Gratitude is something that we should hold close at any age. Being grateful for what we have in our lives has so many benefits to emotional and mental health as well as overall happiness. Menopause is a time to be especially introspective and grateful, but it can seem hard to feel overwhelming gratitude when you are being overcome with hot flashes and feeling a bit crazy and not yourself. However, when times get tough, that is when gratitude is most important!
For me, gratitude is a huge part of self-care, and self-care for women especially is extremely important. All too often, women put themselves after others, whether it’s their spouse, children, work, or something else, and they forget to care for themselves.
I believe that the discipline of self-care begins with gratitude. Self-care is all about taking a moment for yourself to get into a space of joy and being. You can begin caring for yourself by taking a moment to look around in the chaos and negativity of our world and realize all the wonderful things you have in your life to be thankful for. This can shift your mindset to see things in a more positive light in everyday life. Leading with a grateful heart will help you to begin filling up your own cup and then turning to others with renewed energy and love.
Many women look at menopause as all “doom and gloom.” But there is so much life left to live, and this can be the most wonderful, fulfilling, juicy part of all of it! It is a great time to look back on all you’ve accomplished—your career, your kids, your relationship—and be thankful for the experiences that have brought you here. I believe by looking at and focusing on the good, you create a calmer, more joyful outlook, not only for yourself but also for your loved ones.
Life is not over when you hit menopause—it has only just begun! Starting with a heart full of gratitude and a commitment to caring for yourself, this phase can be the best one yet. Helping women find ways to not only embrace this stage of life but enjoy it is incredibly important to me. That’s why I founded the Menopause Support Group.
Meet Gwen Harris:
Raised in Zambia, Africa until she was 15, Gwen’s travels have spanned the globe. She understands cultural diversity and the power of making a global impact. Her professional and personal interests are equally as diverse.
“Forming the group out of my own personal menopause despair in 2013, I never imagined that my influence within this space would span the globe to over 120 countries.
Because of this expansive growth, ABC News featured Gwen and her group on “Good Morning America” in 2018.
“Managing the explosive growth of the group (now well over 100,000 members) has not been easy, but then, nothing in life that has lasting value is easy. I realized that the woes of menopause are a global issue, so my passion became what it is today. I am overwhelmed at the outpouring of support from our Menowave Care Providers. They have stepped up to offer their support and expertise as we cruise the Menowave together. Without them, I could not do this. My heart is forever grateful to these outstanding women,
Join the VIP Menopause Support Group so that you can receive weekly newsletters filled with menopause support as well as education within the group.