Something Strange is Happening...

Working in the perimenopause space has allowed me to establish meaningful connections with women all over the globe.

And something strange is happening...

Even though, thankfully (and finally!), there is now much more information in the public domain about how women can manage their symptoms and optimize their health in the long term*… it's like, A LOT of information and many women are feeling overwhelmed.

Here's what’s happening (and the research confirms it).

Despite implementing many health and wellness practices, women still feel anxious, overwhelmed, exhausted, and disconnected. Women feel like they are "doing all the things," and they're still not getting to where they want to be.

Here’s why.

Even though the research is strong** that a sense of purpose and connection are crucial for total wellness, most modern approaches focus on physical and emotional practices (e.g., sleep, stress-management, mindfulness, exercise, nutrition, ALL.THE.PROTEIN, etc.) and neglect the spiritual dimension - and fair enough, it's not as sexy as an IR sauna. 

But neglecting the spiritual dimension is like sitting on a stool with only two legs; you can make it work if you keep your feet on the ground (and engage your core, I imagine), but you'll never feel completely comfortable and safe without that third leg.

Many in the biz would argue that the spiritual dimension of wellness is the most critical… that it is the foundation upon which all other dimensions can flourish.

What do I mean?

What do I mean when I use the term “spiritual” or “faith”? I don't mean "religious"... I am talking about tending to your soul; about believing in something greater than yourself - be it God, nature, source, divine, energy, or the universe. I am talking about discovering or nourishing your purpose, aligning with your values, and laying a solid foundation for total, true wellness. I love this definition from Brené Brown: “Spirituality is recognizing and celebrating that we are all inextricably connected to each other by a power greater than all of us, and that our connection to that power and to one another is grounded in love and compassion. Practicing spirituality brings a sense of perspective, meaning, and purpose to our lives.”

I'd add that practicing spirituality also brings a sense of peace... not a peaceful life (I wish!), but a chaotic life that can be lived with the profound peace that comes from purpose, meaning, and hope.

And the best part is that faith or spirituality does not need to be a part of your life today. You don’t need to believe in something bigger than yourself right now…you can be skeptical (cynical, even!). I was!

Faith or spirituality is available to EVERYONE, ALWAYS... literally, no matter what. I didn't know that. I had been told I needed to be on my best behavior to get my foot in the "spiritual door," and given my record (not literally) for over 30 years, I thought I was doomed (kind of literally).

As it turns out (thank God or the universe or the divine), the only thing that matters is what we do from this very moment forward.

So you can be skeptical (even cynical!) and mildly turned off by all the talk of "faith" and "spirituality"! You can even be wholly turned off by all the talk of "faith" and "spirituality",

I'd argue... what do you have to lose?

Weaving the thread of spirituality throughout my wellness journey changed everything and delivered the peace and purpose I’d been searching for most of my life.

Because it was always meant to be science + faith, not science vs. faith... it's the only way to total, true well-being.

Very sincerely,

Amanda

*I thought I'd summarize some of what we’ve learned (so far). 

• We now know that the benefits of hormone replacement therapy outweigh the risks for many women.

• We know that nutrition should look a little different for women as they enter midlife, as should exercise.

• We know that (although often elusive) quality sleep is non-negotiable, as is stress management.

• We know that women entering midlife require an inordinate amount of protein (like, all the protein!).

**Sources

1. Ryff CD. Spirituality and Well-Being: Theory, Science, and the Nature Connection. Religions (Basel). 2021 Nov;12(11):914. doi: 10.3390/rel12110914. Epub 2021 Oct 21. PMID: 34881052; PMCID: PMC8651234.

2. Lucchetti G, Koenig HG, Lucchetti ALG. Spirituality, religiousness, and mental health: A review of the current scientific evidence. World J Clin Cases. 2021 Sep 16;9(26):7620-7631. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v9.i26.7620. PMID: 34621814; PMCID: PMC8462234.

3. https://www.mckinsey.com/mhi/our-insights/in-search-of-self-and-something-bigger-a-spiritual-health-exploration

4. Bożek A, Nowak PF, Blukacz M. The Relationship Between Spirituality, Health-Related Behavior, and Psychological Well-Being. Front Psychol. 2020 Aug 14;11:1997. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01997. PMID: 32922340; PMCID: PMC7457021.

5. The Role of Spirituality and Religiosity in Subjective Well-Being of Individuals With Different Religious Status https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.01525/full

6. The Relationship Between Spirituality, Health-Related Behavior, and Psychological Well-Being https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.01997/full