Menopause & Spirituality

After my hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, I immediately post- op, was in medically induced menopause.  As a cancer patient I am not able to take anything hormonal to help.  I am also not able to take anything holistic to help me.  I needed to align my mind, spirit  to my body in a way that I never had before.  Early on, I knew I wanted to heal.  I set my mind that I was going to get through this with minimal side effects.

Some effects of menopause are:

1. hot flashes
2. cold flashes
3. night sweats
4. feeling clammy and sweaty
5. heart palpitations
6. feeling irritable
7. moody
8. insomnia
9. low sex drive
10. irregular or no periods
11. dry vagina
12. feeling tired- fatigued
13. anxiety 
14. depression
15. lack of focus
16. poor concentration
17. memory lapses
18. urinary incontinence
19. skin issues
20. aching joints and muscles
21. sore breasts
22. headaches
23. digestion issues
24. bloating
25. worsening allergies
26. weight gain
27. hair loss
28. increase facial hair
29. dizzy
30. vertigo
31. body odour issues
32. feelings of electric shocks
33. tingling in arms and legs
34. bleeding gums
35. bad breath
36. osteoporosis
37. weakened fingernails
38. ringing ears

I have experiences every one of these symptoms.  As more of my friends hit the perimenopause- menopausal years, I felt inclined to write about what has been working for me the past 6 years.

Menopausal problems in "The Secret Language of Your body" by Inna Segal says this: Fear of aging, feeling unworthy of love and attention.  Feeling sorry for yourself.  Fear of not being attractive.  Rejecting your feminine side.  feeling useless, past your  'use-by' date.

I find it very interesting that as I have learned to love myself and heal my wounds of the past that I am not exhibiting many symptoms.  Sure, there are days where the headaches are intense ( I also get chinook and tension headaches).

Learning to love myself has been a journey.  I never used to love my body.
I have an amazing mentor though that is helping me love myself. These are some things I have learned that I think will be of help for you too!

1. write your body a letter ( I did and it was amazing!)
2. learn to flip the negative self talk with positive affirmations.
3. speak your truth, even when your voice shakes
4. forgive yourself
5. practice extreme self care.  we are a human being, not a human doing.
6. accept yourself.  love the skin you are in.  right now.  this weight.  this height.  this age.
7. create space just for you to experience JOY every day
8. practice gratitude
9. stretch your body and try new things.
10. eat high vibration foods 
11. drink lots of water.. hydration is key!
12. align to a Power greater than you.  I call him GOD.
13. learn who your angels are.  Ask them for help.

I get it, the body changes.  A friend said to me though, if I  realized that God created women to go through menopause with grace and ease and I aligned to that truth, then I wouldn't  experience it.  I believe it.  I know that the physical body shows aging.  Skin sags, we develop lines and wrinkles and it does things we aren't used to.  When we embrace the changes and love ourself then we not only get through it, we grow through it.

I have learned to look in the mirror, into my eyes and lovingly tell myself I matter and I am enough.  I know I am loved by the Divine and that I am cherished by those closest to me.  I was told by my mentor to go where the love is and to put my focus there instead of where I am not celebrated.  That it is ok that not everyone will like me.   A Course In Miracles, has taught me I am perfect, whole and complete to God.  That really resonates with me as everything I do is because I want to make him proud of me.  I want others to see God in me.  As I pray each day, as I align with Him, as I ask for protection and ask to be of service, I step more into the light.  I fill up each day and even on the days I am sad, I do something to shift my vibration.

I have a mentor that I stay close to.  I do my homework.  I learned that committed + consistent = SUCCESS!!!  and I know that the best revenge to the haters is massive success!!  I am willing to change.  I am willing to dig deep and heal.

I have learned to celebrate my body and appreciate all its functionality and not its physicality.   I list what I love.. I love that my smile is my superpower.  I love that I have a cute nose.  I love my fingers.  I love my lips.  I love that I can hear, see, feel and know.  I love that I can walk places.  I honour and respect that God created me.

It is very important to honour and respect ourself.  Through the Goddess work I learned to love my body as a temple.  It is what houses my soul.  I am sacred!!  I am special and I am loved!!

This past weekend I went to a yoga retreat.  I did as much as I could do and loved myself through it.  I stretched my body to do things it has never done and I can't wait to do more.  My teacher told me that yoga is meant to become  a part of you.  It is movement and breath.  I loved it!!

"And If I asked you to name all the things you love, how long would it take for you to name yourself?"

You might be asking, but Giuliana I don't know how to love myself! 
Then I would say just start.  Baby steps.  We are progress not perfection. This journey for me has been 6 years to this point.  There were days I would say the affirmations, and I would also be thinking it is b.s.  I truly had to fake it til I made it.  It is a journey not a destination.
Here are 12 things you can do to start to love yourself:

1. Express your gratitude every day.
2. be positive
3. do not compare yourself to anyone
4. practice kindness
5. nurture relationships you love
6. develop strategies for overwhelm
7. forgive, forgive, forgive
8. learn to BE
9. practice JOY
10. commit to your goals and set intentions as life with no intention lacks direction
11. practice spirituality and align to source
12. take good care of your body

I hope you know I love being of service and if you would love an angel card message of love or of inspiration and direction, or if you want to chat, I am available.  

does this blog resonate with you?  I would love to hear from you.  leave me a message.  Connect with me on facebook on my business page atwww.facebook.com/healwithgiulianamelo
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