Embrace the change: how to love yourself in menopause

Menopause is so much more than difficult symptoms. All those horrible perimenopause symptoms that start prior to menopause can take a toll on your mental and emotional wellbeing.- resulting in low confidence, low self-esteem, a negative mindset, and low self-worth. As you wearily battle your menopause symptoms, self-love invariably ends up at the bottom of the pile - along with all of your other best intentions. But hope is not lost. Read my simple self-love tips that will instantly boost your self-esteem and help you to love yourself in menopause.

Love yourself in the mirror

Mirror, mirror on the wall....a changing shape, under-eye shadows from sleep problems in. menopause, and increasing weight gain, thinning hair and a variety of other unfortunate symptoms can make it disappointing to look at your reflection in the mirror in menopause. So much so, that it can be hard to find anything that you actually like about your appearance. Sadly, it can even trigger waves of self-loathing.

However, whilst it may not be the reflection you really want to see, it’s essential to recognise that these changes in your appearance are all a part of your menopause and ageing journey. Regardless of the external changes, your worth is NOT defined by your appearance but by who you are on the inside, and trust me - that same wonderful person is still in there!

It might not seem possible right now, but by learning how to love yourself by embracing these changes, you will emerge better and stronger for it. So, the next time you look in the mirror, I challenge you to acknowledge one positive attribute about yourself in your reflection, cherish the feeling, and begin to indulge in some much needed self-love.

Self-acceptance starts now

Whatever we resist, persists. Constantly living in the past when you looked and felt better will only make you feel even more miserable. The key to love yourself in menopause is through self-acceptance and that means showering yourself with kindness and compassion. It’s not giving up or giving in, or deluding yourself. It’s about being realistic, kind, and wise. Your body is changing and ageing at the same time, so welcome the beauty and strength that comes with a more mature age, wisdom and experience.

Cultivating self-acceptance will enable you to release the pressure of unrealistic expectations and it’s a much happier place to be than constantly wishing otherwise. When you next find yourself longing for things to be the same, replace those thoughts with positive affirmations such as, “I accept and love myself just as I am” or, “I accept myself unconditionally.” Go on, start right now, and how about a smile after each time you say one, hmm? 

Self-love in menopause requires a positive mindset

It can be hard to love yourself in menopause when you feel tired, grumpy, and misunderstood. In fact, it’s way easier to stay stuck in a negative mindset about menopause and just about everything else too... including the weather, the news, the traffic, the cost of living etc But where does it all get you?

Flip your negative thoughts! Rather than viewing menopause as the end, think of it as an exciting new beginning and an opportunity for personal growth and self-discovery. When you do this, you will shift your entire experience. When you’re too exhausted to exercise, for example, reframe your thoughts and think about using that time to catch up with a friend, indulge in a long hot bath, or read that book you’ve been longing to start.

Rather than berate yourself for everything you can’t do or didn’t do, your new positive mindset will teach you to make peace with it and embrace each day as an opportunity to try new things and adopt a new approach in this new chapter of life.

Put yourself first for once!

If you’ve raised a family, been running a home, or maybe taking care of elderly parents, the chances are you’re already accustomed to finding yourself at the bottom of the pile. Learning how to love yourself and put yourself first is NOT selfish; it's an act of self-preservation and self-empowerment.

The hormonal changes that menopause brings can leave you feeling drained and depleted, therefore prioritising self-care and self-love is vital if you’re to maintain your wellbeing and navigate this journey with resilience. This means setting boundaries, saying ‘NO’ when necessary and making time JUST FOR YOU by indulging in activities that light you up and feed your soul - all without guilt.

By putting yourself first, you’ll not only enhance the quality of your own life, you’ll become better equipped to handle the challenges of menopause and support those around us too.  

Love yourself with affirmations

There’s no better way to love yourself in menopause than by incorporating affirmations into your daily self-care routine. Defined as positive statements or phrases that are repeated to overcome a negative mindset and instil better beliefs, affirmations actually have the power to re-programme your subconscious mind, replacing self-limiting beliefs with more empowering ones. This in turn promotes a more positive mindset and self-image.

Affirmations can focus on various aspects of your life or even specific symptoms, such as low confidence, poor self-esteem, relationships, and negative self-talk, and can counteract and cultivate a mindset of self-love and acceptance.

Once you've identified the areas you wish to focus on, create affirmations that counter any issues you wish to improve. Make sure they’re positive, in the present-tense, and reflect the outcome you desire. For example, instead of saying "I will be confident," say "I am confident and capable in all that I do." Set aside dedicated times each day to repeat your affirmations.

TIP: early morning when you wake up, or before you go to bed are the times when your subconscious mind is most receptive. You can say them aloud or silently to yourself, whichever feels most comfortable. Be patient and trust in the process. Consistently practicing affirmations over time can lead to profound shifts in your mindset and wellbeing.

Meditation for Menopause and for self-love

Meditation for menopause can be very powerful, especially those for self-love as they can help cultivate more compassion and kindness towards yourself. It can give you a structured and supportive framework for exploring and nurturing more positive feelings and teach you to navigate the ups and downs of menopause with greater resilience. Try this 10-minute guided meditation below to embrace the change and love yourself in menopause. See how wonderful you feel at the end. 

Try to listen to this self-love meditation daily, and as you begin to love yourself more, you will learn that there's no better time than menopause to be kinder to yourself. Never underestimate the power of meditation for menopause!

How to find yourself in menopause

Learning to love yourself in menopause requires a multifaceted approach that must be tailored to suit you and your specific needs. At the heart of mastering menopause is learning to accept that change is necessary and inevitable at this stage of life. When you embrace the change rather than resist it, and when you invest in self-love techniques and be nicer to yourself, you will begin to find yourself again and discover personal growth, happiness, and fulfillment at this key stage of life. And as for the next chapter, who knows where your new-found self-empowerment will take you?

if you're struggling with any stage of menopause and want tips and advice to boost your physical, metal, and emotional wellbeing, book a FREE Menopause Consultation with Menopause Specialist, Julie Ann Garrido.

About Julie Ann Garrido

After menopause symptoms disrupted her life, Julie Ann Garrido turned to yoga and found a natural solution that restored her energy, confidence, and wellbeing - a solution that she'd been searching for over many years.

After certifying as one of only 700 menopause yoga teachers worldwide, Julie embarked on helping other women and founded an online yoga for menopause studio that brings beginner-friendly yoga directly to their home.

Julie's mission is clear: to help women navigate menopause with yoga and other natural solutions and to help them feel better FAST.