Here is a simple practice that draws from this teaching. When faced with issues in your life that seem overwhelming, and when you find obstacles that seem to block your attempts to get ahead, remind yourself that these very obstacles may be a signal not of defeat but of an important growth spurt in your life.

1) In meditation, think about the obstacles that seem so overwhelming. Observe them from a place of calmness. Imagine that they are not your enemies, but are actually signs that you are ready to ascend to a greater level of understanding. Don't try to circumvent the obstacles or the conditions that seem to block you. Instead, imagine them surrounded by light. If the obstacles are other people, see them surrounded by light. Even if you have experienced them as your enemies, hold them in light. And if the obstacles are specific conditions in your world, surround those conditions with light.

2) Maintain this meditation until you are able to remain relaxed and calm while imagining (or pretending, if the image itself does not appear) that all perceived obstacles are held in light. Affirm silently, "My way is filled with light. I am held in light," as you complete and conclude this meditative practice.

Walking this Practice into the World

There are times when it feels like the roof is caving in. Perhaps we already have a full workload, yet additional emergencies come up that need to be handled yesterday. Perhaps we've been looking forward to some time off when another project lands in our lap. And then traffic on the freeway grinds to a halt on the way home. Those are the times when repeating "My way is filled with light. I am held in light" can relieve the stress of the moment. Particularly when we feel the darkness close over us, these words can usher in a cascade of relief.

When you feel your body begin to relax — overwhelm is always accompanied by body tension — it may be time for a gentle inquiry, such as, "I wonder how this condition [or this person] will actually be helpful in the greater healing I seek."

Ted Falcon in Finding Peace through Spiritual Practice by Don Mackenzie, Ted Falcon, Jamal Rahman