by BB Curtis

We’ve heard the cliché that we must play with the hand life deals to us. This is true in some regards. Most women who are 5’3” don’t have much chance to play professional basketball. Those with an average IQ are not often asked to join a think tank and work on world problems. Many other examples come to mind, but the point is that we do each have certain limitations by which our lives are governed to some degree. However, if you find yourself continually being stopped, hampered, or made miserable by a specific, recurring dilemma, especially if you find yourself saying, “Oh, for God’s sake, not this same garbage again!” then it’s probably time to look more deeply within.

There are two laws of physics that apply here: the law of cause and effect and a very important law that says, “For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction” (Newton’s Third Law). Several Eastern religions call these basic scientific principles “karma”. One of the reasons that I write is my belief that we all need to be in a continuous state of evolution – learning, growing, changing, becoming better beings, in short, evolving. Part of the evolutionary process includes learning from our own mistakes. This requires the ability to be honest with ourselves and to see and begin to understand ourselves better. “Soul-searching” is one of the older catchphrases, and the word “karma” has become better understood and much used in Western culture in the last several years. The act of being responsible for one’s own actions fits here as well.

Karma is, at its very base, the law of cause and effect. If Mary puts her hand in a flame, she will get burned. If George writes checks for more money than he has in his bank account, checks will bounce. We must suffer the consequences of your actions – simple, right? Actually, yes, it’s that simple. I think that one of the most interesting interpretations of this is The Definition of Insanity – doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Unfortunately, we humans tend to suffer from this form of insanity for most of our natural lives. We tend to wander through, doing what we do, and learning little about ourselves. It’s high time we put some effort into our evolutionary development. I don’t know how much the rest of you have noticed, but there may not be much time left . . . but that is material for a future article.

I implore you each to begin to take responsibility for your own actions. If you are having difficulties that happen to you repeatedly, then you must look to yourself to see what it is that you keep doing that is making it necessary for the lessons to repeat themselves – they will repeat until you learn the desired lesson. If we each are to grow and learn as we age, then this is an absolutely crucial step.

Something else before closing – love each other, respect the Earth and her beings, do what you know in your heart to be right, be the best you can be, and . . .

Live well.

© Bobbi Curtis 2015, All Rights Reserved