The Third Law

The Third Law of Success is "The Law of Karma." Most of us know what Karma means... I think about a lot as I am driving actually-- sometimes when I am raging about idiots on the road and the fact that someone won't let me in, even though I just let someone into my lane a few minutes ago. WTF? (Although I am guilty of it myself from time to time...ah, Karma...) I also think about relationship Karma...like what did I do to deserve the fact that everyone I like moves to New Hampshire??? But I digress....

"The Law of Karma" as Chopra sees it is in the action of conscious choice making. “The best way to understand and maximize the use of karmic law is to become consciously aware of the choices we are making in every moment.” In my opinion, this is more easily said than done. Coming from someone who barely tastes the second bowl of cereal being shoved in my mouth... well, lets just say mindfulness is obviously not my forte. This is not about food though, this is about everything. Literally. Chopra makes a good point; Think about this: “If I were to insult you, you would most likely make the choice of being offended. If I were to pay you a compliment, you would most likely make the choice of being pleased or flattered. But it’s still a choice.” It’s an interesting way to look at it, because in reality he’s right. We don’t have to get mad about an insult, it’s our choice to let it affect us.

It feels like an extremely blurry line to me though. I am a person who has a lot of difficulty identifying my emotions/shift in mood and attributing it to a trigger. I have gotten better about it (who knew that seeing a frozen waffle could make me think of Tony and get depressed?! Ridiculous.) Sure, it’s a choice I am making to be upset by the Costco size bag of Kashi cardboard-like waffles that have been sitting in my freezer for a year and a half, but it’s not like I want to be sad about it. So I guess that is my question. Can you make a choice to not experience a feeling anymore, and is that what Chopra is saying? I mean I can tell myself to snap out of it and go do something to distract me, but it’s not like I can just stop myself from feeling that way... right?

Anyway, I will attempt to put "The Law of Karma" into effect by making a commitment to take the following steps:

1. Today I will witness the choices I make in each moment. And in the mere witnessing of these choices I will bring them to my conscious awareness. I will know the best way to prepare for any moment is to be fully conscious in the present. (This will be hard for me since I think I deal with things by not thinking about them...NOT effective BTW)

2. Whenever I make a choice I will ask myself two questions: "What are the consequences of this choice that I am making?" and "Will it bring fulfillment and happiness to me and also to those who are affected by this choice?"

3. I will ask my heart for guidance and be guided by it's message of comfort or discomfort. If the choice feels comfortable, then I will plunge ahead with abandon. If the choice feels uncomfortable, I will pause and see the consequences of my action with my inner vision. This guidance will enable me to make spontaneously correct choices for myself and all those around me.