Have you ever felt that you have lost that part of you that would ignite with passion and energy when you did something you really enjoyed? Do you feel you have lost your inner drive to follow things through. Are you coasting along and not really getting excited about anything? What use to drive you, no longer does and what you use to enjoy just leaves you feeling flat.
Of course we can feel this at anytime in life, particularly when we are burnt out, have been overdoing it and feeling overwhelmed. But in my work I meet so many women (women in particular) who have found after menopause this exact sense of lethargy. I wish to offer a holistic perspective.
Hormones would drive the rhythm in our life. A regular wave of feelings and emotions throughout the month, and with that our passions and virtues. The need for forward thinking and gain. A need to be loved and social connection. The drive to succeed, whether that was as a parent or in a career or running a business.
The Cycle of Life
Coming into the Autumn of our life can feel very strange indeed. We have lived for more years than is ahead of us and probably have less responsibility and more time on our hands. An ideal scenario to do things you have always wanted to do, yet why do we feel so bereft?
So where is the inner drive and passion that you have felt for most of your life?
Just as in nature there are natural seasons of life:
0 – 25 yrs (approximately) planting seeds to grow. We are developing our bodies and minds, carving an identity in this world, striving to be someone. The focus is outwards and is about building and strengthening who we are in all ways. The energy is outward focussed. This is the sunrise of our life.
25- 50 yrs (approximately) developing, learning and maturing. We’ve carved out a life for ourselves, whether that be family or career focussed. Our energy is expansive at this stage, it is the midday sun of our life, the summer time, where energy is most at use. Passion and creativity is high, the movement of energy is outgoing.
50 – 70 yrs (approximately). Standing strong like a mature tree with the back up of many of life experiences. You may feel like you have ‘made it’. You may be in a comfortable position, but things are starting to change. Your children have left home and are following there own passions. Your career is thriving and you are respected and revered for your experience and expertise. Yet something is changing within. You have less energy to spare, your hormones are changing. The things that use to bother you don’t anymore and perhaps your social connections have changed too. Adaptation is this key phase in life. The sun lower in the sky, with a softer glow, like the autumn time. The need to drive forward lessens and you are more discerning with your energy and you enter a period of reflection and spiritual discovery and realise you have a great deal of wisdom. But perhaps you also realise that your wisdom is not as valued in the work place and you can feel dispondent and disrespected. You may find yourself seeking something. A spiritual interest is sparked as you try to discover who are you now.
70 + (approximately) is the winter of life. Wisdom and insights. Where things that mattered before, really don’t anymore. The world becomes smaller and focus in on the little things that you do daily that matter for your health and mental wellbeing. Focus becomes inward and your inner earthly world starts to shrink. But your spiritual connection develops as your intuition and insights gain power.
How to Manage the Autumn of your Life
This is a time to spend time on developing your spiritual connection. But, it is helpful if you haven’t done so already to reflect back on your life.
To mentally celebrate on the achievements (we all have achieved something in life).
Its a great time to reflect on what you did, how you did it and learn from the lessons of your experiences.
But I can’t emphasis enough that this is an ideal time to go within, to delve into the depths of your being and discover who you truly are now.
Most important is what do you truly need – is it peace and quiet, friends that uplift you, spiritual connection?
Nature is our Nurture
When you are feeling sorry for yourself, or you are feeling like a victim, it dims your inner light. The best medicine is to be in nature.
Not just a quick 30 minutes, but immerse yourself (although that definitely helps) but a whole morning or afternoon sitting under a tree for example. Allowing thoughts and feelings to be free to be there and after a time, notice your mood and thoughts change, a new fresh flow of life energy is available.
When I do this I start to notice the changes in the wind, the smell of the earth and the animals and birds going about their business. Life becomes less about my life and more about the awakening of my senses.
Feeling the connection to life that has been around before humans were here on this earth.
So although we maybe it maybe the Autumn of life, but there is much to love and learn and experience in a different way than before.
Enjoy the vibrancy of colour that is around in the Autumn time, it is a reflection of what is within us too.
