Menopause did a number on me.

I have always thought of myself as driven AND calm, striking a balance between “doing” and truly enjoying and being present to my days.

With estrogen dropping off the cliff, that has changed. I now experience so much more anxiety than I did and even with meditation, daily walks and my robust mental tool kit it seems to get the best of me at times. It’s like a river that flows under the calm and joyful way I go about my days.

And this week has certainly triggered stress and anxiety for me and for everyone I have spoken to. Perhaps you too.

One technique I’ve greatly benefitted from is tapping (EFT – Emotional Freedom Technique), specifically using an app called The Tapping Solution. Tapping helps you rewire your brain to reduce anxiety, release stress and trauma and allow more ease and peace in your life.  One of the sessions called Releasing Anxiety (w/ Jessica Ortner) shares some thoughts I find to be very helpful and my hope is they are for you too.

“Right now and right here, I am safe.

I don’t need to have all the answers now.

Even before anything changes

I can begin to relax.

I can’t stress myself to a solution,

I choose peace instead…”

It’s worth repeating… “I can’t stress myself to a solution, I choose peace instead.”

So today and every day I try to relax, trust the process and choose peace. It usually works. For me that’s about focusing on what I can control (i.e. – tuning out the media), doing what I can (and want to do) and being intentional about bringing peace and kindness to my little corner of the world.

Do all you can to protect your peace. You and everyone around you will benefit. And quite frankly, anything else is a waste of your precious energy and time.