If you always do what you've always done...
Remember when you could eat what ever you wanted, drink coffee, multitask conflicting priorities and stay up late without a blink of the eye?
Oh how times change when you hit perimenopause!
However – contrary to popular western culture belief, this time in your life is definitely not the beginning of the end but and invitation to deepen your experience of life and reinvigorate your relationships.
To project forward into new possibilities, let’s look at some facts.
Perimenopause is the transitional phase leading up to menopause that can bring about a mix of physical and emotional changes that may impact a woman’s self-confidence.
Perimenopause can start as early as 35 for some women and anywhere between 5 months to 15 years!
During that time, fluctuating hormones, physical symptoms, and societal expectations can all play a role in how women perceive themselves during this time.
In this blog we’ll explore some strategies and mindset shifts that can help enhance your self-confidence and empower you to embrace your journey through perimenopause with grace, playfulness and self-assuredness.
Practice Self-Compassion:
During your time in perimenopause, it’s important to be compassionate with yourself and understand the changes you’re experiencing are a natural part of the normal ageing process. Be kind to yourself and remind yourself that you are going through a transformative phase. Chemically you are literally becoming a different person to treat yourself with the same understanding and patience you would offer a close friend. Celebrate your strengths and accomplishments, and remember that self-confidence is an ongoing journey.
Embrace Body Positivity:
Physical changes, such as weight fluctuations, changes in skin elasticity, or shifts in body shape can sometimes impact self-confidence. Encourage a body-positive mindset by appreciating and accepting your body in it’s current state. You can do this by focussing on what your body can do and what it has achieved rather than how it looks. Look for activities that make you feel good such as nature walks or exercising for enjoyment and overall wellbeing rather than solely for appearance. Surround yourself with body positive role models and allow yourself to challenge societal ideals of beauty.
Non-negotiable Self-Care Rituals:
Creating time to invest in elf-care and protecting that time can have a profound impact on your self-confidence. Prioritise activities that bring you joy and boost your sense of self-worth. This could include practicing mindfulness, being in your favourite park, engaging in a new hobby, taking a relaxing bath with your favourite essential oils, pampering yourself with skincare routines or indulging in activities that delight your senses. By nourishing your mind, body, and spirit, you can cultivate a positive self-image and enhance your self-confidence.
Seek Support:
Connecting with others who are going through a similar phase can be incredibly empowering and remind you that you are not alone in this journey. Look for support groups, join the Conscious Menopause Academy on Facebook or find a local menopause support network (or create one) where you can share experiences, gain insights and receive encouragement. Be intentional about surrounding yourself with people who uplift and support you and don’t hesitate to lean on friends, family or professionals when you need additional support.
Embrace Your Wisdom:
Perimenopause is a time of transition, but it’a also a time when women can realise their accumulated wealth of knowledge and wisdom. Celebrate this stage of life as an opportunity for personal growth and self-discovery. Recognise the skills, experiences and expertise you have acquired over the years by documenting all of your accomplishments to date. Try journalling about your life’s experiences in 10 year incremental blocks and let this knowledge boost your self-esteem. You may want to write a column for a magazine or realise you have some juicy life stories that would make a great book! Embrace your unique perspective and use it to navigate your perimenopausal phase with sense of humour and inner authority.
Positive Affirmations:
Reframe your negative self-talk and cultivate a deep self-trust by practicing positive affirmations. Create a list of affirmations that resonate with you, pin your favourite ones in places where you’ll see them daily like near light switches or on your bathroom mirror and repeat them daily. An example of a positive affirmation is “I am always in the right place at the right time” or “I love my body and my body loves me”. Take your affirmation practice one step further by saying them in front of the mirror as you look lovingly into your own eyes… By consciously focusing on positive self-affirmations, you can shift your mindset and cultivate a stronger sense of self-confidence.
Remember, perimenopause is a time of change and transformation and it is essential to nurture yourself physically, emotionally and spiritually during this phase. By practicing self-compassion, embracing body-positivity, prioritising self-care practices, seeking support, embracing your wisdom and using positive affirmations you can enhance your self-confidence and consciously navigate perimenopause with deep sense of self-assuredness. Know that you are not alone on this journey and by bringing your awareness to the changes happening in your body with curiosity and love and celebrating your unique experiences, you can cultivate a strong sense of self-confidence that will carry you through this transformative phase and beyond.
If you feel like you would like some 1:1 support in deepening your self-care and reinventing yourself through (peri)menopause please check out my 12-week transformation mentoring program NOURISHED.
Or if you’d like to book in a free 15-minute Discovery Call with Claudia, you can do so by clicking HERE.
With love, Claudia x