Nourishing Your Mindset: Flourishing Through Life's Seasons

As we weave a path towards a holistic approach to health, we often place the priority on physical nourishment through food & lifestyle choices. Whilst I think these aspects are paramount, an aspect that is frequently overlooked, yet is equally crucial, is nurturing our mindset. As a Nutritional Therapist dedicated to supporting women through their various life stages, from menarche to fertility to menopause, I've come to appreciate the profound impact mindset can have on overall well-being. In this blog post, I aim to show the importance of cultivating a positive mindset & the empowering effects it can have on navigating life's seasons whilst giving you my perspective too.

The Power of Mindset:

Our mindset encompasses our beliefs, attitudes, & perceptions towards ourselves as well as the world around us. Research has shown that our mindset significantly influences our experiences & outcomes in life. Carol Dweck, a renowned psychologist, introduced the concept of a "growth mindset" versus a "fixed mindset." Those with a growth mindset embrace challenges, persist in the face of setbacks, & view failures as opportunities for growth, whereas individuals with a fixed mindset tend to avoid challenges & perceive failure as a reflection of their abilities. Studies have demonstrated that individuals with a growth mindset are more resilient, adaptable, & ultimately, more successful in achieving their goals (Dweck, 2017).

Fertility & Mindset:

The journey towards conception can be emotionally challenging & often times I find that women shoulder a lot of the weight of this challenge with limited support. Whilst nutrition plays a pivotal role, as can medical intervention in some cases, nurturing a positive mindset to complement these efforts is an integral part too. Research suggests that stress & anxiety can adversely affect fertility by disrupting hormonal balance & menstrual cycles (Rooney et al., 2018). Fostering a mindset of hope, resilience, & self-compassion, women can enhance their emotional well-being & optimise their chances of conceiving.

Menstrual Cycle Health & Mindset:

The menstrual cycle is not just a physical process but also a reflection of our overall health & well-being (or as I often call it the 5th Vital Sign). Stress, inadequate self-care (poor food choices being part of this), & negative thought patterns can manifest as irregular cycles, painful periods, & other menstrual disturbances. Cultivating a positive mindset, self-care practices such as adequate nutrition, exercise, & stress management, can promote hormonal balance & menstrual health (Gollenberg et al., 2010).

Menopause & Mindset:

Menopause marks a significant transition in a woman's life, accompanied by physical, emotional, & psychological changes. While menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, mood swings, & sleep disturbances are some of the common symptoms, our mindset can influence how we perceive & cope with these changes. Studies suggest that women with a positive attitude towards menopause report lower symptom severity & better quality of life (Hunter & Smith, 2024). Embracing menopause as a natural phase of life & adopting a mindset of self-acceptance & resilience can empower women to navigate this transition with grace & confidence.

My Experience:

On my own journey mindset has been a key factor in helping me find my purpose & drives me forward each day. Whilst I would have always characterised myself as a resilient person there was a time where I was depressed & wasn’t happy in my life. When I took a step back & tried to understand why things were the way they were, I realised that there was nowhere to assign blame; I had slipped into a negativity bias, something which we are all naturally programmed for. Many centuries ago the narrative could have gone something like “I saw a bear in that part of the woods yesterday so I’m not going there again” It was designed to protect us by learning from the “bad” thing. However modern life is far more nuanced than what our primitive ancestors experienced. We need to challenge our thoughts of the perceived “bad thing” & question if they really are true, or are we letting our brain call the shot under the guise of “protection”. Once then can we develop a mindset that is curious then we can look to grow and learn from every challenge that is thrown at us. Willingness to embrace new ways of thinking helped change my mindset. It took time & lots of work on myself by myself, with therapists, coaches & other modalities for me to show up now as the truest version of myself possible. Everyone is different, what you may need to shift your mindset may be a simple change or you may need some support along the way. Neither is better or wrong, just different.

Final Thoughts:

Nurturing a positive mindset is not a luxury, it is a fundamental aspect of a holistic approach to your health & well-being. Whether embarking on the journey of fertility, navigating the ups & downs of the menstrual cycle, or embracing the transition of menopause; our mindset shapes our experiences & outcomes. By cultivating a growth mindset, embracing self-compassion, & adopting empowering beliefs, women can harness the power of their minds to thrive through each of life's seasons.

Until next time,

Nikki x

Please note that this blog post is for information purposes only and does not constitute medical advice.

References:

Dweck, C. S. (2017). Mindset: Changing the way you think to fulfil your potential. New York: Little Brown.

Rooney, K. L., et al. (2018). The Relationship Between Stress & Infertility, 20(1), 41–47.

Gollenberg, A.L. et al. (2010) ‘Perceived stress and severity of perimenstrual symptoms: The biocycle study’, Journal of Women’s Health, 19(5), pp. 959–967. doi:10.1089/jwh.2009.1717.

Hunter, M. and Smith, M. (2024) Living well through the Menopause. New York: Little Brown.