The Action in Hope

I work in a lovely clinic where over 50% of our patients are there primarily for fertility support. First off, I rarely use the word infertility. Words can be extremely powerful; and in a situation where there has been great frustration and challenges in order to achieve the goal of pregnancy, the labeling aspect of being 'infertile' can be a problem to overcome mentally. So I mostly like to think of it as the body having obstacles in the way of expressing its own natural means of fertility, in other words, fertility 'difficulty.'

The tricky part is figuring out what that 'difficulty' is, what is in the way. It could be something as simple as a nutritional deficiency, hormonal imbalance, or an energy block within the body's sensitive energetic system. Or it could be years of stress, draining the body's ability to handle the incredible amount of energy necessary to create another being. Do not underestimate the impact of creating life and the toll it takes on the body to make it happen, as well as bring life into this world.

Women are constantly given short shrift for our strength of character in dealing with pain, the amount of stress and responsibility we put on ourselves in the name of love for family, friends, and work. This is part of the reason Women's Health is so complex and there are so many factors to consider.

We are so accustomed to instant gratification and the belief that pills can cure everything. But first we need to take responsibility for our own health and happiness. Lifestyle choices and foods can heal as much as attitude and stress management. Can it be tough to change and adapt to new habits? Absolutely. Change is always difficult. But you can't avoid the signs in your life if you are wilting away or bursting at the seams, even if you are not trying to prepare for fertility.

The important thing to realize is you matter and the never ending to-do-list doesn't go away. So you can't get hung up on completing everything, all at once and with perfection. Life always gets in the way and it's important to enjoy the journey and beauty around you along the way. When we forget to put a little TLC for ourselves on our 'list', we lose a bit of that revitalizing essence that helps us remember what we want. To help us remember why we always deserve what we want. There is always hope but there is also a choice in how to act and how to treat ourselves. One of the hardest lessons in compassion is not giving it to other people, but to ourselves. So I leave you with one of my favorite poems by Rumi.

Let the Beauty You Seek Be What You Do

Absorbed in this world, you've made it your burden.

Rise above this world. There is another vision.

All your life you've paid attention to your experiences, but never to your Self.

Are you searching for your Soul? Then come out of your prison.

Leave the stream and join the river that flows into the Ocean.

It will not lead you astray.

Let the beauty you seek be what you do.