You seem lighter.

There are few compliments that truly feel genuine, but today I was seen — and it felt great! While it felt wonderful, it felt even better knowing that I didn’t need the compliment to know it was true — and that was the best part of it all!

For the past few weeks, I’ve been taking a few natural supplements common to women in perimenopause. That alone has caused a massive shift for me — I’m sleeping again! Not totally through the night, but mostly. SUCH a game changer! I’ve also spoken to a counselor… two actually… and gained significant clarity about things weighing heavy on my heart and ultimately impacting my whole existence.

The result? I seem lighter. That was the compliment: “You seem lighter.”

I feel it. I see it in my reflection, and I notice it on my face in virtual meetings. I didn’t need the validation. I didn’t need the compliment. I knew, to my core, that although my shift might not be immediately perceivable to the people in my life, eventually it would be undeniable.

As we grow into ourselves, we really do change so much. What matters becomes undeniably clear. What we tolerate becomes less. We prioritize ourselves…finally. I wish so much that this empowerment came at a younger age, but getting here is definitely a process.

It isn’t just my mood that feels lighter. Everything feels lighter and honestly, it came from hearing a couple of simple sentences that gave me so much to think about!

One piece of advice was to not take things so personally. (I realize how basic and common this statement is, but sometimes these simple statements, said at just the right time, can be life changing.) People’s overractions often come from a place of overwhelm, and that has zero to do with you. The other is to choose myself in uncomfortable situations. Instead of bottling something up, you need to share what is bothering you, because no one’s comfort is more important than your own.

I spent many years trying to keep the peace. The truth is: this is both impossible and not your job! Or mine! Life is messy. We all have to play our parts, but our top priority needs to be ourselves. You cannot help anyone else if you are depleted. You can’t pour from an empty cup and such.

Some of the things I have done to lighten my life load;

-Took my work email off my phone. I am available during business hours only. Unless in an emergency, of course.

-Unfollowed a bunch of people/businesses that no longer resonate with me.

-Stopped accepting behaviours from others that make me uncomfortable or make me feel less than.

-Replenished my body with the missing ingredients it needs to function properly.

-Started saying “no” to my kids, and everyone else, if I don’t want to go. Wherever it may be.

You may want to dive in with multiple changes at once, or start small. Even the tiniest change, the tiniest vote in your favour, and I promise you will feel lighter. You are worth that much and more.

Wishing you the confidence to see the change in yourself and that being enough, but also a glow about you that others can’t help but notice.