Maintaining gratitude

This month as I drew the Creation Fertility cards I was delighted to pull the gratitude card.ย  Something so easy to forget – especiallyย  during a fertility journey.ย  I am well aware how the fertility journey presents challenges,ย  from moments ofย  ecstasy and trust to sadness, despair, jealousy and plain frustration.ย  Daily life ensures that you hearย  announcements of other peoples successes, pregnancies and births.ย  Work colleagues, radio and TV, films, reading,ย  phone calls, social media, and celebritiesย  all provide news of pregnancies andย  births.ย  Then there is the practical but disappointingย  news of an unsuccessfulย  assisted conception procedure, blood test,ย  negative ovulation or pregnancy test and the cyclic arrival of your blood flow to screw your day up.ย  So, this morning,ย  as I drew number 17ย  “GRATITUDE” from the creation fertility guidance cardsย  ย an idea of introducing this powerful mandalaย  to help you maintain a positive mind set came to mind.

 

Maintain gratitude with this super simpleย  mandalaย ย 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Maintaining Gratitude exercise

First of allย  get prepared!

Simply find a piece ofย  paper, some coloured pens orย  pencils or;ย  if you are into yourย  i-pad, phone or tablet then start workย  with your stylo/stylos pen.

Take a moment to settle and connect with theย  phrase “TODAY I AM GRATEFUL FOR”.ย  and write it in the centre of the page. You can even make a pattern around it or include a photo or illustration of you!

Breathe.ย  Relax and and allow positiveย  memories and thoughts to bring heartfelt gratitude to the fore.ย  Doodle away as the illustration suggests.ย  Use colours if you wish, patterns or anything else which helps you mindfully enjoy the exercise.

Every day will be differentย  so create your own folder or buy yourself a notebook journal so you can store your creations and please share them with me on social media!

Here are someย  GRATITUDEย  ideas to get you started!

LOVE, CUDDLES AND KISSES, FUN, FRIENDS, LAUGHTER, LOVING PARENTS, HOME, NATURE, FINANCES, ANIMALS/PETS, TRAVEL AND HOLIDAYS, CLOTHES, HEALING, SUPPORT, MEMORIES, NATURAL OR FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE, HERBS AND ADAPTOGENS. OPPORTUNITIES, CLEAN WATER, FOOD, COOKING, HEATING, YOGA, SPORTS, EMPLOYMENT, MEDITATION, HAPPINESS, CREATIVITY, COMMUNITY, CARS/TRAINS/AEROPLANES/CYCLING/WALKING ETC , ELECTRICITY,ย  HEATING AND WARMTH,ย  SILENCE, MUSIC , ARTS,ย  THEATRE, DANCE AND MOVEMENT, YOURย  PHYSICAL BODY, MIND, HEALTH, BEAUTY, SOUL CONNECTION, BODY PARTS, (HANDS, UTERUS, HEART, LUNGS, FALLOPIAN TUBES, EGGS, FACE, YOUR SMILE, TEETH, HAIR, FEET), REFLEXOLOGY, NUTRITION, THE SUN, RAIN, AIR/OXYGEN, OVULATION, EGGS, YOUR MOON BLEED, SEX, YOUR WOMB, SYNCHRONICITY, YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR HUSBAND/PARTNER

5 additional ideas to help you maintain gratitude

Initially you may want to keep this GRATITUDE mandala really simple.ย  Perhaps begin just writing headings but as you get used to maintaining gratitude using this exercise daily try deepeningย  the practice.ย  Here are 5 ideas

a) Include deeper heart felt gratitude.ย  For instance – nature could be “smelling freshly cut grass”,ย  body parts “being a woman” ” having a uterus to support carrying a baby”, “recognising my ovulation symptoms”, “sex today was fabulous”, ” the patience of (partner )”ย  synchronicity – amazing that Iย  was led to meet (whoever) today, TODAY I feel grateful.

b) Do this with your partner.ย  Both of you will need their own piece of paper.ย  Write TODAY I AM GRATEFUL FOR (THEN NAME YOUR PARTNER).ย  Now, allow your positive gratitude and love towards them flow!ย  Write these down.ย  When you have each completed it exchange your mandala with your partner.ย  ย It’s such a romantic and beautiful gesture.

c) You can alsoย  draw a GRATITUDE mandalaย  to help you positively connect with your uterus/blood flow/fertility team.ย  At ovulation or your womb bleed find gratitude to these body parts or your support team.ย  Remember, a bleed offers the opportunity for another chance of a pregnancy and demonstrates that your uterus is working!

d) If you are a worrier/anxious/bad sleeper or simply that your default mechanism is negativity then I suggest you do this exercise before bed each night.ย  Honestly, it helps!

e) Book an appointment with me for a Fertility MOT orย ย Baby Creating Programmeย . Or, if you preferย  self-care fertility lifestyle thenย  let me introduce you toย the Creation Fertility Toolkit

If you have enjoyed this article then please sign up forย  my ZOOM monthly #fertilityinspiration (just email me asking to join) or sign up for my weekly #fertilityinspiration or explore my website for additional support.

Creation Fertility Toolkit

Nourish yourself this moon cycle

Heart opening yoga

Date nights and heart meditation;

Remaining womb positive;

How to make fertility intentions;

Caring for yourself during the TWW

SHARE YOUR CREATIONS ON SOCIAL MEDIA WITH ME!ย 

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To make an appointment with Justine Evansย  NDย  Hormone Alchemist and Fertility Expert/Doula call 07747 133170 orย contact@justineevans.co.uk

Justine Evans ND, BSc Nut Medย  is the founder of Creation Fertility. In tune with mother nature, western medicine, the seasons and Eastern philosophy she offers a multi dimensional approach to your fertility and pregnancy health.