From Pain to Purpose: How Perimenopausal Changes Can Awaken Your Calling
From Pain to Purpose: How Perimenopausal Changes Can Awaken Your Calling
When the Hot Flashes Hit... So Does the Existential Crisis
You’re waking up drenched in sweat at 3:00 a.m. again. Your heart's racing, your brain's foggy, and that spicy text from your partner? Meh. You're tired of Googling, “Why do I feel like I’m losing my mind?” and wondering if you’re becoming someone you no longer recognize.
If this sounds like you, friend—you’re not broken. You’re becoming.
Perimenopause is more than just a hormonal rollercoaster—it’s a sacred (and often sweaty) invitation to come home to yourself. As a Traditional Naturopath and Functional Diagnostic Nutrition® Practitioner who works with high-performing women who feel like they’re falling apart, I want to offer you a fresh perspective.
Maybe… just maybe… the discomfort isn’t here to torment you. Maybe it’s trying to wake you up.
Let’s unpack how the chaos in your body could actually be a divine nudge toward your calling.
🔥 Metabolic Mayhem or Divine Redirection?
During perimenopause, your estrogen, progesterone, and cortisol levels start to shift like tectonic plates under emotional pressure. The result? What we call Metabolic Chaos®—where your systems go a little haywire, and suddenly your reliable routines no longer serve you.
You may notice:
🫴🏾 Brain fog that makes you forget your own zip code
🫴🏾 Anxiety that used to only show up before big presentations—now it’s a daily guest
🫴🏾 Fatigue that no green smoothie can fix
🫴🏾 A deep restlessness, like something more is trying to emerge...
Here’s the reframe: what if these symptoms aren’t just hormonal—they’re healing opportunities?
In Functional Medicine, we look at the root—not just symptom suppression. And when we zoom out spiritually, we realize that our biology often reflects our inner world. Your nervous system, endocrine system, and gut-brain axis are all messengers. When they’re dysregulated, they’re not just complaining—they’re communicating.
✨ The Identity Shed: Who Are You Without the Titles?
Perimenopause often arrives during a season when you’ve “checked all the boxes” — career, family, service, success. And yet… something still feels off.
This is when the existential questions start rising:
Who am I if I’m no longer the caretaker, the achiever, the fixer?
What do I truly want?
What if I’ve built a life that doesn’t match my soul anymore?
These are not midlife breakdown questions. They’re awakening questions.
The hormonal unraveling can feel like you’re losing control—but it’s often a divine invitation to shed outdated roles and finally ask, “What is God calling me to now?”
Think of it as your personal spiritual molting. Uncomfortable? Yes. Necessary? Absolutely.
🔬 The Science + Spirit Connection: What the Data Doesn’t Always Tell You
As a Functional Practitioner, I see how physical symptoms often mirror emotional or spiritual misalignment. That’s why testing—not guessing—is so crucial. You deserve to know what’s going on beneath the surface.
Functional labs can reveal:
Cortisol dysfunction (hello, burnout)
Neurotransmitter imbalances (aka why you’re snappy and sad)
Gut inflammation (yep, your microbiome is in the mix)
Hormone fluctuations (not just estrogen, but thyroid and insulin, too)
But here’s the truth: labs don’t tell your full story. You’re not just a set of numbers—you’re a whole person with a soul, purpose, and calling.
And here’s the other truth: perimenopause is a natural transition. It’s not a disease, not a malfunction, but a normal part of life. For some women, depending on how their hormones shift and how well their bodies adapt, perimenopause can feel bearable—even empowering. For others, without support, it can feel unbearable. Everyone’s journey is different. With some positive lifestyle changes—nutrient-dense foods, stress management, quality sleep, joyful movement—this season doesn’t have to be a nightmare. It can actually be an opportunity to align your biology with your purpose.
💡 Divine Discomfort: Purpose Often Emerges Through Pain
God doesn’t waste your suffering. Your irritability, your tears in the car, your sleepless nights—they might be refining you, not punishing you.
Here’s what I see over and over in my practice:
|The woman who finally left the toxic job she’d been enduring for years…
|The mom who rediscovered her creativity and started painting again…
|The executive who pivoted into wellness coaching after her own healing journey…
Their turning point? Perimenopause.
What felt like falling apart was really a falling together—into the next chapter of their purpose.
🧠 Fun Fact:
During perimenopause, the brain actually re-wires itself! Research shows that estrogen shifts influence brain connectivity—especially in areas tied to memory, emotional regulation, and intuition. This is why so many women experience bursts of creativity, sharper intuition, or even a sudden “calling” to change careers or life paths.
It’s not “losing your mind”… it’s your brain literally upgrading its wiring for the next chapter of your life. ✨
🛠️ Next Steps: Tune In, Test Smart, Take Action
If you’re nodding your head or wiping away tears right now, I want you to know you’re not alone—and you’re not crazy.
Here’s how to move from pain to purpose:
1. Listen deeply – What’s your body trying to tell you? Journal. Pray. Breathe.
2. Test strategically – Functional labs can clarify what your symptoms are signaling.
3. Detox the noise – From processed food to toxic relationships, let go of what doesn’t serve.
4. Fuel your soul – Pursue the passions, callings, and gifts that have been whispering to you.
5. Partner with someone who gets it – You don’t have to DIY your healing. That’s what I’m here for.
🌱 Let’s Turn Your Wake-Up Call Into a Wellness Plan
Perimenopause doesn’t have to be a pitstop on the way to decline. It can be the birthplace of your next-level vitality and calling.
Ready to go deeper than symptom relief and uncover the message behind your metabolic chaos?
📥 Book a wellness consultation with me—we’ll explore your root causes and build a personalized plan that supports your physical, emotional, and spiritual renewal.
Because you were never meant to just survive this season. You were meant to rise in it. 💪🏾🌿
🍊 Sunshine Saffron & Citrus Yogurt Parfait
This dessert is creamy, zesty, and luxuriously fragrant—like sunshine in a glass. The saffron and citrus not only taste divine but also carry powerful hormone and mood-balancing properties. ✨
🌸 Ingredients (Serves 2)
1 cup unsweetened coconut yogurt 🥥
1 tbsp raw honey 🍯 (or maple syrup for vegan option)
Zest of 1 orange 🍊
½ tsp pure vanilla extract 🌼
1–2 threads saffron 🌿 (soaked in 1 tbsp warm water for 5 min)
¼ cup pistachios, chopped 💚
½ cup pomegranate seeds ❤️
½ cup orange slices 🍊
Pinch of cinnamon or cardamom (optional) 🌿
👩🏾🍳 Step-by-Step Instructions
1. Infuse the Magic: Soak saffron threads in warm water for 5 minutes until the liquid turns golden. 🌟
2. Whip the Creaminess: In a bowl, mix coconut yogurt, honey, orange zest, vanilla, and the saffron water until silky smooth.
3. Layer Like a Queen: Spoon half the yogurt mixture into glasses, add a layer of orange slices and pomegranate seeds, then repeat with the rest of the yogurt.
4. Crown with Crunch: Top with chopped pistachios and a sprinkle of cinnamon or cardamom.
5. Chill & Serve: Refrigerate for 30 minutes before serving (if you can resist!).
💪🏾 Health Benefits of Each Ingredient
Coconut Yogurt 🥥 – A gut-friendly probiotic base that supports digestion, mood, and immunity—crucial for balancing hormones.
Saffron 🌿 – Known as the “sunshine spice,” saffron has been shown to ease mood swings, anxiety, and even hot flashes. A natural antidepressant during hormonal shifts.
Orange 🍊 (zest & slices) – Rich in vitamin C and antioxidants, supports collagen (hello skin glow!) and boosts adrenal health.
Pomegranate ❤️ – Packed with polyphenols that support heart health, reduce inflammation, and may help balance estrogen.
Pistachios 💚 – Provide healthy fats, plant protein, and B vitamins—fuel for energy and hormone regulation.
Honey 🍯 – Natural sweetener with antimicrobial properties and trace minerals that give you energy without the refined sugar crash.
Cinnamon/Cardamom 🌿 – Both support blood sugar balance and digestion, reducing metabolic chaos symptoms.
✨ This parfait is like a metaphor for perimenopause itself: layers of complexity, surprising sweetness, and golden threads of wisdom running through it. 💛
📚 ✨ These resources remind us that perimenopause isn’t a “problem to fix”—it’s a transition to be supported. With the right knowledge, lifestyle shifts, and mindset, you can move from pain to purpose with grace.
Perimenopause is a natural transition: Harvard Health explains why symptoms vary so widely and why this stage is normal, not a malfunction → https://www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/perimenopause-rocky-road-to-menopause
Lifestyle support really works: The Institute for Functional Medicine shares how nutrition, movement, sleep, and stress care can reduce perimenopausal discomfort → https://www.ifm.org/articles/perimenopause-lifestyle-approaches-for-maintaining-optimal-health-and-wellness
Small shifts = big results: A Vogue feature on how one woman eased symptoms with simple lifestyle changes → https://www.vogue.com/article/the-5-small-lifestyle-changes-that-eased-my-menopause-symptoms-fast
Reframing menopause as a “second spring”: The Guardian highlights a hopeful, empowering perspective → https://www.theguardian.com/society/article/2024/jul/21/women-dealing-with-menopause-preparation-planning-australia
New research on symptoms: A Guardian‑reported study shows hot flashes and other symptoms need more attention even before menopause officially begins → https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/jul/26/ignoring-hot-flushes-is-wrong-study-challenges-assumptions-about-perimenopause-symptoms
Saffron for emotional balance: PubMed clinical trial showing saffron reduces anxiety and depression in perimenopausal women → https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34463070
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The health information on this blog is for general educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. It should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making any health-related decisions
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