Karma is NOT your boyfriend! It’s also not your fate or destiny.(Ok. But what is it exactly then…?)

Karma is having its day in pop culture right now, with songs by Taylor Swift and Jojo Siwa famously singing about what Karma is. The music and lyrics are catchy for sure, but they don’t define the word or the true concept with much precision.

You’ve probably heard the saying, “what comes around, goes around,” and the concept of Karma gets explained through variations of this adage frequently. While easy to grasp, this explanation could use some refinement.

Karma is a Sanskrit word that simply means “action.” The concept of Karma originated in Hinduism and extends to some lineages of Buddhism. (Pali is a common language of Buddhism, and the Pali word is “Kamma,” which also means “action.”)

The concept of Karma is born from the definition of action and is essentially the driver of cycles of actions and consequences. Karma is not punishment or reward. It is also not a direct positive or negative effect of a specific action. And here is where it gets even more nuanced: Karma is created, perpetuated, and carried by the Self. It is also not only outward; it applies to how one thinks and acts toward oneself. For example, negative self talk, in a Karmic cycle, will perpetuate contempt toward oneself. In turn, that contempt will lead to suffering and its many manifestations.

Since Karma is created, perpetuated, and carried by the Self, at the core, it is our responses to experiences and how that response prepares us for the next experience. It’s not what happens to us, but how we respond to what is happening. For example, if I throw in the towel when faced with a personal or professional challenge, I set myself up to do the same next time. Fear of failure keeps me operating small. If I step boldly into that fear and tap it on the shoulder, even if I ultimately fail, I have set myself up to be bold the next time I’m challenged.

Can you see that Karma is both response and approach, created by our ability to perceive neutrally and adapt honestly? Something to consider and practice!

Since Karma is not a direct effect kind of cycle and the Self creates, perpetuates, and contains it, what can we do to engage with it in our everyday lives? Great question! And perhaps the topic of another blog post in the future. For now, remember that you are divine and so is everyone else. Honor that divinity in your actions, thoughts, and intentions. You are not a victim, and you are not a boss. You are a thoughtful respondent.