What are Karmic Loops?
How to maintain positive loops
I called this substack Positive Karmic Loops because I’ve found this philosophy instrumental in altering my perception of the world to one of greater acceptance and harmonious existence.
Karma simply means that every action yields a result. (Karma is not a universal system of justice. Seeking justice is not Buddhist, not is it ever in our best interest. Wishing karma to serve someone else justice at a future date is not how karma works) Sometimes those actions are positive and yield positive results, sometimes they are negative and yield negative results and sometimes they are neutral and yield no result, or a neutral result. Occasionally, we engage in a positive action, but an unintended negative result occurs, or we meet good fortune, and a negative action can surprisingly result in a positive outcome. The simply summary, is that every action will yield a result and if we string together enough positive actions, we will find ourselves progressing forward within a Positive Karmic Loop. This is when our actions continue to be positive, thus yielding a majority of positive results, which in turn motivates us to continue to carry out positive actions and the cycle continues, ideally.
Our challenge to maintaining these Positive Karmic Loops occurs when our Positive Loop bumps into someone else’s Negative Karmic Loop. The jerk in traffic, the ticked-off coworker, the stubborn teenage child, the incompetent boss. We too often bump into these Negative Karmic Loops and before we realize it, we are sucked into their loops, and our actions become negative, just like theirs are. We get angry in response, we lash out, we say hurtful words, we start to self-doubt, we withdraw, we gossip, we lie, we tear down others. All natural human responses to stress and negativity, but far from the 8 Fold Path.
How do we resist being pulled into someone else’s Negative Karmic Loop? How do we also resist creating our own Negative Karmic Loop and becoming ensnared? First, we must acknowledge when we are experiencing a Positive Loop. This is a key aspect of living in the moment: being mindful and present. We are thus able to see the positive around us clearly and say to ourselves, “This is a good day” or “This is a positive moment.” Too often, we are focused on what is an hour, a day, or a week ahead of us, so we miss the positive right in front of us right now. Don’t do that. Physically stop, pause, and acknowledge the positive when you see it. As we become more aware of those times we are within a Positive Karmic Loop, we will have greater resolve to protect that Positive Loop and not allow ourselves to be pulled into the Negative Loops of others, nor will we be as likely to take negative actions ourselves, then yielding negative consequences and terminating our former Positive Loop.
When appropriate, we can also encourage those with Negative Karmic Loops who are bumping into our Positive Loop to slow down, see things differently, take another approach or perspective and hopefully, guide them to more positive actions and positive results and convert their Negative Loop into a Positive Loop. If we can accomplish this, our Positive Loop will be strengthened, and being surrounded by more Positive Loops within others is always in our best interest. Sometimes, we cannot influence the loops of others, and in these cases, we can benefit from reminding ourselves, out loud or in our minds, “Don’t be pulled into their loop; protect my Positive Loop!” and then immediately follow up that reminder with a reinforcing positive action. Even something as basic as walking out of your boss’s office after an undeserved scolding and then sincerely complimenting a coworker's attire as you walk back to your desk will make a significant difference in your perspective and attitude and help you protect your loop.
I hope this helps someone today and here is a parting mantra for the day,
May I be happy, may I find peace, may I avoid suffering, may I be skillful