Second Spring - a positive approach to menopause

As our understanding grows about the impacts of menopause, solutions are being found across the medical and cultural spectrum. Here I explore a concept from eastern philosophy that I believe can help women live healthier, more rewarding lives through the menopause.

There is no 'typical' menopause. Every woman's experience of it is unique to them.

The popular narratives usually dwell on the extremes, where women are either having a nightmare or barely noticing it. Of course the reality for most lies somewhere on the continuum between the two.

Only the lucky few are unaffected - just one in four women report "very few symptoms". For the rest, menopause tends to be characterised in terms of diminishment and loss. It's seen as a life stage to be ignored or endured, and maybe medically treated.

Many non-western cultures, however, take a very different approach. They still regard it as a time of change, but one that ultimately leads to rekindled energies and new opportunities. It's a phase that should be celebrated rather than lamented.

At the heart of this is the idea of the 'Second Spring'. While some aspects of menopause may feel a lot like autumn or winter - waning fertility for instance - winter doesn't last forever. The Second Spring is a symbol of a woman's capacity to re-emerge, with wisdom retained and vigour renewed.

Foster a new mindset

It's painfully ironic that many women attain senior roles in parallel with the onset of menopause. Just as the demands on their energy and performance are peaking, they find themselves being undermined by menopausal symptoms.

By adopting a Second Spring mindset - and corresponding behaviours - women are supported through the transition and set up for a life of fulfilment as they reach their later years.

This means first acknowledging and accepting that menopause is having an impact. You can't escape your own biology. Try to defy or ignore it - to push through regardless - and you're inviting more severe and longer-term problems in the future.

When I was first introduced to the concept of Second Spring, the effect was like re-setting my brain. It instantly allowed me to be a lot more accepting of what I was going through, and it also gave me back a powerful sense of hope.

Second Spring is the term that traditional Chinese medicine uses to describe the journey of menopause. In Japan they have a similar concept that they call konenki - in which ko means renewal and regeneration, nen means year or years, and ki means season or energy. And in India, in Ayurvedic terms, menopause is regarded as the age of the wise woman.

Change: still the only constant

Menopause is a natural process of change. This is true even when its onset is unexpectedly early or triggered by medical intervention. As with all kinds of change, it may turn out to be good, bad, or neutral, but it's most commonly a mix of all three.

Whether the effects are mild or severe, you need to respect and accommodate the physiological changes of menopause. Your bones, brain, heart and spirit all need to be looked after.

Many of the symptoms may be transitory. Hot flushes, poor sleep, brain fog and emotional swings usually settle naturally, although they can persist for years. These symptoms affect both home life and work life, and it's important to find ways to preserve your energies, to work with your body rather than fight against it.

In the work environment it can be especially hard to carve out the time to rest and recuperate. Professional responsibilities bring increased demands, and at the same time you're experiencing a dip in energy levels and mental resilience.

This is where the power of the Second Spring concept comes in. It reframes menopause from an ending to a new beginning, and it draws strength from the prospect of entering a new stage of life - one that's informed by wisdom and experience.

More than just a metaphor

You can't just think yourself through the challenges of menopause. While the right mindset is vital, you need to adopt new behaviours too.

Lifestyle changes are central to preserving your emotional and physical energy. Reducing stress is a top priority - not just for mental wellbeing but also for cardiac health, because arteries are more vulnerable to fatty plaque build-ups due to waning levels of oestrogen.

It's important to remember that this remarkable hormone is active in every system in the body, not just reproduction. Oestrogen contributes to maintaining brain energy, muscle mass and bone density, which is why the risk of osteoporosis is so much greater post-menopause.

We are pretty good at treating these conditions medically, but tend to be less diligent about reducing the risks through better nutrition, exercise or mindfulness. Lifestyle is really important.

Inspiring a cultural shift

Our belief at Second Spring Leaders is that women would be served by a cultural shift that recognises menopause as a new beginning rather than a closing chapter.

The Second Spring mindset is a challenge to the idea that women pass their peak with the onset of menopause, that the biology of half the workforce makes them destined to under-performance just because they've reached a particular age.

For most women menopause will demand adjustment and adaptation. But looking after yourself through this transition should not require you to abandon your ambitions.

Photo: Wilfried Santer (via Unsplash)