EPISODE 114 | Reproductive Rights, Environmentalism, and Legislative Battles: A Deep Dive into Florida's Complex Landscape

Subtitle:

Explore the complex world of reproductive rights & environmentalism with Representative Lindsay Cross where we discuss the process of passing critical healthcare legislation, crisis pregnancy centers, abortion restrictions, & more.

Summary:

In this episode, we dive into the complex world of reproductive rights and environmentalism, discussing recent issues in Florida and the potential impacts on reproductive technologies like IVF and medical care during emergencies. Joined by Representative Lindsey Cross, we explore the increasing prevalence of endocrine-disrupting chemicals and their potential connection to infertility, miscarriages, and possibly even gender dysphoria. We also break down the complicated process of how a bill becomes a law and the role of committees, the House of Representatives, and the importance of majority control. Additionally, we examine the frustrating aspects of pregnancy counting in the medical system, the funding for crisis pregnancy centers, and the impact of extreme policies on reproductive healthcare and education. Finally, we discuss the long-term implications of our convenience-driven lifestyle on our health and the environment, as well as the role of lobbyists in shaping legislation. This conversation is crucial to understanding how these issues affect not only Florida residents but the wider population as well.

Chapters:

(0:00:01) - Environmentalism in Fertility
(0:05:39) - The Complex Rules of Passing Legislation

(0:12:37) - Funding Crisis Pregnancy Centers

(0:21:10) - Impact of Abortion Restrictions
(0:30:01) - Politically Motivated Disinformation

(0:40:41) - Impact of Convenience Lifestyle
(0:52:50) - The Impact of Lobbyists on Society

(0:59:19) - Environmentalism and Reproductive Health

Takeaways:

(0:00:01) - Environmentalism in Fertility (6 Minutes)
In this episode, we explore the recent reproductive rights issues in Florida and how environmentalism plays a role in these laws. Representative Lindsey Cross, who has an extensive background in environmental science, joins us to discuss the potential impact of these laws on reproductive technologies like IVF and medical care during emergencies. We also cover the increasing prevalence of endocrine-disrupting chemicals and their potential connection to rising infertility rates, miscarriages, and even gender dysphoria. As Florida's governor may become a potential presidential candidate in 2024, it's crucial to understand how these views could affect the wider population.

(0:05:39) - The Complex Rules of Passing Legislation (7 Minutes)
We delve into the complex process of how a bill becomes a law, discussing the role of the House of Representatives, committees, and the importance of majority control. The conversation highlights the pathway from an idea for a bill to its passage through the House and Senate, and ultimately to the governor's desk. We also touch on the potential consequences of a bill that could ban abortion at six weeks, emphasizing the importance of voting in smaller elections and understanding the legislative processes.

(0:12:37) - Funding Crisis Pregnancy Centers (9 Minutes)
We discuss the frustrating aspects of pregnancy counting in the medical system and how it impacts women's access to abortion. We also explore how the political climate in Florida allows for extreme viewpoints to take precedence over public opinion, leading to restrictive abortion laws that don't consider the nuances of pregnancy. Additionally, we examine the allocation of funds to unlicensed crisis pregnancy centers, questioning the ethics and priorities of the government in light of known issues such as maternal mortality rates, domestic violence prevention, and rape crisis centers.

(0:21:10) - Impact of Abortion Restrictions (9 Minutes)
We examine the six-week abortion ban in Florida and its impact on women's healthcare choices, specifically addressing the funding for centers that aim to influence people to carry their pregnancies to term. The conversation highlights the difficulties women face in obtaining appointments and making informed decisions within the restricted timeframe, especially in rural areas. We also discuss how these restrictions affect women of different socioeconomic backgrounds and how they may contribute to maternal fatalities due to lack of care. Furthermore, we touch on the implications of the bill on IVF treatments and the gray areas surrounding the definition of when life begins.

(0:30:01) - Politically Motivated Disinformation (11 Minutes)
We explore the concerning implications of recent extreme policies passed in Florida, including those that impact reproductive healthcare and education. The conversation touches on the potential unintended consequences of these policies and the need for rebuilding within political parties to address and fix these issues. The discussion also covers the importance of educating children about the biology of menstruation and the negative repercussions of keeping people ignorant. Additionally, we question whether there is any focus on researching how chemicals affect sexual development, infertility, and potential gender dysphoria in the Florida legislature.

(0:40:41) - Impact of Convenience Lifestyle (12 Minutes)
We investigate the long-term implications of our convenience-driven lifestyle on our health and the environment, particularly the impact of single-use plastics, chemicals, and waste. We also discuss the alarming findings of a study on the decline of sperm count in industrialized nations, which could lead to a majority of men being unable to father children by 2045. The conversation emphasizes the importance of raising awareness about these issues and the need for persistence in addressing them through legislation and policy changes. We also touch on the influence of lobbyists and special interest groups in maintaining the status quo, making it challenging to enact meaningful change for our health and environment.

(0:52:50) - The Impact of Lobbyists on Society (6 Minutes)
We discuss the role of lobbyists in politics and their impact on legislation, acknowledging that not all lobbyists are bad, but some can negatively influence policies. Additionally, we explore some positive developments in Florida, such as amending bills to prevent rushed redevelopment in coastal areas. We also emphasize the importance of meaningful discourse and staying informed to make a positive impact on society. Lastly, we share ways to connect with and support Representative Lindsay Cross on social media and her website.

(0:59:19) - Environmentalism and Reproductive Health (1 Minutes)
In this segment, we highlight the intersection between environmentalism and reproductive health, emphasizing the importance of caring for our planet and its impact on the reproductive systems of men, women, and everyone in between. We hope you find the content informative and valuable, and encourage you to share your newfound knowledge or leave a review on iTunes to help others discover this crucial information when it's their turn to conceive.

Episode Keywords:

Reproductive Rights, Environmentalism, Florida Legislation, IVF, Medical Care, Endocrine- Disrupting Chemicals, Infertility, Miscarriages, Gender Dysphoria, Bill Process, House of Representatives, Majority Control, Abortion Restrictions, Crisis Pregnancy Centers, Convenience Lifestyle, Single-Use Plastics, Sperm Count Decline, Lobbyists, Coastal Redevelopment, Reproductive Health

EPISODE 113 | Anxieties About Trying to Conceive

Do I need more time to prepare my body before I start trying for a baby? Or am I running out of time and need to start trying ASAP? The answers to those questions are unique to each person thinking of starting a family, and today we discuss the factors we should consider when trying to answer those questions and how to do so without creating more anxiety for yourself & your partner. 

We dive into conditioing around having a child and the importance of knowing your "why," when it comes to starting a family. 

This is a must listen if you are at the beginning of thinking about starting a family or if you ahve been in the throws of infertility for some time and need to find your bearings. 

If this episode resonates with you and you want to take this work deeper, I invite you to join my Conscious Conceptions program by going to https://www.FertileMindsRadio.com to learn more. 

 

 Takeaways 

[4:52] Anxiety is normal in human beings, but when our worries have started taking up too much mental real estate, then we are experiencing an abnormal amount of anxiety. 

[7:20] Your brain doesn’t know the difference between past, present and future when you worry ahead of time. When we worry, we experience the same cascade of chemicals in our brain as if we were presently experiencing what we’re worrying about.

[7:53] Get down to the minute details of why you want to grow a family. Ask yourself how old you were when you first started wanting kids. Why do you want to be a parent now, at this point in your life? The answers to these questions will be your life raft when experiencing the challenges that come with starting a family.

[12:20] Do an audit of where your fertility thoughts come from. Are you feeling pressure from family members, or are stories of other couples having trouble conceiving started to worry you? Where is your anxiety about conceiving stemming from?

[14:38] If you’re at a crossroads on deciding the right time to start trying for a baby, speaking to a coach can help you put together a clear timeline free from bias. Genetic testing, bloodwork, and semen analysis will also help you determine any risk factors that may affect your timeline.

[16:24] Some of the best places to get tested are IVF clinics, but keep in mind that their specialty is IVF, which may or may not be the right option for you depending on your test results.

[19:37] Recent advances in at home genetic testing have made it immensely easier for couples to test themselves for any fertility related genetic issues. One company, Legacy, even offers the option to freeze sperm, which could be a great option for couples looking to delay their timeline due to instances like undergoing cancer treatment, military deployment, or possible future toxic exposures at work. 

[22:53] Start looking at your toxic load and your nutrient densities. If you’re lacking in any vitamins that are needed for a healthy pregnancy, or if you’re carrying any heavy metals in your body, then you’ll want to determine that before you get pregnant.

[24:59] Learn how to regulate your nervous system. Even though our modern day world constantly provides stimuli that triggers our nervous system, we were not built to withstand the chronic stress we experience. Learning to regulate our nervous system through exercises like breathing is key to prevent being in a prolonged “fight or flight” state of mind.

References: 

When are you having Kids? by Jordan Davidson

The Baby Decision by Merle Bombardieri

Legacy At Home Sperm Analysis

Modern Fertility (Ro) At Home Tests for Women

EPISODE 110 | FANTASY FALLACY

Title: Fantasy Fallacy –– Trading Today’s Happiness For Tomorrow’s
Subtitle: What is the fantasy fallacy and how can it affect us on our fertility journey and after we become parents?

Description: We fall victim to the arrival fallacy when we forbid ourselves to feel happy until we accomplish that *one* thing, but oftentimes, even when the goal is achieved, we still have trouble feeling complete. In this podcast, we discuss the prevalence of fantasy fallacy in our society and methods that can help us find happiness in our present.

Takeaways

[4:47] When working toward our goals becomes sacrificial, harsh, and restricting, our achievements no longer feel rewarding.
[7:12] Something or someone external to you should not be responsible for filling that “void” inside of you.

[12:35] Many highly successful people suffer from the arrival fallacy after achieving their dreams.
[14:20] Everything you need to fulfill you is already inside yourself. Learn to be internally resourceful and not depend on anything externally.

[15:03] Arrival fallacy is the repackaging of validation. When people set goals for themselves and achieve them, they can be left with a void. When they don’t achieve their goals, they can blame their unhappiness on their failures.
[17:16] Steps to overcoming arrival/fantasy fallacy:

EPISODE 108 | LEARNING TO SAVOR THE WAIT

There is so much waiting in a fertility journey, and because we really never know how long it will take to hold that healthy baby in our arms, I think this is one of the greatest skills you can learn for the micro of the two week wait to the macro of the entirety of completing your family.  

In this episode you will learn...

- What to do when you feel in a hurry to get pregnant.

- What delay discounting is and how to know when you are doing it.

- Learn to understand which part of your brain is guiding your decision making process.

- The understanding of possiblity thinking vs probability.

- The stats on falling pregnant that are often glossed over.

When you get good at delaying gratification and disciplining yourself with healthy habits that make you feel good from a place of self love, from a place of training your brain and taking care of your body, and not because you think they will yield a baby, you can enjoy the wait of any journey in life, even falling pregnant. We call this living in high engagement with low attachment in my Conscious Conceptions program. You are engaged in living your life to its fullest, growing your capacity for uncertainty while growing your capacity to stay in prefrontal thinking and marveling at the magic that happens, which is the baby becomes the icing on the cake instead of the cake itself.

EPISODE 107 | WHY PLEASURE MATTERS | With Sex Coach Danielle Savory

Fertility challenges, mothering. trauma, and conditioning can absolutely get in the way of pleasure. And pleasure is what lights you up and makes this whole life worth living. So what is a girl to do? Join me as I pick the big beautiful brain of Sex Coach, Danielle Savory, and she shares her tips for creating more pleasure and drops some knowledge on how our bodies and minds work to keep us safe and to light us up. If you love our guest as much as I do, head over to https://daniellesavory.com and see how she can help you reclaim your sexiest most lit up self.

Links to take you further

Find Danielle @ https://daniellesavory.com and get on her email list.

Join her group coaching program Turned on Woman here.

EPISODE 106 | MINDFUL MOMENTS | Guided Practice for Making Difficult Decisions

When making hard decisions it can feel paralyzing, as if one decision could derail our entire life. You may be asked to make incredibly hard decisions on a path to becoming a parent so I created this for you. It is one of my favorite time out of thinking exercises I use to get in touch with my higher self when I am struggle to make the "right" decision. Enjoy! P.S. Please do not listen to this while driving or operating heavy machinery. Save it for a time when you can listen and be open to all that your mind and body have to offer you.

Finding yourself in torturous indecision about whether you should join Conscious Conceptions? Let's clear that up together on a call.

Schedule a FREE Consult

EPISODE 105 | DECISION FATIGUE & TIPS TO PREVENT IT

Decision fatigue describes how our decision-making gets worse as we make additional choices and our cognitive abilities get worn out. Decision fatigue is the reason we feel overwhelmed when we have too many choices to make, especially in the absence of resources. The phenomena of decision fatigue can affect even the most rational and intelligent individuals, as everyone can become mentally exhausted. The more decisions made throughout the day, the harder each decision becomes for us. Eventually, the brain looks for shortcuts to circumvent decision fatigue, leading to poor decision-making. While this is typically a business concept it is rampant in the fertility & parenting world because of the sheer number and weight of each decision we are asked to make on a daily basis.

Finding yourself in torturous indecision about whether you should join Conscious Conceptions? Let's clear that up together on a call.

Schedule a FREE Consult

  

EPISODE 104 | REWRITING YOUR FERTILITY STORY

Words have incredible power. Today we are going to explore the story you have been broadcasting to your body about the status of your fertility and how that impacts your perception of the journey. I'll share some personal insights I had working through this same exercise with my own health and the surprising findings in the mansion of the mind. We will go through my ritual for rewriting your story in a powerful way.

EPISODE 098 | SPACE FOR GRACE

Space for grace is a personal account of where my thought work and spirituality have converged. I want to show you how to up-level your fertility journey into one of growth that will ultimately make your current suffering worth it in the end.

EPISODE 88 | MANAGING CHAOS IN UNCERTAIN TIMES | Elizabeth Markie

Heart Math and Meta meditation techniques to help you reel in your nervous system throughout your day.

These techniques are extremely powerful to bring into your day when you are trying to stay calm or make a heart based decision.

Our guest today, Elizabeth Markie, founder of Tri Brain Coaching and Heart Math Facilitator is here to help us understand the most recent neuroscience discoveries and why it is now more important than ever to continually ground ourselves into the seat of our hearts.

EPISODE 89 | Coping with the C-word w/ Erin Gray

As if fertility challenges weren't hard enough, now we are dealing with the ramifications of COVID-19. Today we bring you some sound advice for coping emotionally and the beautiful insight as to why you may be better equipped to handle this than you think.

EPISODE 86 | EVERYONE IS PREGNANT BUT ME | with Erin Gray

We all have something that we want that sometimes is a struggle to see other people around us getting or having the feeling like you’re the only person that doesn’t have the thing. But, what should you do when everyone around you is pregnant, and you are having a meltdown? Our guest, Erin Gray LMHT, LMT takes us through a four-step approach that you could apply to avoid a meltdown or at the very least lessen the blow.

Listen in as we explore the four quadrants and how we should handle life in each quadrant until we get to a sweet spot. 

 

Key Talking Points of the Episode: 

  • Balancing a message of truth with a message of hope and not being Pollyanna 

  • The difference between a goal, desire, and intentions 

  • Engagement and attachment 

  • Low engagement with low attachment 

  • Low engagement with high attachment 

  • High engagement with high attachment 

  • The sweet spot: High engagement with low attachment 

self coaching for attachment.png

 

Key Milestones of the Episode: 

[00:46] Introducing the episode guest 

[08:01] The difference between a goal, desire, and an intention 

[08:20] What is a goal? 

[12:22] How do we define an intention? 

[21:42] engagement and attachment 

[26:05] Low engagement with high attachment 

[27:50] High engagement with high attachment 

[31:39] The sweet spot: High engagement and low attachment 

[43:33] How do you stay in the sweet spot? 


EPISODE 82 | THE #1 TOOL TO STAY SANE WHILE #TTC

Understanding the Self Coaching Model

WHAT YOU WILL DISCOVER

  • How our thinking about our past serves or doesn’t serve us.

  • The importance of understanding that the past has no control over us until we have a thought about it.

  • Why recognizing the difference between a thought and a circumstance is crucial to understanding how your brain works.

  • How using the Self Coaching Model will allow you to obtain full control over your life.

  • How you can move away from a completely negative thought to a place where you think positive, nurturing thoughts.

  • How to run a self coaching model C-T-F-A-R

Overview

You may have heard me talk about the MODEL on episodes 48 and 54 when I talked about certainty and thought management, but truly you need to hear it again. These are concepts you can’t hear enough to really understand them. this is because most of us were not taught how to manage our minds. Even fewer of us were taught exercises to really understand our minds, not just how to conceptualize how the mind works. This exercise of using the self coaching model is something I have been working with for two and a half years now in Self Coaching Scholars with Brooke Castillo. It’s been instrumental in me reclaiming my health and my sanity as a step parent. I know this can handle any situation and I want to teach it to you. I truly believe if you work with it and actually write down the models that you run, it can be the #1 tool to help you keep your cool while you are patiently waiting to conceive!

A-H positive feelings list.png
Copy of I-Z positive feelings list.png
A_F Negative Feelings List .png
G-R Negative Feelings List .png
S-Z Negative Feelings List .png
fertility coaching.png

Hey, If you enjoy listening to this podcast, I invite you to sign up for my fall into fertility cleanse. It’s a led cleanse for 5 days with an emphasis on healthy food choices and mind work to get control of your mind when it comes to diet and your fertility journey. You’ll enjoy a week’s worth of super easy and nutritious meal recommendations with shopping lists and daily live coaching with me to help you get ahold of buffering patterns that are holding you back from your most fertile self body, mind and soul. We start Monday, December 2nd. Head over to https://www.fertilemindsradio.com/ and click the work with me tab to sign up.

Disclaimer *

You must not rely on the information in this podcast as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or other professional healthcare provider.If you have any specific questions about any medical matter you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider. If you think you may be suffering from any medical condition you should seek immediate medical attention. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment because of information on this website or in this podcast.


EPISODE 80 | THE WHAT & HOW OF A FERTILITY GRANT with Tedi Palmer

There is Hope for Infertility


Infertility is becoming an epidemic in the modern world. According to a statistic carried out in the US, 10-12 out of 100 couples in the US struggle with infertility. In today’s episode, we are joined by Tedi Palmer fertility activist who has been through the infertility journey and is now a mother. She’s a wife, a mom and an infertility survivor, and a fur mama of two. She’s active in the fertility community by running an infertility-related blog. She also runs an Etsy shop selling infertility awareness apparel. And, she runs a non-profit called Hope for Fertility that provides fertility grants once a year to couples TTC. We talk about how Infertility can be isolating and at times brings with it a sense of hopelessness especially when it comes to the financial aspect when you are facing intervention or adoption.


Key Points of discussion:

• Getting to know Tedi

• Tedi's infertility journey

• The various fertility treatments

• The Hope for Fertility foundation

• Starting a non- profit

• Tedi’s business


Key Milestones of the Episode:

(00:06): Getting to know Tedi

(01:26): Tedi’s infertility journey

(02:32): Trying out intrauterine insemination (IUI)

(04:29): The first IVF

(08:24): Starting a fundraiser for the second IVF

(09:30): Second failed IVF

(10:33): Pregnant at last

(13:03): Hope for Fertility foundation

(13:58): The amazing fertility tribe on Instagram

(19:19): Walking by faith

(27:02): Hope for fertility fundraiser

(31:28): Criteria for receiving a grant

(35:47): Adoption

(38:29): What it takes to start a non-profit

(43:53): Giving back to the society


Key Quotes from the Episode:


“It’s a blessing and an honor for sure to be able to guide tiny humans on our planet for sure.”

“Nothing much harder than IVF except maybe parenting.”

“Even small amounts make a big difference.”

“God was really with us when creating this foundation because things went a lot quicker than what they would have normally taken.”

“When the mind is occupied and thinks like, okay, I have a plan B or plan C, it takes a little bit of that stress and pressure off.”

“He knows what I’m feeling, and all I need to do is just give it to Him.”

“Everyone has a hard something that they’re going to have to deal through in life.”


Links to Checkout:

Resolve

Hope for fertility IG

www.hopeforfertility.org

Running with Infertility

Etsy Store

Financial planning overview for fertility challenges


Disclaimer * You must not rely on the information in this podcast as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or other professional healthcare provider.If you have any specific questions about any medical matter you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider. If you think you may be suffering from any medical condition you should seek immediate medical attention. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment because of information on this website or in this podcast.

EPISODE 75 | MINI MINDFUL MOMENT | An Implantation Meditation for an IVF Cycle

We're back with another meditation to help you get your mind and your heart on the same page during that crucial stage of implantation. This meditation was a listener request and is geared towards someone undergoing an IVF cycle, but really anyone in the implantation window of their cycle will benefit from listening. Let's turn on our relaxation response and turn up our ability to hold life.

music credit: Christopher Lloyd Clarke 

photo credit Sayan Nath @sayannath

For more meditations just like this one at your fingertips visit us here

EPISODE 58 | MINI MINDFUL MOMENT | Moving From "I Deserve" to "I Have."

Hey there, Hilary here. Your go-to gal to help you form a plan to reclaim your fertility and create a healthy family for generations to come, all while staying sane along the way. I've got another mini-mindful moment for you today to help you combat the stress  I know you are bombarded by on your fertility journey.

Today's meditation is an excerpt from my new 30 days of fertility meditations program if you want instant access to more meditations just like this one, along with writing prompts and calming images to take your medication in to your day and to go deeper, just head over to LadyPotions.com and click the meditations tab to find the link to purchase or the tab that says, "Work with me."

I'm sure you've heard time and time again that stress negatively affects fertility and pregnancy, I'm sure that you've been told on more than one occasion to just relax and it will happen, that probably really makes you stress out maybe, even want to punch that person. Now, you can't exactly go around cutting all the stress out of your life. I mean, fertility challenges alone are stressful, your partner or your job could be your main source of stress so what are you supposed to do? Give up? Quit? Not a chance.

You make a game out of making friends with your stress response, you acknowledge it. You know what's going to happen and you get good at catching it before it becomes a freight train careening out of control, then you see how fast you can change your stress response into a relaxation response by trying on one of these little beauties from our mini-mindful moment's installments.

Meditation and mindfulness techniques and the ability to turn on our parasympathetic nervous system or what's known as "the breed and feed part" of our minds. Our evidence-based practices that not only enhance the fertility but they can also help you hold a pregnancy, even if it's high-risk.

Remember, it's not stress that's enemy, it's how fast we can get back into the relaxed state that really matters. I don't know about you, but this is not something that I was taught when I was younger. I had to go looking to find how to do this on my own and that's exactly why I've created this for you.

These mini-relaxation techniques are quick, easy to apply throughout your day and restore your relaxation response in moments. Keeping your mind broadcasting the message to your body that it's a safe time and place to create life. Helping you feel back in control of your stress and ready to conceive.

Today's meditation has to do with your ability to move from the mindset of " I deserve", which is actually a victim based mindset, into the mindset of "I have" as if it already happened. We are racing our biological clock or leading a life where we are trying to cram in everything all at once. It is very easy to push the body past as normal limits. We begin to deplete our adrenal glands in the name of achieving, forgetting that adrenaline is a precious substance to be used wisely instead of freely.

Unfortunately, the more we pump our adrenaline by overextending ourselves, chugging coffee and energy drinks, staying up too late, binging on sugar, the more addicted we become to this state. When we start to get depleted we become emotionally leaky and the recording in our head starts to whine saying, " I deserve." Instead of recognizing all that you have, pushing you to keep overextending yourself, keeping you trapped in a cycle of exhaustion and ill satisfaction.

The next time you hear yourself or your partners say, "I deserve" or "I want." Try replacing it with "We have so much." The reason for this is that like attracts like, the shift in thinking in speech will help to magnetize us into a place to receive more abundance into our lives. It will help us to create the lives we desire through a sense of gratitude rather than a sense of entitlement.

It is said that the root chakra governs our adrenaline glands and the connection with our nervous system that decides when and how much of a state of fight-or-flight we will be in, has a response to any thought, conversation or experience we have. Our second chakra covers our reproductive hormones, largely in part to the messages it receives from the root chakra.

If adrenaline is flowing our sex hormones are not. Not only does this deplete our ability to physically create healthy offspring, it also depletes our libido and our desire to connect because when adrenaline is high, it sends the message to every single cell that we are not safe. Most women need to feel safe and a desire to connect before sex even enters our minds.

 When we try to make a baby from this state, it becomes one more thing that we have to cross off our list or achieve rather than a product of desire state of union with our partner. We're in a constant mountain-climbing of achieving, the idea that a baby is never achieved and only received can seem extremely foreign and evasive. 

 We have to take the time to get calm and grounded so that we aren't accidentally hijacking our own sex hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone if we want to create a baby out of a state of union. Even if you're already doing IVF, you still want to be able to connect with your partner and enjoy it.

Today's meditation will focus on the connection between the first and second chakra, stabilizing our fight-or-flight response in order to help us regulate our reproductive hormones. Helping us to move from, "I deserve" to "I have." So, let's get started.

 Find a comfortable place to sit or lie down. If you're sitting, make sure that the spine is erect without tension. We call your alignment exercise from day one, stacking each chakra over the next from the pelvis up. Imagine that there's a string at the top of your head pulling everything into perfect, yet gentle alignment. 

Begin to observe your breath, just the gentle entering, and exiting using the part of your mind that's listening to my voice. Observe its inhaled and its exhales if you've had a particularly stressful day and you are in a place where you feel comfortable to exhale audibly, just let that go with the breath.

Maybe you can even imagine your worries or your stresses leaving on the wave of each exhale.

Gently begin to move your attention away from the breath and into the center of your head. Move your awareness all the way down to the base of the spine, the root chakra located in the center of your body between the perineum and the last vertebrae.

Maybe you can sense its deep red color.

This area is open and free of energetic debris. We feel stable and calm, provided for and safe.

Allow this chakra to begin to spin in your mind's eye or maybe just a sense of energy that you have in this area. Don't worry about which direction it spins, just imagine it's going like a gear.

As it moves, it burns off any insecurities around not having enough.

About a handbreadth above that chakra is the second chakra or our sexual chakra. Maybe, you can see or imagine its brilliant orange light, again, looking like a gear. This gear begins to spin in an opposite direction though from the root chakra below it, like interlocking watch gears feeding energetically off one another, bridging the gap between adrenaline and our reproductive hormones. When our second chakra is open and free, they are like a magnet.

Polarizing our partner to come next to us, near us, to be with us to create life. We're also a magnet of abundance, drawing in our heart's desires, the ability to form them into completion. Allow yourself to just sit for a moment with this visualization of the red and orange gear interlocking with one another, cleaning out any limiting beliefs as they spin.

 The vibration to strengthen the root chakra is lam, L-A-M, lam.

The vibration to strengthen the second chakra is vam, V-A-M, vam.

For the next five minutes, sit quietly with your awareness and attention in your lower abdomen in these two chakras. Listening to the silent repetition of lam vam, lam vam emanating from this place, strengthening your ability to remain calm in the state of stress.

Remember, the mantra is never forced. It's always gentle and when you find that you've drifted into thoughts or physical sensations, which is completely normal, just come back to listening to the silent repetition lam vam, lam vam. I'll ring a soft bell when it's time to let the mantra go.

Gently release the mantra, allow yourself to sit quietly for a moment and just observe the shift that you've made into a state of calmness, greater well-being, and heightened reproductive capability. You can say this any time, any place yourself that you need a little reminder to just stay calm, lam vam. Bye for now.

Thanks for listening to Fertile Minds Radio, hosted at www.LadyPotions.com, where you'll find past episodes, show notes, and free meditations. If you've benefited from what you've heard, leave a comment or review so it makes it easier for others to find this valuable wisdom. Let's help elevate each other. Thanks for listening.

“photo credit Charles Postiaux @charlpost”

@ladypotions4u on Instagram

EPISODE 54 | MINDFUL MOMENT | Creating Certainty When You Are Anything But


Description:

When people have more awareness, they have better health physically, mentally, and emotionally. This is why how we form thoughts from past experiences, and being aware of those thoughts that become beliefs is so important to observe and become aware of. In today’s episode, Hillary talks about harnessing the power of our brain to rectify its belief, or to create certainty in the future ability to become a parent. She discusses creating certainty to buy your way through the tough moments, so you can keep taking action in the correct direction, creating positive momentum, and a meditation to separate our thoughts from our deep inner wisdom and guidance.

 Takeaways

[2:48] Certainty is the currency for your dreams of creating a family, yet our brain will try to dissuade us from risking the uncomfortable thoughts of pain and failure.

[4:15] When people are operating at the highest level of consciousness, they have a higher chance of coming up with creative solutions to seemingly unsolvable problems. They have more confidence, and when we have more confidence, we gain positive momentum, which is the key to manifesting the life of our dreams quickly. When large groups of us are in this mindset, it’s like a chain reaction around us and it’s almost contagious to all of those we come in contact with.

[5:33] Elizabeth Markie, founder of Tribrain Yoga says, “Thoughts are electric and feelings are magnetic.” Momentum is a force that can take us any direction and has everything to do with beliefs and how we manage our thoughts.

[7:17] Beliefs are just thoughts you have thought over and over until they have become a non-negotiable belief. If beliefs come from the past, certainty comes from the future. Many believe they will never get pregnant, their body can’t hold a pregnancy, or it happens to everyone but them. These are not facts. These are beliefs colored by thoughts and emotions that you have experienced over and over until they have created a thought so strong you believe it as a fact.

[10:14] Potential from a scientific standpoint is kinetic energy waiting to come to life and move something.

Because 70% of our thoughts are on repeat, they are like a broken record based on past experiences playing over and over, all while creating evidence for our brains. Real certainty comes from daring to believe in the future circumstance you haven’t yet created and realizing that either way, you could feel bad. Our actions shift our circumstance and that becomes more evidence and certainty for the future.

[18:58] Mindfulness is key to helping us slow down our thoughts to observe them and see our brain as possibly lying to us and/or being stuck in the past.

[22:47] The brain doesn’t understand the reality of physically doing something, and the brain values emotions and feelings over thoughts any day. You have thoughts and they are stuck in the past at the moment creating the emotion of fear.

[27:37] Meditation begins.

 

References:

Fertile Minds on LibSyn

Fertile Minds on iTunes

American Board of Oriental Reproductive Medicine

The Life Coach School


 

 

Continue Your Journey:

@ladypotions4u on Twitter

@ladypotions4u on Instagram


photo credit : Elena Koycheva @lenneek


EPISODE 48 | HOW TO MANAGE YOUR FERTILITY THOUGHTS

The Importance of Managing Your Thoughts When Trying to Conceive & How to Act as if You Have Already Conceived Until it Does

 Description:

So much of how we feel and the reality we create relate back to our thoughts. Up to 7% of our thoughts are repetitive ones, and they end up shaping our emotions and eventually much of our physiological state. In today’s episode, Hillary provides a visualization and meditation practice to connect with our future selves and to help us become aware of how our thoughts affect our emotions. This is especially important in fertility, where we often must believe in something that hasn’t happened yet, such as becoming a parent.

 

Takeaways:

[1:35] With more than one thought a second and 60,000 of them a day, it is completely normal for us to believe that our thoughts are the true reality.

[2:55] Most of our thoughts that continue to cycle throughout our adult life begin in the ages of 5-15 years old. This is when we are most trying to figure out and navigate the world around us, with our brain trying to create connections and realities to keep us safe.

[3:15] Your thoughts and beliefs create a vibration, a feeling, and emotion. They ultimately inform our nrevous system and tell us if we are in a threatening situation or one where there is safety and security.

[8:25] Hillary defines stress as an experience of an unmet need or expectation.

[9:42] A woman’s brain can make fertility issues just as bad as a chronic health condition. It is common in infertility issues for our brains to get stuck on a loop questioning if it will ever happen or why it hasn’t happened yet. Our brains are always looking for evidence from our past to shape what we believe.

[10:43] By changing your thoughts you will change your outlook, emotions, and nervous system.

[11:01] The brain is always looking for confirmation of our thoughts.

[11:54] The exercise begins. This gives us the opportunity to see how fast you can change your stress response to a relaxation response and turn on our parasympathetic nervous system or what is known as breed and feed. This state not only enhances fertility but can also help hold a pregnancy, even if it is high risk.




Ways to listen and were you can subscribe:

Fertile Minds on LibSyn

Fertile Minds on iTunes

Fertile Minds on Spotify

@ladypotions4u

Lady Potions Meditations

 

Continue Your Journey:

@ladypotions4u on Twitter

@ladypotions4u on Instagram


Disclaimer *

You must not rely on the information in this podcast as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or other professional healthcare provider. If you have any specific questions about any medical matter you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider. If you think you may be suffering from any medical condition you should seek immediate medical attention. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment because of information on this website or in this podcast.

 

EPISODE 65 | WHY SURRENDER IS DIFFERENT THAN QUITTING & HOW TO DO IT

Description:

 

Today’s episode is a re-release of episode two. Missed it the first time around? Well we’re back with a remastered version. Loved it back in the day? Re-listen and re-love it (and maybe pick up on some gems you didn’t hear when it first aired). Today’s guests are Marc Sherman and Dr. Kate Webster, creators of the revolutionary online course Organic Conceptions. This course began with Erin and Marc Sherman’s personal struggle in trying to conceive for a decade. In partnership with Dr. Webster, they created a roadmap for themselves and others to chart a course that engages and empowers couples on their path to parenthood. They share the primary goals of Organic Conceptions, the main three chapters and primary expectations that arise and the importance of surrender. Marc and Dr. Webster are really doing some amazing work with helping others achieve emotional health and insight during their process and I thank them for digging deep in their own experience to provide a ton of hope, guidance, and information for others.

Join the Fertile Minds Private Community and Receive the Organic Conceptions Program with weekly group coaching sessions with Hillary Talbott Roland.

 

Takeaways:

[7:48] I share the impressive backgrounds and bios of Dr. Kate Webster and Erin and Marc Sherman.

[12:15] Dr. Webster covers the primary goals of Organic Conceptions, stemming out of predictable problems and patterns with infertility. She also shares what the program is not so people have appropriate expectations.

[13:08] Depending on the statistics, between 1-in-6 and 1-in-8 couples struggles with infertility.

[21:07] They combine influences from biological, emotional, psychological, and sociological models.

[27:11] The program provides the opportunity for couples to go through the steps at their own time in their own home rather than rushing to appointments.

[31:37] Every story culminated into three chapters and nine transitions: The conception of doubt, couples losing patience, and surrender into life.

[24:31] Dr. Webster lists the five primary expectations that arise: age, sequencing of life events, gender roles, images of success, and trust in the medical model.

[39:38] The stages in the surrender into life chapter: rawness, reaching forward and uniting together, renewal.

[41:48] More than one third of women have pre-conceived doubt about their reproductive abilities before they even try get pregnant.

[49:48] It’s difficult for young women today to try and fit in a career, marriage, and family goals all in one decade.

[60:56] We hear the difference of mal-adaptive vs adaptive coping.

[61:57] Surrendering does not mean just relaxing or giving up on a dream for parenthood. The difference is quitting leaves you feeling full of more guilt and shame. Surrender leaves you feeling internal freedom! Dr. Webster and Marc share stories of couples that accept the things they cannot change, let go of past disappointment and control over the future to end up finding life again and new interests and passions. A lot of times people have success even after they are significantly older than when they first started on their journey.

 

References:

Organic Conceptions

Dr. Kate Webster

You are the Placebo

Link to free PDF and discount rate on Organic Conceptions: Ladypotions.com

 

Continue Your Journey:

Fertile Minds Private Community

@ladypotions4u on Instagram


 

Disclaimer *

You must not rely on the information in this podcast as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or other professional healthcare provider. If you have any specific questions about any medical matter you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider. If you think you may be suffering from any medical condition you should seek immediate medical attention. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment because of information on this website or in this podcast.

 

EPISODE 57 | A CONVERSATION ABOUT CYCLING WITH THE MOON | Sharna Langlais

Cycling With the Moon — What Does That Even Mean?

Description:

In this week’s episode, we welcome back the highly credentialed Reiki master and Meditation Facilitator Sharna Langlais, what moon cycles have to do with fertility, how you can work with the moon when it comes to your emotions and energy levels, and what exactly it means to cycle with the moon. We give you a brief history of how we have connected with La Luna over the years, ways to practice that honor and respect tradition of connecting with the moon’s deep energy, and a view of how to navigate the moon’s cycle with grace and ease.

 

To share your own fertility story, please email me at hillary@ladypotions.com. I look forward to connecting with you, as you are what this podcast is all about.

Takeaways:

[5:51] When Sharna talks about the moon with her clients, she also talks about the larger cycles of nature and the solstice energy that comes with releasing and shedding the old to welcome the new.

[7:15] Mercury Retrograde usually happens 3 times a year and is typically a 3-week cycle where Mercury appears to be going backward in the night sky. From an astrological standpoint, Mercury rules communication, travels and thought, and is thought to affect decisions, conversations, technology, etc. Sharna sees it as an opportunity to slow down and get more intentional to reevaluate and repurpose our life.

[13:54] As we cycle more with the seasons and look for the opportunities to connect to spiritual traditions, it even goes further back to times in history where we experienced cultural appropriation for our beliefs and traditions. Sharna would like to reframe “paganism,” not as a demonic and satanic term, but as a way to show that we are aligning ourselves with the elements of nature.

[19:28] Moving ourselves out of fear and into research is a huge element of growth and reclaiming information that was lost and taken away from women, from the structures of power and control.

[23:45] To Sharna, cycling with the moon is about being connected to nature, physical bodies and everything that feminine is about: mystery, chaos, observation, openness. Hillary thinks of it as a time when we are most fertile.

[26:35] White moon is the idea that you bleed at the new or the waning moon, and the period is a time and rest and recovery. The red moon means your cycle follows the full moon, and you are most fertile during the new or waning moon. In ancient times, the red moon cycle was said to demonstrate their creativeness outward, and they are focused on self-growth, mentorship, and creativity. The feminine energy allows us to observe and accept what our body is doing on any different day.

[33:40] One of the first things Sharna recommends to get aligned with the moon is just to observe what it is that is happening with their body for three cycles.

[36:11] In olden times they used to offer menstrual blood to the land and fertilize their plants with it. Sharna finds that the “messiness” itself is a feminine energy and our creative energy at our core. She also recommends charting our cycle, moon gazing and spending time with nature and trees.

[44:54] Sharna says all releases are good releases, no matter how society has told us to be shameful of them.

[48:89] The new moon symbolizes new beginnings, and it begins to wax or become fuller leading to when it’s at its fullest at the full moon. We are usually intention-setting around a new moon, and looking at what we would like to create over the next period. Traditionally, full moon cycles honor fertility and celebrate releasing what is no longer necessary.

full.png


[56:02] When you start to observe how the moon cycles affect your energy and period, it becomes fascinating to watch and plan life changes and interactions accordingly.

[58:53] The more Sharna does energy work, the less she finds herself affected by her menstrual cycle.

[63:07] Moon energy is feminine, and sun energy is masculine. Sharna compares it to a dance of two lovers.

 

References:

Fertile Minds on LibSyn

Fertile Minds on iTunes

@ladypotions4u

Sharna Langlais

Seek Spark Shine

Ep #055: “Could Your Fertility Challenges Be An Unexpected Spiritual Awakening?”

Kissing the Hag, by Emma Restall Orr

Miranda Gray

Ep #035 “Mastering Mindfulness During a High Risk Pregnancy”

Ep #037 “TCM Wants to Help You Conceive”

Sharna’s Full Moon Gathering

Leah Whitehorse

Continue Your Journey:

@ladypotions4u on Twitter

@ladypotions4u on Instagram

Disclaimer * You must not rely on the information in this podcast as an alternative to medical advice from your doctor or other professional healthcare provider. If you have any specific questions about any medical matter you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider. If you think you may be suffering from any medical condition you should seek immediate medical attention. You should never delay seeking medical advice, disregard medical advice, or discontinue medical treatment because of information on this website or in this podcast.