are experiencing from a 30,000-foot level. From this vantage point, it is possible to get out of the weeds and be curious about what’s going on. Be your own experiment. Notice how foods make you feel. Notice what situations cause tightness in your chest or an adrenaline rush. Notice how your gut feels. Notice your energy level throughout the day. Make notes. Be the investigator!
4.) Have reasonable expectations
This is a conversation I always have with my clients…the one about what is reasonable to expect and what is not. When I forget to do that, I’ll often get an email 2 days after someone starts their therapeutic plan letting me know that they haven’t noticed improvement. You didn’t get into whatever state you’re in 2 days and you’re not getting out of it that fast either! Habit change takes time. Weight loss takes time. Herbal supplements work more slowly than drugs. And sometimes things get worse before better. Patience pays off!
5.) Reframe success
Sometimes, my clients set their bar for success so high that there is no reasonable way they’ll achieve their goals. Go for baby steps and create momentum that carries you forward. No one is expecting perfection. If you take a step back, don’t beat yourself up. Just remember your why and get back on the horse.
6.) Celebrate your wins! (no matter how small)
See #5! Baby steps. Celebrate each milestone you achieve because those baby steps are ultimately going to get you where you want to go. Rewards give you a dopamine hit (which always feels good) and keep you motivated and having fun. Rewards can be simple pleasures or a fabulous vacation or a new wardrobe. Only you know what is meaningful to you. BUT, I highly suggest not rewarding yourself with junk food…crappy food isn’t a reward for anything.
7.) Roll with the changes
Forward progress in perimenopause and menopause can feel like one step forward and 2 back at times. Know this…things will change and the more that you understand that this is a season of your life the easier it will be to roll with it. This is one reason I created the Savvy Sisterhood membership group. I want you to have the support of a community of women who are sharing this experience and I want to teach you strategies that will serve you over the entire course of the menopause transition. Yes, these strategies will change over time, but if you practice listening to your body and use the techniques you’ll learn in my Hormone Harmony course (part of your membership), you’ll have a toolbox to help you sail through the changes. Join the waitlist for the Savvy Sisterhood membership here.
Bottom Line On Your Mindset
Feeling out of control of your body can leave you feeling out of control of everything! Take the time to ask yourself what being healthy looks like to you. Many women who come to me have spent so much time focusing on what isn’t going right that they have forgotten what feeling healthy looks like to them. If you’re mired in symptoms, illness, and diagnoses, take some time to rewrite your health story.
And feel free to share it in the blog comments or Facebook group if you’d like.
Dr. Anna Garrett is a menopause expert and Doctor of Pharmacy. She helps women who are struggling with symptoms of perimenopause and menopause find natural hormone balancing solutions so they can rock their mojo through midlife and beyond. Dr. Anna is the author of Perimenopause: The Savvy Sister’s Guide to Hormone Harmony. Order your copy at www.perimenopausebook.com.
Dr. Anna is available for 1-1 consultation. Find out more at www.drannagarrett.com/lets-talk
