Dealing with Infertility with a Smile

If you've dealt with infertility, you know that smiling isn't the first emotion that comes to mind: sadness, frustration, irritation, pain, sorrow, heartache -- oh, how the list goes on an on. We try to smile but it somehow only manages to turn into a sour expression. Don't get me wrong. That smile was out best effort to show the world that all is well. It just wasn't really a happy-go-lucky smile. It was more of a God-get-me-out-of-here smile.

The longer we deal with infertility, the less likely we are to have a smile on our faces. We smile, yet the smile is more out of duty. We don't feel happy. We struggle. We hurt. We cry. We understand that empty void that never seems to get filled.

Let's face it, there are too many happy occasions throughout the year that prohibit us from really being able to sigh with relief and have a moment of somewhat happiness, and if you will, a half-way smile. Baby showers, birth invitations, newborns, babies, pregnant women -- you know what I'm talking about. It is these events that are our daily reminders that we aren't pregnant and truly suffering from infertility.

Yet there is hope. No matter how many years you've struggled with infertility, you can find that smile. You can find that moment of hope. You can find happiness even during the hardest of days. These simple, yet effective, ways can help each of us as we work our way throughout the infertility journey.

Quiet Time is Essential

Because I've dealt with infertility for years, I've found one of the biggest ways to deal with infertility is prayer/quiet time/meditation. My faith has been my biggest friend as I've struggled day after day, month after month, year after year. There is always that piece of hope that one day... I often say to myself, "One day..."

Enjoy the Little Things

Don't let the misery of infertility keep you from timing to enjoy the silence of the day. Pray for the things you are hoping for, even though they seem far away. Take the time to really get in tune with yourself and your present circumstances. Listening to music, driving in the car, and writing in a journal are all great ideas for having quiet time for yourself.

Take Control of Your Body

One way to really bring the smile back to your life is to take control of your body. This means learning when you ovulate, taking your temperatures, and finding out why you struggle with infertility. Once you learn and begin taking control of your body, you will be able to tackle one problem at a time. This creates a feeling of authority; like you are making a difference in your body and infertility.

No matter what you do to help throughout the infertility process, the important thing is to remember that life does go on. Don't miss out on those moments that sometimes are easy to forget. Family, friends, animals -- all the things around us are our blessings. Focus on these things when life gets difficult. These blessings can help you through the hardest of days. After my miscarriage, as I focused on everything around me, I was able to find hope for another day. No matter what specific blessing in your life, you can and will find your smile.