Karma is often misunderstood. The common conception of karma is that if you do something good, you’ll be rewarded, and if you do something bad, you will be punished. But that’s wrong; that’s not how karma works. There’s no higher power pointing at you and deciding to punish you for being a ‘bad boy’ or a ‘bad girl.’

Karma simply means cause and effect. You do something (a cause), and that has a consequence (an effect).

Your present, what you are experiencing right now, is a direct consequence of your past actions or the lack of them. You had desires in the past, you acted on them, and now, in the present moment, you live out the outcomes of those actions.

For instance, when you were in school and you had to study for a final exam. And you didn’t. You took the exam and failed. And then you had to repeat the entire class again, and it caused you pain. It was annoying and frustrating. But you brought it upon yourself, because you didn’t study, you didn’t prepare.

Or if you are in a loving relationship and you start neglecting your partner, not putting any effort. Then one day, the relationship ends. They break up with you. And you end up alone for months, maybe years. And you cry. It hurts. And you feel the pain. But you brought it upon yourself. You didn’t value the relationship when you were in it.

Or maybe you had that same relationship, and you worked on it every day, you blessed your partner with your presence and love. And now, you are in a healthy, thriving marriage. You brought it upon yourself.

In other words, you are being punished or rewarded by your actions, not for them.

Of course, it is not always that simple because you are also dealing with the karma of other people, their chain of cause and effect. But you get the point.

Karma is like putting your fingers into fire, getting them burned, and then tending to the resulting wound. Or not putting them in any fire and not getting burned, and therefore, not inflicting any wound.

Your present circumstances are shaped by your past actions and desires. Take responsibility for your choices. Instead of blaming external circumstances or others, recognize that you play an active role in creating your current reality.

Karma, or the law of cause and effect, is your teacher. Next time you meet someone and enter a relationship, you’ll put effort in it, because now you know how much it hurts to get rejected.

Or not, maybe you don’t learn. Then life will make you repeat the lesson again and again, until you learn it.

You learn from your past actions and their consequences so you can make wiser choices and break free from negative patterns in the present and the future. Each moment presents you with an opportunity to make a choice that will either cause you pain or joy down the road. Remember that, choose wisely.

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