Karma is a Sanskrit word meaning ‘action’ and ‘cause and effect’. There is no such thing as “bad Karma” or “good Karma”. Karma is simply the actions from your past influencing your present and future reality. We are creating karma, completing or transforming karma.
Every action you take is based on a decision you made generated from choice. You either thought things through slowly, or processed quickly. Sometimes it appears the decision has been made for you and you feel and think you had no choice. Ultimately though, you are the one choosing how you feel, think and act. You and you alone are responsible for your own feelings, thoughts and actions. Your decisions are based on the wisdom you gained from the experiences of your life, the actions of your past.
Your action process probably goes something like this – think, feel, decide, act. Some of us feel, think, decide and act. Whatever your process, it becomes a pattern that affects the way you create your life, and how you create repeat patterns. This is karma – the actions of your past become memories and repeat to fulfill your needs in the present. Change the way you think, feel and do things, and you change your karma.
Let’s look at an example. You become anxious at the thought of starting something new and decide to accept your anxiety or fear as your identity. You decide you don’t want to start something new and in making this decision you remain on the karmic repeat cycle. This is sometimes referred to as ‘stuck’. The decision you made in this example, is the action to not change, to stay the same. This is choice – your choice. However, decide to act through the anxiety and fear, and your karma changes. Both deciding to change or stay the same are karma. Neither decision is right or wrong, good or bad. Rather the decision allows us to identify the cause and effect of our decision or choice. We must learn to listen and understand how we feel and think as a result of our choice, and how it affects others.
Just how often in your life have you decided not to take action because things ‘just didn’t feel right’ or “I can’t do that”? Your action (decision) could have been to not take action or to take action. In both situations your mind will have processed thoughts to justify your action. We process all kinds of thoughts to feel justified in our choice. A large portion of those thoughts are judgmental, often directed at self.
The next time you decide to take action that involves change do not be alarmed to feel doubt or uncertainty. This is a natural response to change. After all, you have been doing things a certain way for some time. Reinforce your decision and trust yourself to act clearly and respectfully, while accepting ease and change in your life.
The actions you take today create your future – deciding not to take action is an action. Action is karmic. Allow yourself to feel, think, decide and act, trusting there is always space in your life for change. Change your future today.
Regina Kaiser
Inspirations:
“Regret is an appalling waste of energy; you can’t build on it; it is good only for wallowing in.”
Katherine Mansfield
What are you waiting for? What action do you need to take right now?
