“The Cave You Fear to Enter Holds the Treasure You Seek”  

Attributed to Jospeh Campbell

Aging, facing mortality and menopause are caves we fear but fear is never all bad. There are silver linings.

Menopause is not the end. Menopause is a tunnel not a cave.

Sharing information and diverse experiences helps women feel less scared and more prepared. Here at Meno Collective we want to share the good stuff too.  

It’s time to make peace with Menopause. What you resist persists.  

Accessing support and treatment for symptoms should be the right of all women. However, confronting aging, mortality and opportunities to heal and grow are not things even the gold standard treatment of HRT will help with.

These are opportunities for growth. We call that #menopossibility  

Menopause is a transition and transitions take time.

Perimenopause is the lead up to menopause and it’s the most challenging time. Menopause is a day. It's one day after 12 months of no period. Perimenopause can take up to 8-10 years and then finally you are post-menopausal. 

10 Upsides of Menopause 

1. No more periods. Leave the irregular perimenopausal periods (and flooding) behind you. No more period-proofing outfits and elevated iron levels are wonderful. Bloating, PMS and unpredictable hormone related mood challenges behind you, you relax and feel secure. You experience less pain and cramping.  
2. Wisdom. You become your own wisdom keeper. The combination of your personality and your experience is invaluable. And you have 15+ more years of productivity and creativity to contribute. You are an untapped economic force and talent pool. You know your worth. You are twice as likely to be a successful entrepreneur as a 20-year-old. After years of pushing on and ignoring your bodies signs and symptoms, you find new respect for the wisdom of your body (regardless of what size clothes you wear)
3. Boundaries. All the hormones that kept you focused on caring for everyone else are dropping away and it’s liberating. After years of being there for others, you are now more about you and it is essential. Changes to your brain circuitry help you establish boundaries, say no occasionally and give a few less F’s about what everyone else thinks. You protect your time and energy and step into purpose.  
4. Self-compassion. You finally realise self-criticism doesn’t work because if it did, it would have worked by now. It doesn't feel good. Dialing self-consciousness down you direct the same empathy and support you give others towards yourself. As midlife continues to throw challenges at you (inevitable), you acknowledge how you feel and ask yourself what need to feel grounded. You meet your needs. The self-compassionate you is more productive and fulfilled.  
5. Going slow. You embrace useful discomfort including slowing down and sitting still. It was terrifying at first. You adopt new practices to support you. Mediation settles your nervous system, and you are rewarded with oxytocin and dopamine. With less anxious mutlitasking, your mind can focus again. You create space to figure out what you want. Joy and meaningful connection are high on the list.  
6. Growth. Owning your menopause experience you enter an exciting phase of growth opportunities in many aspects of your life. New jobs, careers, partners and friends. Now is a good time to make decisions. Just not all at once. Your brain has adjusted and your career gains momentum. Growth supports your physical and mental health.  You thought you had lost your edge and you were wrong. You own your health. You are not done.  
7. Freedom. You choose yourself and change.  Your hormones have changed. Your body has changed. Your mind has changed. You embrace newfound freedom. It feels authentic because it is no longer all about pleasing others. You have the freedom to change the old stories and ways of being that no longer serve you.
8. JOMO (joy of missing out). With so much going on in your midlife, you focus your energy on decisions that matter. Fad diets, new exercise trends or “must have” fashion items are things you don’t waste your precious decision making on. You free up mental capital and you chose not to succumb to obligations to turn up to every event or occasion. In fact, you find joy in missing out. You enjoy your own company.    
9. Strength. You are stronger mentally and physically. You wished you could find your “old self” but not any more because the "new you" is emerging. You are sleeping again and exercising to keep your muscles, mind and bones strong. You feel more engaged and energised than you have in years. You move often and your brain thanks you for it. You know you can start new habits any time and benefit within weeks.  
10. Leadership. You step into your power embracing feminine and masculine leadership traits. You might even think like a man and act like a woman.  With less fear about what everyone else thinks, you speak your mind. You take a stand and fear conflict less. You talk about midlife and menopause openly and create a ripple effect of positive change for younger women. If you become a grandmother you enable the next generation to have more children, whose lives are longer.  

Menopositivity is real.

What positives have you experienced? We would love to hear about it.

When you are deep in perimenopause, not sleeping well, sweating through meetings and not feeling like yourself, these 10 upsides may not resonate. We have been there too. They may sound ridiculous (even offensive!). Remember menopause is a transition and transitions take time.

What you do now impacts what opportunities you embrace post menopause.  

Menopause Unplugged is an 8-week program for professional women. Are you interested in receiving guidance and support to manage perimenopause symptoms and optimise your midlife health so you can thrive in your career and your personal life? You can join our waitlist here.