The Karma Cop-out

So I've gotten used to various friends, family members, and acquaintances who regularly ask me for spiritual advice (or who disagree with me on some point or the other, and just want to have a spirited debate). I respect the latter just as much as the former, by the way.

This past weekend, someone very close to me brought up a very good point: "But what about karma? What about fate? Surely you don't believe that you can control everything. I mean, sure we have free will, and our thoughts can influence some things, but a lot of things are out of our control."

So here is my two paragraph explanation of a centuries old problem: free will versus destiny.

First, there is the accumulation of thought that has brought you to where you currently are. There is continuity from lifetime to lifetime. This is what most people mean when they say "karma." So this is true. But you see, the thing is, things are not really happening in a nice, linear way like our mind likes to think. In reality, our souls exist in a multi-dimensional reality where everything is happening in the NOW. The past and future are projections of our mind; a neat trick the mind uses to categorize and fully understand different experiences. Within the boundaries of a time-space continuum, if you are living unconsciously from lifetime to lifetime, without recognition that your thoughts are driving your reality, and without any connection to Source energy, then yes, your life just becomes a continuation of previous energy. You will seemingly have very little control in this scenario, and the "good" and "bad" things that happen in your life can be attributed to a previous life. This is what I call the "karma cop-out." The karma cop-out is abdicating responsibility for certain things in your life by using the excuse that this is your "fate" or "destiny."

But here's the really interesting thing: in the moment that you begin to realize that you are a greater Energy Being in physical form, and that only part of that greater soul or energy stream that is You is physically focused, then you can begin to reconnect to who You really are. Your so-called "karma" begins to dissolve the moment you become conscious of your thoughts and start controlling them. As you slowly change your energy vibration to that of love, appreciation, and joy and learn to hold this energy pattern for extended periods of time, you vibrational reality, and thus physical reality, can shift very, very quickly. New avenues will open up for you. Old energy patterns (which are mirrored by behavioral patterns, physical traits like metabolism, luck, and a myriad of other things that people think can't change), begin to shift.

You probably won't be able to change an energy pattern overnight. If you've been living in poverty consciousness for many lifetimes, it might be hard to manifest a million dollars overnight. Or even in a year. But NO ONE is "destined" to be poor, or get cancer, or be unhappy. By becoming conscious that you are the creator of your reality, you hold the power to change that reality, starting Now.

So don't fall for the karma cop-out.

Editor's note: The next article will focus on ways to raise your energy vibration quickly and effectively. If you're not sure how vibration relates to physical reality, please read some earlier posts on the law of attraction to get caught up!

What Are Phytonutrients?

So recently I was introduced to the concept of phytonutrients. Not having heard this term before, I have to admit I was skeptical. After a bit of digging though, I discovered that phytonutrients are essentially plant-based nutrients that come from a wide variety of fruits and vegetables. Here's what all the buzz is about:

What exactly are phytonutrients?

Phytonutrients are plant-derived nutrients. They are also referred to as phytochemicals or "superfoods." They have been touted as having anti-viral, anti-cancer, and anti-bacterial properties. Currently, many clinical trials are underway examining the use of phytochemicals from certain plants that may have medicinal properties. For example, an important cancer drug, Taxol (paclitaxel), is a phytochemical initially extracted and purified from the Pacific yew tree.

What health benefits do phytonutrients provide?

Some of the top benefits include boosting immunity, providing an antioxidant boost (antioxidants have anti-cancer properties), protecting against heart disease, and possibly slowing the aging process. Many phytonutrients, such as turmeric and salvia, also have anti-inflammatory properties. It is thought that the absence or deficiency of phytonutrients in processed foods may contribute to the increased risk of coronary artery disease, diabetes, and cancer.

What foods contain phytonutrients?

Increasing your consumption of fruits and veggies is the best way to get more phytonutrients into your diet. Virtually all non-processed fruits and vegetables have phytonutrient properties. More well-known examples include lycopene in tomatoes (currently being investigated for prostate cancer), beta-carotene in carrots, isoflavones in soy, and the tannic acid in blueberries. The list is endless. It's not as important to get caught up in which nutrient is in what - the research is just starting to come in, so the best thing to do is to incorporate a few of your favorites in your diet and switch it around a bit. Variety matters, since different fruits and vegetables have differing properties. Have fun trying new foods, and learn to eat what intuitively appeals to you - you might find that your body really needs one nutrient which will cause a craving for a certain food.

There are many resources out there to learn more. One of my favorites is http://www.phytolife.com/ - they have great recipes, articles, and healthy lifestyle tips. Happy eating!

Is Action More Important Than Thought?

In trying to create change in your life, how important is thought versus action? There is a common misconception out that the only way one can create change is through ACTION. "No pain, no gain" they tell us. "Money doesn't grow on trees." We've all grown up in a society where action reigns supreme, and hard work and sacrifice are applauded. But have you ever noticed how many people there are out there working very, very hard, and yet success still eludes them? And there are other people that just seem to get lucky, or get all the breaks?

If the formula was as simple as hard work = success, there would be a lot more successful people out there, don't you agree? But then, people argue, "oh he just got lucky" or "she just timed it right, that's all." But what influences your luck? What inspires you to the right timing? Your life is more than just a series of random coincidences over which hard work is your only way to fight back and have a sense of control. Taking fruitful, effective action (and working hard when you need to) is definitely important.

But what's more important is that your energy is lined up. If you are not already feeling successful, if you have a lot of resistance in terms of negativity, hesitation, anxiety, etc., then you are holding yourself back. If your energy is not in alignment with what you want, and you have not created a great deal of positive momentum through your vibration (the energy vibe you are giving off to the universe), I've got news for you: you can work 24 hours a day on your business and you will still not be the next Bill Gates. Or the next Oprah. Or the next [insert who you admire here].

The thing that all very successful people have going for them is that they have consciously or unconsciously combined a strong, specific desire with very little resistance. So then the actions they do take seem to work in a big way. Things build on themselves automatically. They get lucky and get the right breaks. The right people seem to show up in their life magically. And they will all tell you that it wasn't back-breaking work that got them there; they simply had a dream and followed through in a way that felt natural to them.

The goal here is to get in the flow of the Energy. Imagine a strong current carrying you downstream. Cultivating positive, focused thoughts, having a sustained, positive expectation, and then relaxing into a space of non-resistance allows you to go with your Energy stream (everyone has one). Taking uninspired action just for the sake of acting, and trying to win by pushing against what you don't want, is like taking a tiny pair of oars and paddling upstream against a very strong current. You may make some progress, but eventually you will get tired and give up.

Don't let the stream beat up on you. Drop your oars and just turn downstream; let the current carry you. And don't forget to enjoy the ride down the river!