Have you ever been in a place in your life where you feel stuck, lost or bewildered with what life has thrown your way?

At some point in our lives, it is inevitable that we will all face challenging periods or times of difficulty. At such times, it can feel immensely difficult to maintain a sense of harmony and balance, especially when it feels as though you are surrounded by pain, hardship and suffering. At times it may feel as though your inner peace is literally slipping away and the more you desperately try to hold onto it the more elusive it can seem to be.

It’s times such as these that our ‘sadhana’ or spiritual practice is invaluable in keeping ourselves connected with our true nature of peace, love, truth and compassion.

And yet, when faced with a period of immense difficulty, it can be so hard to keep our spiritual practice strong and our faith unwavering. Whenever you face a challenging time, whatever it is you are faced with, whether it be personal hardship or witnessing the suffering of a loved one, always remember that ‘this too shall pass.’ Remembering that everything is impermanent and that all suffering must eventually dissipate can help us stay grounded and at peace when faced with adversity.

Times of difficulty are often powerful times for growth and inner transformation and if we are able to stay present, witnessing each moment as it comes and eventually goes, then we can ultimately guide ourselves towards a state of complete ease and graceful acceptance of whatever may come to pass.  Here are a few things to remember that will help ease the times when you find thorns on your path…

Whatever struggle you are facing, always be kind to yourself and remember that it will take some time for things to come back into balance following an unsettling period.

If you are finding your usual practice routine is suffering as a result then try not to be hard on yourself. If your usual silent meditation practice seems too challenging then perhaps use a guided meditation, chant some mantras or try Yoga Nidra. Or just spend some time in nature every day, drawing awareness to the breath in the body, and allowing the healing powers of Mother Nature to penetrate deep into your being. Then you can resume your usual practice when you are ready.

When difficult times arise, always remember that it is your faith, devotion, compassion and courage which will bring you back home to your true self, which is pure and unconditional love.

“If the only prayer you said in your whole life was ‘thank you’, that would suffice”

– Meister Eckhart

No matter how bad things may seem, there is always something we can feel grateful for in every moment. Whether it’s simply having a roof over your head, or enough food to eat, the comforting smile of a loved one or a beautiful flower in your garden.

Drawing awareness to these blessings and feeling immense gratitude in your heart for all that you do have can be a very powerful practice during times of darkness. No matter how small they may seem, each and every thing we can feel grateful for will illuminate our hearts, allowing us to see beyond the cloud of our grief and to see things as they truly are.

Whilst it can be immensely difficult to summon during times of hardship or grief, we must always remember to surrender. As hard as it may feel, surrendering again and again into the stillness and silence that is our true nature will guide us into serenity.

Gracefully let go of trying to control the outcome, open your heart to the divine, trust with all your soul and humbly accept that all will be well.

In the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, Ishvara Pranidhana is expounded as the fifth Niyama or moral code. Ishvara Pranidhana translates as surrender to ‘God’ or our ‘Highest Self’ and is an essential component of any yoga practice.

More than ever, when faced with difficult times, if we can humbly learn to surrender fully and completely, with love and devotion in our hearts, then grace and understanding will flow through us.

When we face a challenging period in our lives, it can feel like a very lonely and isolating time. Remember that it’s ok to feel vulnerable and afraid and always allow yourself to feel whatever arises, whilst remaining present and a witness.

Whatever you are feeling try to constantly remind yourself that your capacity for love and kindness is infinite because it is at the very depths of who you are.

Remember that you can always ask for guidance and trust that it will come to you. You have an infinite well of strength inside of you that knows no bounds and cannot be defined. Often you won’t realize the true depths of this until faced with your darkest hour. However, if you are able to keep your faith and your sadhana strong through these times, then you will undoubtedly find an endless source of comfort, love, compassion and understanding.