Menopausal ladies - hear your self talk

Have you talked to yourself kindly today?

We all have that little voice inside our heads. That voice which belongs to us, special and unique, our everyday companion through thick and thin, through the ups and through the downs. This is why how you talk to yourself is enormously important. Just as you would talk to a friend or a family member, speak to yourself with respect and understanding. Listening to yourself and your needs is key to building your confidence and feeling good in your skin.

Psychological resource blog, The Positive Psychology People, explains that it is a difficult time for many women experiencing the physical and emotional strain of menopause. Hot flushes, irritability, and anxiety are just a few of the menopausal experiences affecting women, and the way we speak to ourselves is significantly important; it has the power to influence our perspective on what we are going through. When we are facing times of great discomfort and change, it is necessary to approach ourselves with extra self-compassion and self-love, to go forth with resilience.

“Mindset matters,” academic medical centre, Mayo Clinic, discusses. Fortunately, we are in control over our personal outlook on things. We can develop the necessary skills to adapt to major life changes by cultivating a confident, healthier, perception of them. Mayo Clinic provides helpful tips to avoid allowing society to negatively warp your perception on menopause, to avoid letting those negativities take root with fear and control you: through mindfulness, creating connections with others, striving towards an exciting goal, and practising self-care. Life is a forked road, and fortunately, you have the choice to listen to yourself and open up to the vast possibilities of the next stages in your life.

The helpful guide of The Positive Psychology People elaborates on how women experiencing menopause can treat themselves with kindness and respect with these three key elements: cognitive resilience, emotional resilience, and behavioural resilience.

• Cognitive resilience is having a constructive mindset, achieved by allowing yourself to enjoy and engage with the things you love, including yourself. Discover your strengths and learn more about your individuality – this is a special time to rediscover things about your skills and talents, the things you like and are passionate about, with new eyes.
• Emotional resilience is utilising your emotions constructively. Nurture a kinder perception of yourself by meditating and understanding your own feelings and thoughts. Reconnect with yourself, and savour each and every experience as you persevere through them.
• Behavioural resilience is taking action that is both beneficial to you and your wellbeing. The sky is your limit. Enjoy the many splendours that life has to offer by making exciting plans and trying new things. Reconnect with nature and ensure a healthy lifestyle, in order to reduce stress and bring more of a spring in your step.

Listen to yourself speak. You deserve to talk to yourself with kindness, and to treat yourself with respect and understanding. By listening to your own needs, you are in control of your resilience. You are the key to opening the doors to wondrous possibilities and connections.

 

References

https://www.thepositivepsychologypeople.com/positive-psychology-and-the-menopause/ (Accessed 11 February 2022)

https://www.thorne.com/take-5-daily/article/embracing-a-positive-mindset-during-menopause-from-mayo-clinic (Access 11 February 2022)