Most of us have times when things just don’t go our way, no matter how hard we try—times when we’re fighting against the tide instead of it carrying us where we’d like to go. When that happens, how can we make a shift so the wind is at our backs and the road rises up to meet us?

First we must acknowledge we all face challenges in this life—in our personal or professional relationships, with our health, with our career or finances, or in any number of other areas. The human experience is wrought with challenges; that’s how we learn compassion. These challenges also can be powerful opportunities to take inventory of our lives, to see where we’ve been and where we’d like to go.

At times like these, it’s natural to place our intention on our issues or challenges; doing otherwise seems counterintuitive. (What do you do if you have a problem?  Think about it until you solve it. It worked in math, right?) 

However, if we wish to experience the most abundant life possible, it’s wise to be counterintuitive, shifting intention and energy to what is nurturing us as opposed to what is currently challenging us or causing us pain. In this way, we starve the challenges, diminishing their power and effect, and we feed and multiply our blessings. Wherever we place our intention—whatever we nurture or feed—will grow stronger.

So then the question becomes, How do we know what nurtures us? (We know what our challenges are, because they scream loudly, like a baby with a dirty diaper.) When the path before us looks murky and dark, how do we find our blessings?

One technique is to look at our astrological birth chart—a snapshot of the stars and placements of the planets at the moment we took our first breath. It’s unique to each of us, which is why it’s sometimes referred to as our “astrological fingerprint.”

Through knowledgeable interpretation of the birth chart and current astrological influences, we can identify our current blessings and challenges. Then we can feed what nurtures us in order to achieve the result we want. It takes practice, but it can transform your life.

When we seek positive change in our lives, it is imperative that we time our efforts in step with the universe so it supplies us with divine support. Then we will live the Irish blessing, with the wind at our backs and the road rising up to meet us.

Joy Marie Yascone, MA, is a composer, author, healer and astrological counselor. For more information, visit AstrologicalLifeCoach.com.