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Flip Your Karma: 8 Tricks to Turn the Bad Into the Awesome

zenhabits.net — It ’s inevitable: sometimes, life just doesn’t go your way.

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  • selmer, on 03/06/2008, -3/+5Like the Churchill quote and the article...great timing too. Thanks!
    • DiggieDarko, on 03/06/2008, -0/+8Another good one: "If you're going through hell, keep going."
    • sporg, on 03/06/2008, -3/+1Who writes this garbage?

      I have some better advice : " Man up and stop being a bitch. "
  • CoronaKid, on 03/06/2008, -4/+5I needed a little motivation to kickstart my day and this was just the ticket!
    • dafragsta, on 03/06/2008, -2/+3Do you also have a poster of a kitty clinging to a wire that says "Hang in there?"
      • surKaz, on 03/06/2008, -0/+3I don't think he has. That's why he needed a little motivation. So, get him that poster.
    • KingGorilla, on 03/06/2008, -0/+1he's got the golden ticket....
  • ConquistadorFor, on 03/06/2008, -3/+10I don believe in Karma
    :)
    • MemeWarrior, on 03/06/2008, -0/+1That's ok, Karma believes in you. ;)
    • rpgmaker, on 03/06/2008, -3/+2I believe in it because I developed that concept in my mind before I knew there was some philosophies about it. Later in my life I read what karma really meant and it was the same as the one I had in mind, which was just a concept not an specific word.
    • Grimdotdotdot, on 03/06/2008, -0/+2That's okay. If you have to work to change the things in your life, it's you doing it, not Karma.
  • Schrodinger, on 03/06/2008, -12/+28Karma is a BS trendy buzzword. Even Atheists use it to sound hip! If some ***** does something assholish to you and you dont respond and leave it to "karma", good for you ghandi. Something bad may happen to him, his world may come crashing down on him, but guess what, the world comes crashing down on good, kind-hearted people too! It's not Karma! In other news, Santa Claus isn't real.
    • TomK88, on 03/06/2008, -3/+7I love throwing out the word Karma. Then I'll make sure that the "Karma" does happen. Contrary to popular belief, revenge is sweet.
      • surKaz, on 03/06/2008, -0/+6Yeah, .. Schrodinger.. Bad things do also happen to good people. Where's Karma now?... But since we are all human, When someone does something bad to you, then something bad happens to them, you'd like to say "Karma" to feel better... Like TomK88 said.. Revenge, or the feeling of it in any way, does feel sweet.. but there are the good 'Ghandis' out there too.. Good for them as well...
        • Kurlumbenus, on 03/06/2008, -0/+3Karma isn't some cosmic revenge factory, and isn't an instant thing. According to those who actually believe in it, Karma is the debt you owe the world (or visa versa) upon leaving it. If you cause suffering in this life, you will suffer in the next. If you ease suffering, your next life will be that much easier.
        • surKaz, on 03/06/2008, -0/+1@ Kurlumbenus... Yeah, I know what Karma actually means. I was just saying how some (maybe many people) use it to make themselves feel better.. But yeah, It's " the debt you owe the world (or visa versa) upon leaving it. If you cause suffering in this life, you will suffer in the next. If you ease suffering, your next life will be that much easier."... It's pretty similar to the concept of "do good now and your afterlife will be good etc.."..

          But I've seen some people (Earl Hickey) use it to signify their comeuppance in this life as well. ..Maybe they misconstrued the meaning or mixed it with something else, or just wanted to use it to describe stuff in this life.
      • Kurlumbenus, on 03/06/2008, -0/+2Karma, even if it was real, doesn't work that way. Karma is simple cause and effect.
    • Neoanarchist, on 03/06/2008, -1/+6@Schrodinger:
      Only if you take it as such. Some religions believe heavily in karma but a more intelligent and logical way to look at it is this: If you are a complete douchebag, people notice, and react accordingly. If you are constantly level headed, kind, easy-going, compassionate and generous, people notice and act accordingly. So while I disagree with the your tone used in order to express your opinion, I do agree that Karma is probably not (who knows, it could be) some magical force that makes sure people get what they deserve. Its more of a logical response to situations we encounter. However, part of "Karma" in either sense of the term is to not think about it as "They'll get whats coming to them." or as "I did something nice so I'm going to get rewarded." It's about doing the right thing for the greater good.
    • Hangly, on 03/06/2008, -0/+4Karma is just a word that describes the (very real) principle of natural consequences. There's very little that's mystical about it.
    • Grimdotdotdot, on 03/06/2008, -1/+1Earl disagrees.
    • OneLess, on 03/06/2008, -0/+1This is mostly good advice that has very little to do with karma. Don't get your panties in a bunch.
    • LogicBomB, on 03/06/2008, -0/+1Karma is a word that best sums up "they got what was coming to them". Used in the past tense I have nothing wrong with this word. I ***** someone and get ***** I say karma struck. I don't believe some force willed it to happen, but I call this action Karma.
  • iraq, on 03/06/2008, -3/+7"Don't worry, be happy"

    I think this site should be forced upon all prospective entrepreneurs. The "Think positive" theme is so important for productivity, success, and general well-being.
  • decepticrat, on 03/06/2008, -1/+5Lord knows I can use some help getting some good to flow in my direction.
  • bamafun, on 03/06/2008, -1/+8Just think... by digging this story and helping it reach others you're flipping your karma!
  • melknits, on 03/06/2008, -3/+2I loved this blog entry. I think we all need to practice these tips more!!
  • cschell, on 03/06/2008, -3/+4This is so motivating. I agree 100% We have to remember that the quality of life we live is 99% the way we perceive it. I am forwarding this to everyone I know.
  • WiseBoy, on 03/06/2008, -10/+9I just don't understand how these ***** get to the frongpage :(
    • Kurlumbenus, on 03/06/2008, -1/+5Karma.
    • surKaz, on 03/06/2008, -0/+3Uh... People like it, so they digg it?... Hence it gets to the front page.. I understand that there are alot of people out there with different mindsets and tastes than mine... I might slap them when I meet them (sarcasm) but I'd still respect that..
  • jcaino, on 03/06/2008, -2/+3You watch Carson Daly too?
  • skyz, on 03/06/2008, -2/+4it is like this: i was looking for a job and i wasn't succeeding so i went to college got a full scholarship and a master's degree in music - if i had succeeded in my job hunting i might still have a job but instead i have a career - success often comes in the guise of failure
  • orlyfactor, on 03/06/2008, -6/+2I'm beginning to hate zen habits and their think positive attitude.
    • Kurlumbenus, on 03/06/2008, -0/+3That's because you're a Negative Nancy.
    • dafragsta, on 03/06/2008, -0/+1They are pretty naive about the fact that body chemistry has as much to do with it as positive thinking.
  • mikehill33, on 03/06/2008, -2/+5GREAT article.
  • dafragsta, on 03/06/2008, -1/+5Yeah, while a lot of this might be true, it does have a lot to do with body chemistry. Take your multivitamins and, if you are prone to depression, St. Johns Wort religiously. That has helped me a whole lot. Some Yerba Mate also helps. Basically, things that keep you energetic and relieve body chemistry induced anxiety will do wonders for your overall mood.
  • fatbas202, on 03/06/2008, -0/+8I thought the secret of turning your karma around was to make a list of everything bad that you've ever done and then spending all of your time trying to fix those mistakes with your brother Randy.
    • sharkd, on 03/06/2008, -0/+1Only works if you drive an El Camino.
    • licoricewhip, on 03/06/2008, -0/+1Or, die on purpose and apologize to the kid you bullied when you were younger so he doesn't infest your mind and cause you to murder everyone and everything.
  • shotgunefx, on 03/06/2008, -0/+2Eh, I am unimpressed. I mean, it's not bad advice for the smaller things in life. (which to be fair, are big things, until you really get smacked, then you realize that the small stuff was ***** you should have let slide all along).

    Don't mind me LOL
  • skyz, on 03/06/2008, -1/+1karma is nothing but cause and effect - it is physics and metaphysics
  • gunjack03, on 03/06/2008, -0/+1Good to have a reminder of some of these things I often tell myself when the goin' gets tough. Thanks!
  • RahSquared, on 03/06/2008, -0/+1Very good entry. I need to remember these things when life gets stressful
  • Hangly, on 03/06/2008, -0/+2I prefer to wallow in ***** until I find a way to shut off sewer main.

    You all be happy though while we pessimists are trying to work out how to actually solve problems. The first step to fixing a situation is knowing, not believing, that it sucks.
    • radiopayola, on 03/06/2008, -0/+2I prefer to view the pile of ***** from a distance and analyze it's reason for being with the mental clarity that comes from being clean. Maybe take a sniff every once in a while to remind myself that there's still a problem, but never giving into the ridiculousness of wallowing. This way, I'm able to more efficiently figure out how to not only shut off the sewer main, but also build a better and more robust sewer system in the process....
  • Greenergrass, on 03/06/2008, -0/+2Churchill's quote is great, I know all of these tricks but thanks for reminding me them ; I have always been optimistic: “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” - Winston Churchill
  • radiopayola, on 03/06/2008, -0/+6I find it funny to see all of the comments about 'not believing in karma'. The whole point of this article is that karma is not external to you. It is an individualistic mental construct that we are ALL subject to. Basically, if you feel bad about what you've done, then your karmic balance is subject to your own negativity. On a base level, our instincts tell us what to feel bad about. The power of the human mind allows us to choose whether or not to give into those instincts. You shape your karma because it's all in your head...whether you believe in it or not. Ever met someone who has a continual string of bad luck? It's not difficult to see their negative mindset. Is it really such a leap of faith to think that if one thinks positively, then good things will happen to them...and the bad things will just become stepping stones that allow you to break out of the cycle of self-abuse?
    • MistrezMayhem, on 03/06/2008, -0/+2Thank you! Right ON!
    • degollador, on 03/06/2008, -3/+0"if one thinks positively, then good things will happen to them"

      i'm positively sure that you're an idiot.
      • radiopayola, on 03/07/2008, -0/+1Not sure how you could dispute something like this. I didn't say bad things wouldn't happen...only that good things would. This is a simple fact of existence. Apologies for articulating something so basic...
    • emaahnova, on 08/22/2008, -0/+1I liked the article. And agree with you, radiopayola.
      Things will always seem better if you have a positive outlook on them. However this does confuse me sometimes, I mean, how can one have a positive outlook on murder and rape, for example?
  • Hobofuzz, on 03/06/2008, -0/+2This is just the 8 noble paths being reiterated.
  • mikebritton, on 03/07/2008, -0/+2All that and more...in this week's People!
  •  

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