What the Perimenopause?!

For the last year or so, I’ve found myself almost unable to market my work consistently.

It’s not because I don’t love what I do. It’s not because I’ve run out of things to say. And it’s certainly not because I don’t believe in the work. I simply can’t force myself to take action that feels out of alignment.

And when I say “out of alignment,” I don’t mean anything unethical or harmful. I mean actions that, for whatever reason, don’t feel true for me in that moment.

If it doesn’t feel aligned, my whole system seems to respond with a hard no.

Looking back, I think this shift began several years ago. I started feeling called inward. I found myself questioning old beliefs, wrestling with fears, facing those fears, and doing a tremendous amount of processing.

Which is interesting, because part of my Human Design is to process deeply and then share what I’ve learned with my community—not necessarily while I’m in the thick of it, but once I’ve had time to integrate the experience.

That realization brought me back to something a dear friend once wrote to me: that the way I process was somehow wrong and not working.

I spent a lot of time with that statement.

Was it a projection? Maybe. Was it an invitation to trust myself more fully? Definitely.

Around the same time, another teacher shared something that has stayed with me ever since: “You don’t need to be fully healed to guide others. You can still make a profound impact.”

That landed deeply.

The version of you today could offer tremendous wisdom and support to the version of you from one year ago, five years ago, or ten years ago. We are all helping one another along the way.

And perhaps that’s the perfect segue into perimenopause, because if there is one thing I’ve learned, it’s that perimenopause rarely moves in a straight line. Your thoughts zigzag. Your emotions surprise you. You lose your train of thought and somehow still end up exactly where you were meant to go.

In many ways, this season has made me more compassionate, more sensitive, and more discerning. I feel wiser, though occasionally a little less sharp than I used to be. I care less about things that once seemed important, while at the same time caring more deeply about what truly matters.

For me, this season has also been a profound lesson in authenticity. Perimenopause has stripped away my ability to force, perform, or pretend. It has demanded that I listen more closely to my body and honor what is true.

A few things have supported me along the way.

First, a brief disclaimer: I’m not a doctor, and everyone’s experience is unique. Please consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your health routine.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) has been incredibly helpful. I started a few months ago, and it felt as though someone turned the lights back on. My energy improved, and I began feeling more like myself again.

Nicotine patches have also been surprisingly supportive. Some practitioners and researchers I trust have suggested they may help with lingering effects from COVID, and whether or not that is the mechanism, I’ve noticed they help my nervous system feel significantly calmer. In my experience, they have not felt addictive.

I continue to rely on adaptogens, especially Isagenix Ionix Supreme, a product I’ve used on and off for years. My integrative physician recently reviewed the ingredients and confirmed it is a solid formula (if you want more info on it or want to order some, let me know).

Magnesium, methylated B vitamins, and other targeted supplements have also been important, especially after learning that my vitamin B levels were quite low.

But the greatest support has been learning how to process emotions somatically and maintain a daily practice that grounds my nervous system through movement, breathwork, meditation, and prayer.

Or as my dear friend Tiffany calls it, tending to the “Central Divine System.” instead of the "Central Nervous System". I love that so much.

If you’re in the midst of perimenopause, you are not alone.

This season can feel messy, humbling, and wildly unpredictable. It can also be an invitation to stop overriding yourself and begin listening more deeply than ever before.

And in that process, you may discover a version of yourself who is more honest, more grounded, and more aligned than you’ve ever been.

If this resonates with you, I’d love to hear what has been helping you navigate this season. And if you’re looking for support, please reach out. This is the work I do, and it would be an honor to walk alongside you.