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The "So Now What?" Podcast

I am a Fertility Survivor.  The kind you enter into treatments hoping you will never be... childless.  After several rounds of IUI and IVF, at some of the leading Fertility Centers, I was told I was no longer a candidate for fertility treatment.  It left me asking myself...

So now what?

For the years that followed, I tried to put myself back together and tell myself I would be OK, but I wasn't.  I was shattered - I felt alone and failed by the whole process and especially, my body.  I yearned for others that felt the pain I felt and someone that could help me navigate a life without a child. 

I didn't find it, so I decide to create it.  

Fast forward to today. I am still childless, but my beliefs about my life have changed.  I decided that I can create meaning and purpose in my life even though I am not a mother.  I've learned to love myself and the body I felt failed me as a woman.

If you've been on this journey, hop on and join me as we create something we were not offered.  Let's create a sisterhood for the bravest women I know.  We brush ourselves off and don't let terms like: Failed, Unexplained, Miscarriage, Not-viable or Advanced Maternal Age define us anymore.  

 

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  2. Choosing Your Self-Image: Redefining Worth After Infertility

Choosing Your Self-Image: Redefining Worth After Infertility

Nov 2, 2023

In today's episode, we dive into the intriguing realm of self-perception and self-worth. Lana Manikowski shares her personal journey and powerful insights into reshaping your opinion of yourself. Join us as we explore how you can start to define what makes you amazing, regardless of your fertility journey.

Episode Highlights:

  • Lana opens the episode by acknowledging the universal human tendency to care about what others think of us and how we often base our self-worth on them.

  • The central theme of the episode is introduced: What's your opinion of yourself? Lana challenges her audience to consider this question, as it's something rarely discussed - but profoundly important.

  • She reflects on how often we let external feedback dictate our actions and decisions, rather than first understanding our own self-perception.

  • Many women who have experienced infertility treatments may have struggled with feeling less significant or relevant due to their inability to have children. Lana urges her listeners to reflect on their feelings about this issue.

  • Listeners are encouraged to take a few minutes to jot down their thoughts about themselves, acknowledging that it might be easier to note the aspects they don't like about themselves.

  • Lana suggests that we can actively decide what we want to think about ourselves. She dispels the notion that we're limited to a predefined set of characteristics, inviting her audience to think more expansively about who they are.

  • She empowers her listeners by granting them permission to choose their self-perception. Lana shares her own transformative experience when she realized that she could define her self-image, irrespective of external factors.

  • The episode discusses the importance of selecting words and phrases that reflect how you want to see yourself. Lana provides the example of how using daily reminders to reinforce these beliefs.

  • Lana emphasizes that you don't have to wait for accomplishments to define yourself in a certain way. You can choose to see yourself as "brave," "capable," "powerful," and other positive attributes, regardless of your current circumstances.

  • She shares how this shift in self-perception can lead to you actively seeking evidence to support these beliefs, ultimately shaping your reality.

  • Lana encourages listeners to recognize their bravery during their fertility journey and not solely rely on external validation.

  • The episode concludes with a reminder of the significance of your own opinion of yourself. It's highlighted that what you believe about yourself is pivotal and has the power to transform your life.

  • Lana extends an invitation to connect and explore these concepts further through free discovery calls, as she believes these ideas can be transformative for anyone who is open to them.

Conclusion:
In this thought-provoking episode, Lana encourages women who have experienced childlessness after infertility to recognize their self-image and reconsider their self-worth. By choosing to believe in their intrinsic qualities and capabilities, listeners can unlock a powerful source of self-empowerment. This episode offers a fresh perspective on self-perception, reminding us that we have the autonomy to shape our own self-image. Join us on this journey of self-discovery and empowerment, and remember, you are brave, capable, and powerful.