Karma

[EvianBaby]

Do you believe in karma?

I always have done but I think I'm going a bit mental and it's going to extremes.

For example, I think if I let someone cross a road or hold a door open then something good will happen for me as a result of karma. But then I also think the opposite, to stupid levels. Like, if I make a complaint to someone, that is completely valid or if I call someone a pudding (under my breath) then it's going to come back and bite me, and then I start to worry about it non stop, to the point where I'm even dreaming about it.

Does anyone else ever get like this? (please try and avoid taking the piss, I'm serious).

[China Doll]

I don't believe in karma particularly, I do believe that to an extent you get in what you put out.

You belief in karma and how you're seeing it at the moment sounds a bit more like an expression of anxiety to me though. Sort of like you're constantly questioning yourself. Not sure if that makes sense.

[EvianBaby]

hhhmmm, yeah. See what you're saying. You're probably onto something.

[tinkerbell23]

Not about the same topic EB but i do get obsessive thoughts and its really horrible ... Xxx

[LazyGun]

I think your interpretation of what karma is or is not is causing you some anxiety Evian.

I am not a believer in karma as such myself, but I do think,like China,that you get back what you offer.

[cazzz1975]

I dont believe in it, there is not enough evidence to suggest any of it is real either. eg) criminals who live a charmed life despite causing much misery and pain.

[ummmm]

I don't believe in Karma either. If karma existed bad things would happen to bad people but more often than not, they don't.

Like China I think if you're nice and kind you invite niceness and kindness back.

[Robinia]

In relation to things that have happened to me yes, I do, but not to those extremes. I think CD has a point about being over anxious. No one is a saint, we all call people under our breath or do things that might be deemed a bit selfish but try not to worry about every little thing you do.

[EvianBaby]

I think bad things do usually happen to bad people and good to good, just not necessarily straight away.

But yeah, I think my interpretation is a bit squiffed.

[ummmm]

But bad things happen to good people. So when bad things happen to bad people that's just life.

[cazzz1975]

so basically, good and bad things happen to both good and bad people = life

[EvianBaby]

Yeah, ok. Sorry.

[ummmm]

That about sums it up.

[Old_Geezer]

To believe in Karma you need to take the whole philosophical/spiritual package that must go with it, to explain why it exists. I find that difficult to accept, but I guess it's as reasonable a belief as any. But I do think if you get a reputation for good or ill then that can affect your following experiences in life.

[yinyang]

Like you, I've been using karma as a stick to beat myself with over the last wee while. Some pretty unpleasant things have happened this year and I've tortured myself at times wondering what I could have done that was so bad I deserve to be treated like this.

The truth is that from my teens on I've blamed myself for any bad things that have happened rather than just accepting that some people are just really nasty and I don't deserve to be on the receiving end of their issues.

As others have suggested, it's an anxiety thing and connected to low self esteem ( on my part , not necessarily speaking for you here ). I have always tried to be kind and positive and it seems to be bringing nothing back to me except having a lot of people walk all over me. I wish I could toughen up and stop caring but no idea where to start.

Sorry if this rant is nothing to do with your OP but it made me feel better.

[Old_Geezer]

Bad things could happen to "good" people is they were "bad" in a previous existence/incarnation and need to work it out. Good things could happen to "bad" people is they were "good" in a previous existence/incarnation and are reaping the rewards of that.

[belrec]

Don't necessarily believe in kharma, but if you do a nice thing for someone like let them into your traffic queue or whatever, then that might make their day a bit nicer and then they might do something nice for someone else - more like pay it forward with no spooky unearthly presence.

[Canary42]

I think you're confusing karma with conscience.

[Ellipsis]

As I see it, karma exists more at the level of large groups, or society as a whole, rather than the individual level. E.g. letting somebody in in traffic may not do you any good. But if everybody does it, then it will. i.e. if we all behave nicely towards each other, life is better; if we all behave horribly towards each other, life is worse.

Calling somebody a pudding under your breath isn't going to harm you - unless they hear you ... :) In fact, I think letting off steam is a good thing.