karma is not amazon prime, there really is no next day delivery
Some of you may have caught my Instagram reel about Karma a few days ago and wondered if I was either cryptically cursing someone out in ancient Karma-speak or warning all the shady characters of the world to prepare for their inevitable reckoning. (Ok, maybe a tiny bit of that last one is true.) In reality, I posted it as a personal reminder to remain a halfway decent human being, even when I find myself in a not halfway decent situation. You see, waiting for Karma is almost as excruciating as waiting in line at DMV (and potentially even slower), but I do believe it’s coming for us all, and I am trying to get on the VIP list.
So why the hell does Karma take so long you ask? Well, apparently Karma is a long-term investor. The word Karma comes from the Sanskrit word “karman” which means action or deed. The concept of Karma refers to the spiritual connection of cause and effect. Basically, every action you take (good or bad) sets off a chain reaction that results in a long-term effect that influences your future. Notice how I said long-term, yes, Karma is playing the long game.
Grab a seat, Karma typically likes to take the scenic route
Here is the harsh truth, like it or not, we all have times in life when we have to travel an especially difficult road. At these points, it’s tempting to latch on to the concept of Karma as some kind of cosmic hitman - a la John Wick or Jason Bourne. Quick, efficient, and effective. But that’s not how Karma works. In fact, that’s not even what Karma is. Karma is not some kind of payback or vengeance on another person. Karma has nothing to do with another person at all. Karma is all about the cumulative consequences of YOUR actions. Good or bad. That is why waiting on Karma to handle your long list of retributions is just about as futile as willing the sun to rise earlier because you want the day to start sooner. Both are going to happen in their own time and without consideration of your schedule.
how is that fair?
News flash, maybe it’s not. Karma is not concerned with the human concepts of fairness or retribution because it’s not some kind of cosmic referee. What it is however is a mirror reflecting your choices back to you. For every action you take, good or bad, there is a consequence. Karma is indifferent to doling out justice on your behalf or assigning blame to anyone, but it does reflect the energy, actions, and intentions that you put out into the world. So choose wisely.
Now I would be lying if I didn’t acknowledge that there are times that I really want the proverbial chickens to come home to roost. But what good is that doing me? Right, it’s not. And it is certainly not putting my best Karma foot forward. Even more so, it gives power to the people who deserve the roosting chickens. The greatest part about Karma is that everyone earns their own. I don’t need to see it or even be aware of it - if they earned it, they earned it, remember? Karma may take a long and winding road but it will still get there. And it will come home to roost whether I am tending the coop or not.
be your own karma
And now back to us, because we are really the ones who matter - especially when it comes to Karma. Remember, Karma is not just a one-way street of punishment for bad deeds. Getting on that VIP list is all about doing right by others, doing right by yourself, and doing right by the universe. A Karmic balance sheet of sorts.
So how do you set yourself up for VIP status?
Invest in your own happiness and the happiness of “your” people
How many times have you heard “The best revenge is a life well lived.”? It’s a saying for a reason. Once you focus on yourself and the people who matter to you, those “other” people become irrelevant. Don’t let them or their bad behavior take up precious real estate in your head. Yes, this can be easier said than done but aren’t you worth the effort? Focus on the people who do matter, which includes you! Show up for yourself and others. You and they deserve the best version of you but that takes investment on your part.
Be that halfway decent human being
Better yet, be that truly decent human being! Good Karma is just as powerful (and I might even argue more powerful) than bad Karma. Be kind, help others when you can, be a good friend, do the right thing even when it’s hard, compliment a stranger, show appreciation. The list is endless.
Be authentic
As I was reading more about Karma, I learned that the intentions behind your actions are a huge part of the Karma equation. When you enter into any interaction, do so with good intentions and as your authentic self.
Trust in the universe, God, or even just yourself
I fully understand and respect that everyone has their own set of beliefs - spiritual or otherwise. That said, a very close friend of mine once told me, “God makes the moves that you would not make because he sees the things you can’t see and hears the things you can’t hear.” You can easily insert “the universe” or “Karma” in the place of God. What this statement is ultimately saying is that there is a bigger plan in place. You may or may not be privy to it at the time, but it’s there.
Just because something bad happened to you, does not necessarily mean you did something to “deserve it”
Bad things do happen to good people and it is different than Karma. Karma does not target people indiscriminately, unfortunately, many other misfortunes and ailments we may face in life do. Focusing on resilience, compassion, and perspective during difficult times can help us to cope and hopefully thrive again. This is a very different thing than “reaping what you sow”.
final thoughts
Here’s the deal with Karma, it doesn’t do express shipping. Nope, Karma is literally the poster child for “all things in due time”. So stop checking for updates, start focusing on being the best person you can be, and keep working on collecting all that good Karma that is coming your way. Pretty soon you will have created a life that’s so fulfilling that you won’t even care if the package ever shows up. You will be too busy enjoying your spot on the VIP list. Save me a seat & a glass of bubbles!
