Finding Harmony within Yourself: Supporting Your Hormonal Fluctuations and Finding Balance during Your Period

Are you tired of feeling overwhelmed by the physical and emotional toll that comes with hormonal fluctuations during your Menstrual Cycle? If so, you've come to the right place. Here at Steady + Free, we work from the obvious truth that our wombs are not broken. 

In today's article, you will learn that these "unwanted" fluctuations are signs of a healthy womb. Instead of trying to swim against the rapids, we could ride them. Today we look at three ways that we can minimize the turbulence of our hormonal fluctuations by embracing what's happening. You would be surprised how much fun it is to ride a rapid when you can see where you're going and what you're doing! We know that finding peace during your menstrual cycle is possible, and we're here to guide you on that journey. Turn around...it's time to take control of your menstrual health and embark on a path to empowered living. 

1st Tip: Understand What is Actually Happening at Each Phase of Your Menstrual Cycle

We have a Menstrual Listening program, where we analyze articles dedicated to Menstrual Equity, Menstruation, Period Stigma, etc. And 7 out of 10 times, these articles quote a doctor who might describe our hormonal fluctuations as we shift from phase to phase of our cycle as extreme, or intense. Another way to describe these fluctuations is: natural. Your body is 100% supposed to have strong infusions of certain hormones and strong release of other hormones because you were preparing to make a life in your womb and, most of the time, you are not going to follow through with the life-making process.

Think of each monthly cycle as a celebration. You get really excited that you're going to have a celebration, so you start preparing for it. You brainstorm, plan, gather your resources (Follicular Phase). You audition the performers, officially invite the guests, and start rehearsing for the event (Follicular to Ovulation Phase). Then, the celebrant (the egg) shows up and is super pumped for the event, but they decide, no, no party, not this time. So everyone starts packing up the place. Connections are made--I mean, it was really fun getting ready for this party--the crew has a good time figuring out what would work for the next celebration, overall, a good opportunity to troubleshoot for improvement and efficiency (Luteal Phase). And finally, it's time to load out, a tad emotional--saying goodbye--paired with excitement for the next one, and of course, rest (Menstrual Phase). 

Your hormones are setting up the body with full belief that the party will happen each month, and when you know what is happening and align your actions, tasks, way of being, even way of thinking, with your hormonal fluctuations, you can leverage the power of each phase to serve your life/work/family needs. 

This isn't a huge ask. People born without a uterus (predominantly men) do this every. single. day. You see, our lives are literally built around the same hormonal cycle that I describe above, except that all of the events happen in 24 hours instead of 28 days. Men undergo a complete hormonal cycle in 24 hours and our daily lives are built to accommodate their needs. 

Wondering why theirs and not ours? Definitely check out our white paper for more information. 

Simply accepting that we, as people born with a uterus, will never show up with the same energy for 30 consecutive days unless we brutally force ourselves (and many do), will diminish the shocking and often times hurtful effect of hormonal fluctuations. Let's take a look at our second tip now! 

2nd Tip: Stop Trying to Force Consistency on Your Womb

Have you heard the adage, "what you resist persists?".  Have you ever tried to get a three-year-old to behave when they are in the midst of a temper tantrum? The harder you forcibly push, or gently coerce, or even try to bribe this child, they are having none of it. There is one tactic that some people used to use in the past but that we've generally stopped employing since it's decidedly unkind and unhealthy to do to our children: forcibly suppressing them with drugs or alcohol. Today, we would not hear of such a thing for our children who do not have a diagnosis that compels medication or suppression. As a result of abstaining from this practice, parents have come to expect, embrace, and encourage their children's attempts at communication which were being misunderstood as "acting up". Children learn personal agency at a younger age, they have less tumultuous childhoods because they didn't have to face the trauma of being a problem child.  

I know that you know where I'm going with this: your womb. We don't forcibly suppress our children to act "right" anymore because we realized that "right" was a superficial framework that trains people to be automatons. If not for the rebels, the creatives, the outside-of-the-box thinkers who were encouraged or who broke through their chains of suppression, our present-day lives would lack a ton of spiritual, emotional, mental, and physical innovation. 

When we start assuming that the "temper tantrum" our womb is having as a result of hormonal fluctuation is a means of communication that something is awry in the one of the three intangible elements of the Holistic body, we can start actually treating the cause of the problem instead of only treating the symptom. 

When the child is heard and understood, they have no need to tantrum. They still have the same bursts of energy, but the bursts show up in running, playing, dancing, yelling with glee! Blissful moments, and pain-free, PMS-free, consistent cycles await those of us who tune in to and listen to our womb's requests. Ever more severe tantrums (PMDD, PCOS, Endometriosis, Dysmenorrhea, Irregular Cycles, Fibroids) await those who continue to forcibly suppress their womb into acting "right". How dare I say this? I'm speaking from proof. In the Collective, we guide those who are ready to free themselves from menstrual bondage to learn how to listen to their wombs and to curate their lives to support the specific needs that show up phase by phase for a person born with a uterus. I did it for myself and continue to do it for others. 

3rd Tip: Acknowledge that You Are A Distinct Being as a Person Born with a Uterus

In the Broadway Clinic's article: "Men vs Women, A Comprehensive Comparison of Hormone Cycles" the author betrays a bias that almost every person on this planet consciously or unconsciously agrees with, they state: "According to some of the best professionals in women's hormone clinics, the men's hormonal cycle is not only different but also advantageous compared to women's. While a woman's cycle lasts somewhere around 28 days, a man's cycle is over in 24 hours."

The reason why most of us born with a uterus bemoan our hormonal fluctuations and end up doing the opposite of ending period pain is because even those who have devoted their lives to helping us end our period pain believe that we are playing poker with a bad hand. The only reason a 24 hours cycle is seen as an advantage is because our world was curated by those who were out of the cave first--our hunters and gatherers. We only joined them roughly 200 years ago at the onset of Cottage Industries and the Industrial Revolution. Ironically, and this is covered in the white paper, it was us, the people in the cave who created the evolutionary advantage that made it possible for Homo sapiens sapiens to outlive the Neanderthals--we invented preservation, weaving, and other tools and practices that accommodated settled rather than nomadic living. 

Why do we bemoan our distinction from those born without a uterus when it is a major contributor to our longevity? 

What would happen if everyone working with women and their hormones approached our treatment from the orientation that we have massive advantages because of our 28 days cycle?

• The shift to pain-free, PMS-free, consistent cycles would be a lot more easily embraced.
• Period pain and the graduated disorders that result from treating only the symptoms rather than the causes would no longer be tolerated. 
• Hysterectomies would be used at a much lower frequency and phrases like "the hysterectomy conversation" and pushing the "H" button would be uncommon. 
• Fertility issues would affect a much lower percentage of people born with a uterus. 
• Women would spend less money and time in the doctor's office. 
• Women would feel more empowered to assert themselves because they could trust that their intuition was not faulty, but right. 
• So much more!

Embrace the power of holistic healing and unlock the extraordinary potential within you. Say goodbye to conventional medicine's disappointments and discover the path to natural wellness. Join our email list to receive exclusive insights, tips, and strategies tailored just for you, or take the leap and join the Collective!  Your journey to harmony and empowerment starts today. Don't let anything hold you back –- together, we'll rewrite your story.

You've taken the first steps on your path to embracing your wholeness by learning about your hormone fluctuations and how you can ride them instead of them riding you. By seeking alternative solutions and delving into the realms of non-conventional medicine, you've already shown immense courage and strength. 

Releasing pain and suffering becomes easier with education. That's why we offer access to our online courses, full of valuable knowledge and opportunities for self-discovery. Learn about the intricacies of your menstrual cycle, uncover empowering self-care practices, and embrace the wisdom that your body holds. Each course is designed to equip you with the tools and information necessary to holistically reclaim your whole health.

Remember that you are stronger than you know. When equipped with knowledge, compassion, and the unwavering support of The Fierce Gentleness™ community, there is no limit to what you can achieve. Together, let's break free from the limitations of conventional medicine and embrace a life of empowered health. Your inner Empress is waiting to be unleashed, and we cannot wait to witness your transformation.