12 laws of karma

1. The great law

Also known as the law of cause and effect, the great law is what comes to mind for many
people when consider what karma means. It states that whatever thoughts or energy we put
out, we get back—good or bad. “It's like sowing and reaping,” says Jennifer Gray, certified
professional life coach. “If you love plant and kindness, you shall get that in return.”

2. The law of creation

The law of creation is all about—you guessed it—creating. You don’t just wait for good
things to magically happen in your life; you have to actively go out there and make things
happen. Gray points to the Oprahs, and Beyoncés of the world as prime examples of people
who embody this karmic law. “They have used their talents, gifts, and abilities to bless the
world,” she says. “They are constantly creating something, not just for the benefit of
themselves but also for the benefit of others.” So, the power to create your ideality lies within
you.

3. The law of humility

In order to change something in your life, you first have to accept what currently exists. That
is the premise of the law of humility. This is one trait, Gray points out, that many highly
successful people embody. “They are strong, kind, generous, and very humble people,” she
says. “But when they all started on their paths, they had to accept certain things about
themselves and society.”

So know that no matter where you start, if you're able to own your story and the facets of it
that are completely out of your control, you can also own the path for what's next. A happy,
healthy, successful future is yours for the taking.

4. The law of growth

As its name suggests, the universal law of growth is about expansion, namely within
ourselves. Gray says that as we grow, change, and evolve internally, our external reality will
change and grow as a result. This is where personal development and reading self-help and
spiritual books can come into play. And the growth never ends—there’s always new things to
learn, shift, and heal.

5. The law of responsibility

The law of responsibility is about taking ownership for everything that happens in our lives,
including the not-so-good stuff. “We are responsible for how we choose to live our lives—
not anyone else,” Gray says. “We are responsible for how we show up in the world, how we
allow others to treat us, and how we treat other people.” In order to put this law into action,
take responsibility for the part you play in every situation you have.

6. The law of connection

The law of connection states that everything and every person is connected in some way. For
example, Gray says that although the past you, the present you, and the future you may seem
entirely different, they are all still you. Everything you've experienced has led to the next
thing and the next thing and the next thing. It’s all linked up. And we’re connected to other
people, too.

“As we help, teach, love, honor, and respect ourselves, we do the same for others,” Gray
says. “The connection is always there. We just have to be observant and tune into it.”

7. The law of force

Although some of us may claim to be pro multitaskers, the inclination to do everything at
once often just slows us down. The law of force states that you cannot put your energy
toward two things simultaneously. “When you focus on one thing at a time, you accomplish
much more, and with better results,” Gray says.

8. The law of giving and hospitality

This law of karma is all about selflessness, being giving to others, and practicing what you
preach. It’s about ensuring that you're not simply saying and thinking good thoughts but that
you also walk the walk and follow those beliefs with action. Let’s say, for example, that you
believe in donating to charity. So, then, the law of giving and hospitality states that when the
opportunity to donate presents itself, you follow through and actually donate, rather than
simply advocating for it to happen.

9. The law of here and now

As you can likely guess, the law of here and now is all about being present. “Most of us live
our lives thinking about the past and what we did wrong, playing that same old recording in
our minds,” Gray says. “If we live in the here and now and are attuned to what we are doing,
seeing, tasting, smelling, and feeling, we won't be so disconnected when we are interacting
with others, eating a meal, watching a movie, or just spending time by ourselves. You will
notice that the energy is different, and the experience is more engaging and rewarding.”
10. The law of change
If you’ve found yourself experiencing the same situation over and over again (maybe you’re
attracting the same type of undesirable partner, for example), that is the law of change in
action. It’s the universe’s way of nudging you to learn a lesson.

The pattern, Gray says, will continue to repeat itself until you learn from the experience and
do something differently in order to evolve into a better version of yourself and stop the
vicious cycle. The problem is that so many people are thinking too much and not feeling
enough. “To change the pattern and the problem, we must be able to connect thoughts and
feelings and then proceed to adjust and make changes accordingly,” she says.

11. The Law of Patience and Reward

This karmic law essentially translates to “hard work pays off.” Consistent work, that is. It’s
about showing up and doing the work and not giving up on your big goals, even when you
don’t see any progress made toward them quite yet. So, Gray recommends living in
accordance with this karmic law by knowing that achieving great things requires time and
persistence, not giving up, celebrating yourself, and savoring every little milestone you
achieve along your journey.

12. The law of significance and inspiration

The law of significance and inspiration tells us that we all have value to give. Our unique
gifts are meant to be shared with the world and will make a positive impact. So no matter
how seemingly small and unimportant our contribution to the world may seem,
it is important. Tap into this karmic law whenever you need a boost of motivation. But
remember, you only get back what you put into something.