Life can sometimes seem like an endless series of challenges. We can have difficulties with our work, relationships, health and even with our own actions… 

Often we can easily handle them, but other times these challenges can feel really overwhelming and we aren’t sure if we can get through them. 

Maybe you aren’t sure how you will be able to pay rent this month, or your life has been changed forever due to a health crisis. Maybe a relationship is ending and there is so much to work through you aren’t sure how you can move on, or even how to start. 

But despite appearances to the contrary, these challenges are in our lives so that we can become stronger; so that we can learn from them. 

Karma is not about punishment as so many people think. It is a teacher that gives us the experiences we need to grow and become wiser. 

However difficult or even impossible any situation may seem, Dr. George King tells us that we are never given an experience we can’t handle:

“Life is difficult but not impossible. I don’t think that any man is given a problem to solve unless it is known that he can solve that problem providing he uses courage and determination and has faith in his own abilities, his higher abilities and probably, sometimes even, in the abilities of others. I don’t think he’s given any problem that’s too great for him.”
‘Do Not Let Your Basic Self Fill Your Heart With Hate,’ 1971

So what can we do when we’re feeling overwhelmed and as if we can’t get through a particular challenge?
In The Nine Freedoms Mars Sector 6 says:

“Break away from your own troubles by concentrating upon the sufferings of others.”

This makes sense; haven’t we all felt better after brightening up someone else’s day? Making a friend smile or laugh when they are feeling down? 

Many years ago, before I was actively on my spiritual path, there was a time when I was feeling really down. I didn’t know how I could get out of the hole I was in and it almost felt like the rest of my life was just going to be meaningless … I felt empty. 

I found a church in my area that had a healing Service each Wednesday. I started to go to these Services and I would join in prayers for other people, even though I didn’t know them. 

Slowly, but surely I started to build steps to get out of the hole I was in. I felt like there was at least something that was going on in my life that I could be happy about, proud about. At least I was able to do something good, despite my situation. 

Helping others can give us a better perspective of our own problems. 

“… while you’re helping others, you tend to forget yourself. And when you forget yourself your own petty worries no longer mean anything to you, and become tied up with the worries of other people. Some of you might say, “Well, I’ve got enough worries of my own, why should I be tied up with other worries?” My friend, no matter how big your worries are, you can always find somebody with some more than you. You can always find people who are more unfortunate than you are.”– Dr. George King, 1961

Something you can try

Our ability to visualize is far more powerful than we think. 

Try sitting quietly in a room, taking a few deep and even breaths to clear your mind. This may take a couple of minutes. 

Think of a world situation where people are suffering, the war in Ukraine for example. Instead of visualizing the people in this area sad, hungry and hurting, try to visualize them laughing, joyful and uplifted. Visualize this area and all of the people completely at peace. 

See this as clearly as possible, smile lines around the eyes and bright colors. Hold this visualization for a few minutes.

Let me know how you found this exercise.

Do you have a time in your life when helping someone else made you feel better?