Let’s face it, the word “menopause” is entirely inadequate as a name for this time in women’s lives when we are shifting from our reproductive years to another phase of life. The word “menopause” simply means the cessation (or pause) of menses (our period). In our times, menopause is mostly treated as a medical problem and a “loss of youth” problem in our youth worshipping culture.

Let’s acknowledge the complexity of menopause, and how different it can be for different women. I’ve been lucky that the physical aspects of the process have been very easy for me so far. (Thanks, Mom!) I have friends for whom it’s been tough. I don’t wish to belittle or minimize those challenges.

But I also want us to think more deeply about this. and acknowledge the possibilities it opens up for us. Wow, there is so much more to it than just the cessation of periods! What if this process is not one of losing, but one of gaining?

Many, many women in this time of life are coming into their own in new ways, stepping up and speaking out, creating new businesses, becoming entrepreneurs, starting healing and coaching practices. So many of my friends and colleagues are doing this. Our periods may have dried up, but we have tapped into a vital and exciting creative flow that we have the time and energy to pursue. We are remaking ourselves and reinventing ourselves. We are reclaiming our deeper, authentic selves, and our voices in the world.

And, I acknowledge that our western culture gives us the resources and ability to do this, since we are not occupied full time making sure the necessities of life are covered. However, our western culture has also devalued elders, and older women especially. (Truthfully, in spite of the gains women have made, our culture still devalues women in general, as I discuss in my Voice Your Value™ eBook, which you can get here: https://ariananewcomer.com/voiceyourvalueebook)

Let’s restore the tradition of the wise woman; the woman who becomes a sage, mentor and counselor as she moves into the time of life when outward appearances don’t matter so much, we care less about what others think, and can consciously delve deeply into the richness of experiences our lives have provided us, pull the lessons from them, and teach others. Let’s respect and honor the wise women in our lives and across the world.

I love Barbara Marx Hubbard’s word, “Regenopause.” Here’s how she describes it:

“As women experience menopause, anticipating decades of fruitful years ahead, the realization dawns that they are entering the greatest period of freedom and creativity in their lives. The opportunity to give birth to their authentic feminine self opens, and often, new work in and for the world presents itself… As our bodies age, creativity and spirituality awaken… As female bodies are capable of transformation to give birth to the child, they are capable of this later transformation as women give birth to their essential selves, and extend their life span, education, and creativity.”

We know from neuroscience that our brains continue to grow and develop throughout life, given the right stimulation. As we transform ourselves, we’re regenerating our brains, too. Many of my friends and colleagues are training in new fields, changing their practices of medicine or psychotherapy to better reflect their values and extensive knowledge, adding online components to their businesses, starting coaching practices – learning and growing in order to be able to contribute more, teach more, be better mentors, and contribute to the change we need. And we are supporting and mentoring each other as we grow.

We are living longer. What are we going to do with our second half of life? I guarantee, we’re not going to sit on our couches eating bon-bons. My partner’s mom just turned 100 this September, and still has all her wits about her. Her perspective on things is invaluable, and I’m grateful she is in my life.

I feel freer than ever before in my life to pursue my OWN work, to write, to speak, to fully claim my own voice in the world. To create my own unique body of work that arises out of my life’s journey, out of EVERYTHING I’ve done, not just the formal education I’ve had.

My calling is to heal the soul’s voice to joyfully express its divine purpose. I’m working for true partnership between men and women, that leads to a paradigm shift in the way the world works. When women reclaim their authentic voices, and use them to speak up and speak out with power and confidence, we can create this shift.

If you’d like to learn more about how to reconnect with your authentic voice, and speak with power and confidence about what you do, grab my eBook here: https://ariananewcomer.com/voiceyourvalueebook

Barbara Marx Hubbard says: “As essence meets essence, as women develop true connections with each other, the wisdom and experience of older women working with the energy of the young would unleash a vast evolutionary potential for lasting change into the world.”

I claim my place as a wise woman. I claim it for my friends and colleagues, for my sister and mother. I claim it for my clients. I claim it for you. We wise women have SO much to offer. Not only that, we are NEEDED.

Menopause, shmenopause. I’m doing Regenopause. Let’s change the world.

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What are your thoughts on todays article? Did you have any a-ha moments? I’d love it if you’d share them with me in the comments section below.

Ways I can support your further:
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