The 12 Laws of Karma That Will Change Your Life

Almost everyone has heard of Karma. Karma is a concept that originates from Asian philosophical and religious traditions such as Hinduism or Buddhism. Karma doesn’t refer to punishment and reward, as many people believe, but rather to cause and effect. Karma is the resultant effect of your intentions and actions from the past. Understanding karma can be beneficial and will help you influence how you behave towards others.

If you want your actions to have positive effects, then you must intentionally undertake actions that lead to the positive outcomes you desire. Mastering these actions is the key to living a meaningful and fulfilling life and to making Karma smile upon you in the end. So, here are the 12 laws of karma and how you can apply them to your benefit! Law number 10 is perhaps the most important, so we recommend you stay with us until the end of this episode. So let’s begin!

Law number 1 — The Great Law: “AS YOU SOW, SO SHALL YOU REAP.”

Just as a farmer plants seeds and waits for a harvest, everything you sow, you will also reap. Everything you do to others will eventually be done to you. When you choose to treat people fairly, you will often find that they respond to you in kind and behave more positively towards you. It may take some time — just as seeds often take time to grow — but your words, actions, or thoughts will always yield a harvest. These may come back to you in the form of love, money, or happiness. Therefore, you should be kind and polite to people, regardless of the circumstances. Remember, your actions and even your reactions will somehow come back to you.

Law number 2 — The Law of Creation: “YOU ATTRACT WHAT YOU ARE, NOT WHAT YOU WANT.”

The Law of Creation teaches us that we have more control over our own lives than we imagine. Many people often blame others for the bad things that happen to them, instead of taking responsibility and striving to shape their own destinies. Don’t stand still in your own life. Seize the opportunities and ideas that come to you and use them. Also, remember that ultimately, you become what you continue to see around you. So, surround yourself with things that are in line with the direction you’re heading and what you want to be. This doesn’t mean you should try to change the people around you — if you try this, you may not succeed — instead, work to improve yourself because only you are responsible for what happens to you.

Law number 3 — The Law of Humility: “WHAT RESISTS, PERSISTS.”

In life, for you to address problems and find solutions, you must first acknowledge that you have such issues and challenges. Often, our inability to accept that we have certain struggles is what prevents us from finding solutions. But, you can’t change a situation without making peace with it! When you continuously see something negative happening in your life and refuse to accept its existence, you essentially start accumulating negative energy against it; and unfortunately, this energy ends up residing within you. On the other hand, when you learn to accept that you have these problems, you come to recognize that the power to effect changes and find solutions also lies within you. So, examine your life properly; evaluate everything carefully, both the negative and positive aspects. Accept your reality and where you stand. Then, you will find the power to make the necessary changes.

Law number 4 — The Law of Growth: “WHEREVER YOU GO, THERE YOU ARE.”

If you want to grow and turn your dreams and visions into reality, you must realize that your inner life controls the outer world. Your thoughts eventually become what you do, and your actions define your world. To change your surroundings and develop yourself, you must change its basic structure, which is your thoughts. If you harbor negative thoughts, you will create a negative environment, while positive thinking is the only thing that will build a positive world for you. Continue to reshape your reality by improving your thoughts and choices, and you will grow to achieve everything you dream of.

Law number 5 — The Law of Responsibility: “OUR LIVES ARE THE RESULT OF OUR OWN ACTIONS, NOTHING ELSE.”

This law, like the Law of Creation, focuses on the fact that our reality is a continuous reflection of our state of mind. When you observe turmoil and disturbance around you, you must begin to take responsibility for the situation you are in. Start taking steps to get out of such situations by taking time to engage in deep inner reflection and pursuing peace. Even when something terrible happens unexpectedly, don’t waste time dwelling on that experience. Instead, learn the lessons and take responsibility for making things better. When you become responsible for all your thoughts and actions, you have a sense of control, which is necessary to propel you forward.

Law number 6 — The Law of Connection: “EVERYTHING YOU DO IS SOMEHOW CONNECTED.”

The past, present, and future are all connected; and your past and present hold significant influence over your future. You should realize that no “step” will suddenly propel you into that future of your dreams. Every step you have ever taken and the ones you are taking now are equally important. Your future is actually a culmination of your past choices and steps. So, they all matter. Therefore, make an effort to take steps that are in line with your destination. Only then can you reach where you want to be.

Law number 7 — The Law of Focus: “YOU CANNOT THINK OF TWO THINGS AT THE SAME TIME.”

In your quest for improvement, it is vital to focus on things that truly matter. The Law of Focus helps you to direct your attention towards those values that will primarily help you reach the heights you seek. By focusing on positive emotions, development, and goals, you won’t have time to dwell on negative things. And that’s a good thing, isn’t it? When you find yourself in unpleasant circumstances, always look for the silver lining. It might be challenging to do so, but when you form the habit of recognizing the lessons from negative events, you will learn from those experiences and become even better.

Law number 8 — The Law of Giving and Hospitality: “DEMONSTRATING ALTRUISM SHOWS TRUE INTENTIONS.”

It is impossible to have a belief that is not reflected in our actions. Truly, our actions are the surest evidence that we truly believe. If what you truly seek is a life with significant impact, then altruism is an essential virtue that you must continuously demonstrate. You should learn to be accommodating, open, and helpful to people, even when you barely know them. When this becomes a way of life, it is proof that you have achieved a certain form of growth, as truly matured individuals lead an altruistic life, always ready to give and help in the growth and improvement of others.

Law number 9 — The Law of Presence: “ONE CANNOT BE PRESENT IF THEY ARE LOOKING BACK — OR, OTHERWISE, FORWARD.”

This law is a challenging one, as it seems to imply that the past and future don’t matter, somewhat contradicting the sixth law. But it’s not quite like that. Let’s look at it this way: as humans, we often tend to get caught up in thoughts about past accomplishments or failures. And sometimes, it’s our living in our future dreams that prevents us from seeing the potential in the present. We tend to forget that the present matters much more than the past and the future. In fact, the steps you take in the present are more important than memories from the past and dreams of the future. You must learn how to deal with the past and the future while living in the present. Use lessons from the past and leverage your dreams of a great future to propel you to take the necessary steps that are required in this moment.

Law number 10 — The Law of Change: “IF IT’S NOT CHANGED, HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF.”

Nothing changes if you don’t initiate a change. This is the law of change. For you to correct negative choices and bad habits, it’s not enough to simply decide to do so. You must take action for the changes to actually materialize. If you discover a negative trend in your life, then you must make an effort to change it. Even though true change starts from within, it never ends there. Move from resolutions to action. Do something about your decisions. Only then can you grow and improve. This is the only way to create positive change.

Law number 11 — The Law of Patience and Reward: “NOTHING OF VALUE IS CREATED WITHOUT A PATIENT MINDSET.”

Reward comes with patience. No matter how long it takes, if you persistently sow the seeds of hard work, in time, the reward will eventually come. You must continue to persevere and make decisions that align with your goals. Focus on the process and give your best every day. Don’t get caught up in comparing yourself to others who seem to achieve more. If you truly understand your worth, you won’t bother with comparisons. Hard work pays off in the end. Even if it takes time, you just need to be patient.

Law number 12 — The Law of Meaning and Inspiration: “THE BEST REWARD IS ONE THAT CONTRIBUTES TO THE WHOLE.”

This final law and the first law are quite similar. The first law focuses on the individual, while the last law concentrates on the collective effect of actions. It’s true that ultimately, you will reap what you sow, but we should also realize that our individual decisions and actions become our final contributions to society. All our intentions and actions accumulate massive energy that creates outcomes affecting us all. This energy ultimately transmits into our society and the world at large. So, ensure that your actions provide value and inspiration to others. Make a conscious effort to be kind to people. Pursue your goals and passions. Inspire those around you through the power of example!

Whether you believe in Karma or not, you can likely agree that these laws contain fundamental principles and wisdom that anyone can apply to make life better. To truly live the life you desire, mastering these 12 laws of karma will prove very helpful in your quest for fulfillment.