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Wellness Wednesday: Goal Setting

By: Dr. Spence Pentland

Goal Setting for fertility

“Change is never a matter of ability, it is always a matter of motivation born from a compelling ‘why’. Once you are clear on your ‘why’ setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible” ~ Tony Robbins

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The goal of anyone experiencing infertility is to have a child. When times are trying, and you are adapting your life style in what might be challenging ways, that is the goal that needs to be kept in mind. Sometimes when you’ve been trying for a while, this ultimate goal can seem frustratingly unreachable so breaking it down into more manageable steps is key.

It is my belief that the most important step in achieving anything is the process of goal setting. Without a target, how can one hit it? With clear goals and vision, each choice you make throughout each day can be evaluated by asking yourself, is this choice bringing me closer to my dream?

As a doctor I determine my goals for treatment from the initial intake and the first appointment. By diagnosing the prominent signs and symptoms I feel are important to work on combined with our joint decisions about larger aspects of life and your family vision, we provide the framework for setting goals. These goals become a guide to ensure we are staying on the path that we have created together.

Once your goals are clear and you are doing everything in your power to obtain them, it is time to surrender. Not everyone is ready to hear this and it can be tough to relinquish control but but having faith in your body is of paramount importance. Patience is one of the primary attributes of a good parent and you might want to think of this time as a dress rehearsal for what’s to come.

While everyone is an individual and their paths to fertility will vary, I have found that after a decade of working with couples trying to conceive that the following four steps are a recipe for success:

1. Take care of yourself (set those goals).

2. Do your best to surrender and accept your circumstances.

3. Have faith that your dreams will come true.

4. Persevere.

Breaking down your goals into obtainable and sustainable steps sticking with them for enough time to allow the magic of the compound effect to manifest is the key to success.  When setting goals remember the wise words of Jim Collins, ‘If you have more than three priorities you don’t have any’. Figure out what is most necessary for you to do to accomplish your goals, forget about everything else, and keep it simple.

Written by Dr Spence Pentland of Yinstill Reproductive Wellness

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