Menopause can feel like a long and bumpy ride. With your hormones fluctuating wildly, leaving a trail of mood swings, hot flushes and fatigue in their wake, many women struggle to feel positive and see the light at the end of the menopause tunnel.

However, the journey of menopause isn’t all bad – there can be several positives. For many women, they emerge as a calmer, more content and confident version of themselves. If you stop to look on the bright side, you’d be surprised at just how many positives there are with the menopause: it all starts with a shift in mindset.

So, can menopause be positive? Yes! Here are 5 reasons to feel positive about the menopause, whether you’re currently experiencing the change, you’re several decades away, or you’re post-menopausal…

5 reasons to feel positive about the menopause

1. You’ll care less about what other people think

After the menopause, many women talk about how much less they sweat the small stuff and feel more confident and comfortable in their skin than they ever did before.

‘The most powerful menopause change centres around your identity, who you are, and what kind of person you want to be,’ says says Kate Codrington, author of Second Spring: The Self-Care Guide To The Menopause (Harper Collins, £14.99).

‘It’s not our core cracking up, but the superficial, outdated roles falling away, allowing us to be more of “ourselves”,’ she adds.

2. New dreams will emerge like fresh shoots

Far from becoming invisible or irrelevant, the menopause is a time for growth and opportunity, for you to get out there and realise your dreams without worrying about failure or what people might think.

When you feel ready, pace yourself, breathe deeply into your belly and notice the different body sensations and emotions. Remember to show yourself plenty of encouragement and kindness.

Remember – it’s never too late to go after a dream. Whether it’s a travel location, a career goal or an instrument you’ve always wanted to play, now is the time to take steps in the right direction and make some positive changes in your life.

3. You’ll want and need less

For many post-menopausal women, the small, simple things become more important than expensive material objects. Plus, it’s likely that you’ll feel more satisfied with what you have rather than always wanting more.

Practising gratitude is very powerful in encouraging this positive shift during the menopause. Try to take time each day to recognise and write down something you feel thankful for and something you’re looking forward to each day. This will gradually help you to focus on the goodness in your life.

4. You’ll feel happier

Many people are convinced that our teens and twenties were the ‘good old days’, and the only times in our lives we felt happy, fulfilled and free. However, new research suggests that our 50s and beyond might actually be some of our happiest years.

All the evidence suggests that happiness is U shaped – and as we head into our 50s and beyond, our levels of contentment rise.

This might be because we’re more attuned to what makes us happy and more focused on looking after ourselves rather than other people – or we just generally give less of a sh*t!

Either way, when you emerge from menopause, it’s likely that you’ll feel more content with yourself and your life than ever before.

5. You’ll feel wiser as you age

Along with more energy and zest for life, you’ll probably find you have a clearer vision of what’s working and what isn’t in your life, from habits to your job and relationships. This is thanks to a little thing called wisdom, which we gradually acquire as we age, grow and learn.

This strong feeling of knowing or intuition can bring about big changes or little in your life. Think of it like doing some long-overdue emotional admin, which will lead to a more authentic way of being during your 50s and beyond. Life starts here!

Words: Rebecca Frank | Photographs: Getty Images

More inspiration: How to cope with emotions during menopause