Yogananda said: "There are no obstacles, only opportunities." Albert Einstein also said "In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity."
What exactly do these quotes mean?
All I see are obstacles ahead of everything I'd like to do. There seems to be no smooth sailing. With obstacles set in front of us, do they mean that we will learn more through these obstacles, develop our sense spirituality, etc? If we bind with God, there won't be any obstacles? Insight would be great.
—Kay, USA
Dear Kay,
Thank you for your heartfelt question. I often feel that people who face especially large obstacles in their lives are very strong souls who have asked God to help them work out their karma quickly.
While your question is really worthy of a weekend seminar, I will try to give you some simple suggestions. The first is: try to connect with the joy inside of yourself. Meditation will help you do this, as will focusing your mind at the point between the eyebrows, the seat of highest awareness in the body. The point between the eyebrows is not only the seat of joy and will power, but it also holds solutions to all of life’s problems.
Often people struggle glumly, hoping that eventually through that struggle they will find joy. If we can adopt a joyful attitude and work with joy, that will be the quickest way to draw joyful solutions into our lives on all levels.
Another way to overcome obstacles is to deepen your friendship with God, again, through meditation, and also through chanting, affirming, loving thoughts, etc. As you feel closer to God, more loving toward God, try offering up whatever obstacle you face into his loving hands, asking that He receive this challenge. Miracles can come through this.
These are two profound and simple (but not easy) ways of changing your outer circumstance. Use them, and watch your life change. As your life changes, you realize that those obstacles have led you to a closer relationship with God, as well as helped you develop greater self-mastery. And so those obstacles became doorways for great blessings.
Kay, I don’t know where you live, but Ananda has teaching centers and meditation groups in many parts of the United States. Try this link to Find Ananda Near You to see if there is one near you. One of the greatest helps we can have in life is friendship with other spiritual seekers.
Or you could come and take one of our many courses at Ananda’s Expanding Light Retreat. Both the teachings here and the vibrations of truth and friendship often prove life-changing for our guests.
If you can’t find an Ananda group near you, you might find the book The Essence of Self-Realization very helpful for gaining a deeper understanding of life.
I hope your search will lead you to greater insights and help.
In divine friendship,
Anandi
