Karma May Not Exist. But, This (Fortunately) Does.

Life is a non-zero-sum game.

Life can feel like a zero-sum game.

Other peoples’ wins feel like your losses. And just when you start learning the rules, the game changes.

For years, I let this mentality hold me back. I’d see coworkers using social trickery to win promotions. Or, online charlatans bragging about their manipulative business practices.

I’d wait, hope, and pray for the universe to cast a karmic thunderbolt down to Earth. But, it never did.

And, I’m learning it never will.

Here’s why karma doesn’t exist. And, why you should focus your attention on a more tangible mindset.

The harsh reality of life.

Given time, humans will grow progressively more pessimistic.

And, although this may feed the cliche of grumpy old people, it’s really no better or worse than youthful optimism.

As George Bernard Shaw famously said,

“Both optimists and pessimists contribute to society. The optimist invents the aeroplane, the pessimist the parachute.”

When I was younger, I kept a tally of good vs. bad.

Desperate to leave a positive mark on the world, I would try to right every wrong I encountered. If I saw someone in need, I would help them at my own expense. And, when encountering hardships, I took it upon myself to churn them into positive lessons.

But, over time, I found that most of my efforts were wasted.

Those who I wanted to help either weren’t ready or didn’t need my help. And, when trying to expedite positivity, I ended up holding onto other people’s trauma.

Good intentions are just that — intentions.

Even with all the positive energy in the world, you won’t leave a positive mark unless you learn how to effectively apply your efforts.

Instead of karma, believe this.

In my mid-twenties, through a painful quarter-life crisis, I learned to put myself first.

Out of work, out of luck, and supported only by the cold surface of rock bottom, I began embracing a mindset of selfish selflessness.

That is, building myself up to help others.

Exhausted from trying to please everyone around me, I discovered my intentions were misguided. So, instead of chasing my heart to no end, I sought guidance from my brain.

Stop looking for signs — pick up a map, instead.

In life, it’s easy to feel as though your efforts aren’t paying off. And, despite doing all the right things, you end up in the wrong places.

For me, the idea of karma perpetuated an idea of right and wrong. And, in many respects, held me back.

If someone wronged me, I thought they must be smitten for it — putting my own perspective above reality. Although it’s great to follow a moral code, it’s egotistical to believe you have all the answers.

When I didn’t see someone get their comeuppance, I’d envision it. And, the idea they would get away with their wrongdoings, drove me insane. Eventually, I learned that relying on an external force was not conducive to a happy existence.

So, I stopped believing in karma — and decided to put my faith into something more tangible…

Cause and effect.

When I was 20 years old, I experienced my first bout of heartbreak.

My first girlfriend broke up with me a few weeks after we announced our relationship status on Facebook. Although… I was the last one to find out.

Unbeknownst to me, she and her ex had gotten back together. And, despite sharing a workplace and social circle, she slowly stopped talking to me.

Her text responses became less frequent and more vague until I finally realized she had moved on. And, to add insult to injury, I was attacked with a firestorm of not-safe-for-work insults when I unknowingly walked into her ex/new boyfriend's electronics shop.

The testosterone-fueled encounter erupted quickly and left me with one promise.

He told me I was as good as dead.

Although nothing ever came of his hollow threats, I lived in fear for many years. Each day wondering, if his ‘gang-affiliated’ friends really would hunt me down.

And, years later, when my ex reached out to apologize, I thought maybe karma did exist. She had finally broken things off with her now thrice ex after he suffered a mental breakdown. And, shared how life had not been kind to her.

Still young and gullible, I thought I could right the wrongs of the past, and we re-kindled our flame. But, like clockwork, she vanished shortly thereafter.

And with her… any belief in karma, I had left…

Correlation vs. causation.

Far be it for me, or anyone for that matter, to explain the complexities of the universe.

That is to say, why anything happens for any reason at all. But, one thing is for certain. Specific behaviours lead to repeatable outcomes.

As Martha Beck famously said,

“How you do anything is how you do everything.”

Someone who steals is likely to steal again. And, after stealing enough times, will likely get caught. Even if they don’t, our actions and beliefs shape our reality.

Perhaps they become reliant on shortcuts and find it difficult to find success without stealing. Or, feeling inherently guilty and begin sabotaging themself.

In life, everything is connected.

From how you think, act, and what you experience. And, just because you can’t see someone be punished for their actions, it doesn’t mean there aren’t consequences.

As Isaac Newton has taught us,

“For every action…there is an equal and opposite reaction.”

Everyone on Earth must live with the knowledge of their thoughts, actions, and beliefs. And, the consequence of immorality is the environment in which you live. As is the reward for morality.

In other words, karma may not exist. But, fortunately, cause and effect does.

Final thoughts: life is a non-zero-sum game

In life, it’s easy to get caught up in right, wrong, good, or bad.

But, the game of life is a solo one. You will only ever exist inside your own head. So:

• Set rules you feel comfortable with
• Play the game at your own pace

And, when presented with the opportunity to win, take it.

Do good things because they reflect good thoughts.

And lastly, accept the harsh reality of life. Bad actions may never be punished — except for the reality they create.

Hi, I’m Hudson. I write about living healthier, happier, and more mindfully. To see my stories pop up on your feed, I’d love for you to follow me (Hudson Rennie). And, to have stories sent directly to you, subscribe to my newsletter.👇

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