As a fertility acupuncturist, I often hear stories from my patients of hopeless diagnoses from medical doctors. Although some may be accurate, others turn out to be inaccurate and hasty. This not only brings a sense of hopelessness to the patient, but it also taps into one of the most powerful tools in our bodies, which is the mind.

It is so important to keep the mindset protected in these moments especially when it has been observed over many years (the placebo effect) to have a direct impact on the physical response.

Many of my patients have shared that they had a gut feeling that what they were told by their doctor ‘didn’t add up’. But then doubted that feeling and at first accepted the opinion of the doctor, and after questioning and exploring different options they realized that they were able to overcome and challenge their original prognoses.

While many doctors are incredibly accurate with their observation and assessments, it is still important to listen to the divine intelligence which speaks to us at all times. Our gut feeling is no less important than the opinions of those who are medically qualified. I want to stress that there is a delicate balance of listening and questioning – both of which are important. I also think one of the best ways to address this issue is to get multiple opinions from doctors because it may make things more clear after having different ‘eyes’ view the same case.

Many who are on their fertility journeys may feel very confused on how to navigate this challenging time in their lives. It is important to take steps to awaken one’s innate ability to know what is the best course of action to take.

Here are 4 practices that can help you tune into your innate intuition:

1. Get quiet:It is important to note that if you’ve never meditated before, it is normal to resist the idea of finding time to get quiet. And it is also important to note that the first few times may seem unsettling only because you are now shining a light to your current state of mind, which may have not been explored in this way before. Since the mind tends to move into many thoughts and is often referred to as ‘monkey mind’ due to this tendency, becoming aware of that may feel uncomfortable at first but keep in mind that this will ease with time. Getting quiet allows you to go from a state of distraction from the outside noise to a state of listening to your inner wisdom. This inner wisdom tends to be very quiet and will make itself more available when you create a state of that allows this voice to be heard – i.e. getting quiet. This practice not only provides mental clarity and de-clutter, but it also allows your inner guide to do its’ job more easily.
2. Listen to your body! It never lies. Our bodies actually respond faster than our minds do and our bodies don’t analyze and dismiss what we feel (like our minds tend to). Many people can remember times in their lives when they felt a sense in their bodies and chose to ignore this sense – many times they recall that they knew they should’ve paid attention but their minds came in to second guess this ‘knowing’. If you feel a sense of tightening or ‘un-ease’ there may be a reason for that. Pay attention and explore what could be causing you to feel this way.
3. Allow yourself to be guided. Sometimes just setting the intention of being guided to your highest and greatest good will open up your awareness of what you need to look for to find your best path. You may find that after opening up to universal guidance, your friend brings up an amazing doctor she heard of or a family member sends you an important resource.
4. Surrender to the process. Surrendering to the process actually involves a great amount of trust and gives space to the process so that it unfolds in the best way. A scientist can study how individual cells are programmed as parts of a greater whole belonging to tissues, organs, and complete body. Each cell has been programmed to behave in a certain way in order to accomplish the tasks needed for the greater goal of a body’s health. This intelligence doesn’t just stop in the body. Just because the intelligence running our lives cannot be seen under a microscope does not mean that the intelligence we can measure stops at the physical body. Surrendering to the process is trusting that everything that occurs has a purpose just as it does in the cells that make up our ingenious body. If we block that intelligence (as with our body), the function cannot be carried out properly. So when we allow the process to unfold, we are choosing to trust the intelligence to do its’ job!

Intuition is not just an idealized concept; it is very much tied to what is referred to as instincts in animals.  Just because we can’t see it or dissect it, doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist.  Intuition is a powerful protector and it will always guide you to your highest and best outcome.  It is also our deepest and most innate state of being, and in many of us is waiting to be awakened.