Hello,
I want to welcome you to this meditation,
Menopause,
When you feel unseen.
Today,
I'd like to invite you to take a little time for yourself.
Perhaps you've been feeling that nobody really sees you lately.
Perhaps you're surrounded by people.
Taking care of things,
Doing what needs to be done.
And yet,
Somewhere inside you feel a little unseen.
Perhaps so much has changed in your life and you sometimes wonder whether anyone really understands what you're going through.
Or perhaps you don't even know how to explain it yourself.
If any of this feels familiar,
You're not alone.
And for the next few minutes,
There's nothing you need to explain,
Nothing you need to prove.
You can simply be here.
Find a comfortable position.
You might like to sit back,
Let your hands rest in your lap and allow your shoulders to soften.
And if it feels comfortable,
You can gently close your eyes.
Take a slow breath in.
And let it go.
Again,
Breathing in.
And breathing out.
There's nowhere else you need to be right now.
Nothing you need to do for anyone else.
Just these few minutes for yourself.
And now start to notice how you're feeling.
You don't need to change anything.
Perhaps you feel tired.
Maybe there's sadness,
Frustration,
Or a feeling that you can't quite put into words.
Or perhaps you're feeling perfectly fine today.
Whatever it is,
Allow it to be here.
You don't have to make sense of everything you feel.
And you don't have to explain it anymore.
Sometimes,
Particularly during menopause,
We can find ourselves wondering where we fit.
Our bodies change.
Our energy changes.
Things that once felt easy may take more effort.
And sometimes the people around us don't seem to notice.
Life carries on.
People still need things from us.
There's still meals to prepare,
Work to do.
Conversations to have.
And responsibilities to take care of.
And we carry on too.
But perhaps there is a part of us that would like someone to stop for a moment and ask,
How are you really?
Not because they need something from us.
Not because they want us to solve something.
But simply because they want to know,
Because they care.
If that's something.
You've been missing.
Allow yourself.
To acknowledge it.
It's okay to want to be seen.
It's okay to want someone to notice how you're feeling.
And it's okay if you don't always have the words to explain what's happening inside you.
You don't need to talk yourself out of those feelings.
You can simply acknowledge them.
Now bring your attention back to yourself.
Feel your body resting where you are.
Notice the gentle movement of your breathing.
Perhaps you can feel your feet touching the floor.
Or your hands resting against your body.
Let yourself settle here for a moment.
You don't need to be productive.
You don't need to look after anyone.
You don't need to be the person who holds everything together.
For these few moments you can simply be you.
And if you'd like to consider something How often do you look at yourself through the eyes of other people?
Through what they expect of you.
Through what they notice or don't notice.
Through whether they understand you,
Appreciate you,
Or recognize what you do.
It's understandable.
We all want to feel that we matter to the people around us.
But there is also a part of your life that belongs just to you.
Your thoughts.
Your feelings.
And your experiences.
The things that you've learned along the way.
The things you've survived.
The things you're still discovering about yourself.
And all of that matters.
Even when nobody else sees it.
You don't have to become someone different to deserve to be seen.
You don't have to do more.
You don't have to keep everyone happy.
And you don't have to pretend that everything is fine when it isn't.
You are allowed to be where you are in your life right now.
With everything you've experienced.
With everything that's changing.
And with everything you may not yet understand.
Take a gentle,
Slow breath in and slowly breathe out.
.
.
Perhaps for a moment you can let go of the need to make yourself understood.
Not forever.
Not because it doesn't matter.
But simply because you don't have to work at it right now.
You can rest.
You can breathe.
You can allow yourself to take up a little space in your own life.
Thank you.
And perhaps you can ask yourself,
Very gently,
What do I need a little more of in my life right now?
Maybe it's rest.
Perhaps it's understanding.
Maybe it's time for yourself.
Or perhaps it's an honest conversation with someone you love.
Or maybe you simply need a little less pressure to be everything to everyone.
You don't need to find an answer straight away.
Just notice what comes up.
And give yourself permission to take that feeling seriously.
And as we come towards the end of this practice.
Remember.
That being seen by others matters.
We need people who listen to us,
Understand us,
And make an effort to know who we really are.
You don't have to stop wanting that.
But while you find your way through this stage of life,
I hope you can also give yourself some of the understanding you've been wishing for from others.
You deserve that kindness too.
Take one more slow breath in.
And gently,
Breathe out.
Feel your body resting here.
Notice the ground beneath your feet.
And when you're ready,
Begin to bring your attention back to the room around you.
There's no need to rush.
Take your time.
And before you continue with your day,
Remember this.
Even when others don't see everything you are,
Your experience still matters.
Matter.
Be kind to yourself.
And thank you.
For spending.
These few minutes with me.
Till next time.
