In the lead-up to Thanksgiving, you might be seeing those words everywhere. Even if you’re not in the US.

However, when you’re in a world of pain or grief or a massive pit of worry, you may feel “I have nothing to be grateful for” and pull out your laundry list of what’s wrong.

It’s OK! First, acknowledge how you feel. Gratitude is not about clicking your heels 3 times and pretending everything is great. I get it – too many of us, it feels as if THE WORLD IS ON FIRE 🔥🔥when we are in perimenopause.

I invite you to stop, REALLY STOP and get present in this moment. This can be as simple as closing your eyes and noticing your breath.
Then, ask yourself “What’s right, right now?” And notice what IS right for you, right now at this moment.

For me, what’s right right now is my husband and I are healthy, we have a nice warm home and our family are doing well.

You may grumble and say “That’s easy for you, but my situation is different. I’m worried about X, Y and Z…”

I get it! I have been there. I had years in perimenopause and menopause that were really challenging AND this simple science-based technique has helped keep me from falling into an abyss of despair and dismay (and I have been very close to the edge at times, even sat on a balcony and wondered what it might be like to jump).

The science s pretty amazing. Just looking for gratitude drops our cortisol levels (stress hormones) by 23%, according to happiness researcher Shawn Achor. Then it gets even better. When we go to the FEELING of gratitude (not just thinking about it), it gets our bodies to produce dopamine and serotonin (the happy hormones!)

Like any new habit, this has to be practised over and over and over again.

At one of my darkest and lowest points, I started writing 3 things I was grateful for. – but there was NO feeling attached to it. My mentor called me out on it and helped me to recognize that just “going through the motions” was not helping me to feel better.

If you want to create an ongoing practice of going to the gym or yoga class, you have to make the commitment and then follow through. It is not easy to do it on our own.

“Accountability breeds response-ability.” I HIGHLY recommend getting an accountability buddy and practising this “What’s right, right now?” for the next 7 days (or more.) You will be amazed at the difference in how you feel and your outlook on life.

Please make sure to let me know how this works for you.

Do check out the podcast conversation I had earlier this year with Lori Saitz on gratitude and menopause

What’s Up on the Podcast This Week?

I have always been passionate about plant-based medicine whether that’s herbs, food, Bach Flower essences and medicinal plants. So when I got the chance to talk to two amazing female entrepreneurs about Cannabis and Menopause I jumped at the chance.

Tune in to hear my conversation with Dr Leslie Apgar (OB-GYN) and Gina Dubbé who are taking the cannabis industry by storm and making you rethink everything you know about ancient medicine. These best friends and business partners combined their unique skillsets to build a progressive business within a male-dominated industry, starting with a medical dispensary called Greenhouse Wellness and followed by Blissiva, a line of doctor-formulated cannabis-infused products designed for women.

In summary my top takeaways

It’s not about getting high. Low doses of THC can reduce anxiety and achieve a greater sense of relaxation.
Different strains for different pains. If you visit a reputable dispensary, their team can provide expert guidance on finding the right strain to address your unique symptoms.
Unwind without the downside of alcohol. While many of us reach for a glass of wine to reduce stress, cannabis is the better choice. In moderation, cannabis can provide a sense of calm equivalent to getting a massage and you won’t experience the side effects of alcohol,
It can improve your sex life. Cannabis reduces anxiety and increases pleasure, especially for women.

To learn more hear the full episode HERE

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THE NEWS HEADLINES

Menopause at work is the front and centre of many conversations this week. And these UK stats which of course look similar in much of Europe, North America, Australia/NZ and even parts of Asia (Japan, Korea, Singapore) point to the importance of smashing the ageism in our workplaces for multiple reasons.

This week we saw some significant moves in recognising the importance of menopause at work and putting in place real steps

The NHS in the UK allowing women to work from home as well as other measures around uniforms and lighter duties if required

In Australia, Unions Call For Menstrual And Menopause Leave Across Australia

And an excellent article on the Gender Pension Gap and the importance of keeping menopausal women working from a personal finance perspective. Great report from Fidelity International

Stay tuned for my podcast episode with senior Deloittes manager Karen Stein from Sydney in the new year. It was one of the most balanced actionable conversations I have ever had on the subject of menopause at work.

I know I have been quieter than usual on social but I am honouring the quiet inward movement of Water-winter. We need to take time in our lives to move into a Yin state,

In addition to more sleep and rest, during winter our state of mind should be quiet and reflective. The Nei Jing( founder of modern TCM) says,

“Allow the mind-will to enter into a hidden state as if shut in – not unlike someone with secret intentions, not unlike having already made secret gains.”

Interestingly, even in the western world, we have traditions that encourage this quiet reflection. Thanksgiving is at the end of November every year (in the Chinese calendar winter is November through January).

“The three months of winter denote closing and storage. Water freezes and the earth breaks open. Do not disturb the yang - go to bed early and rising late. You must wait for the shining of the sun. Allow the mind-will to enter into a hidden state as if shut in – not unlike someone with secret intentions, not unlike having already made secret gains. Avoid the cold and seek warmth. Refrain from sweating as it causes the Qi to be carried away quickly. This is in resonance with the Qi of winter and the Way to nourish storage.” (The Great Treatise on Regulating the Spirit with the Four Seasons, Su Wen Chapter 2)

Clarissa xo

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Heart of Menopause

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