How To Get Better Karma If Your Cosmic Stock Is Low

We've all heard the phrases "You get what you give" and "The universe gives you what you deserve," which all boils down to one simple word: karma. The ancient Indian and Buddhist concept stems from the belief that people have the free will to make their own choices, which will in turn affect the outcome of their future. Simply put, live your life morally, and good things will happen to you. On the flip side, negative actions will have negative consequences.

While most of us don't go around willfully harming others, we aren't perfect creatures. We sometimes may snap at a loved one or feel jealous of a co-worker's success. If you've been feeling out of sorts or keep having a string of bad luck, perhaps it's time for a karma readjustment. Remember, karma isn't permanent. It's up to you to decide your fate, so use these following tips to turn your divine will around.

The first step in attracting good karma is to look inward. Are there any areas of yourself you would like to improve? Have you been feeling sluggish and need to get back to your workout routine? Or perhaps life is stressing you out and you need to unplug. Focusing on yourself first allows you the emotional capacity to give love to others. Take some time each day to reflect and do some deep breathing. Think about what makes you happy and what you can do to get rid of negative thoughts.

Meditation is a great way to clear your mind and reduce anxiety. Just 10 minutes a day is proven to be beneficial, according to Science Daily. If you're new to the practice, there are lots of apps to guide you through meditation. Set a reminder on your phone to set aside a few minutes to recharge your batteries, even if your day is hectic. You're worth the extra time.

Helping people will definitely earn you some karmic points, but it should be done willingly and without expecting anything in return. Think about it the last time you offered to help someone without a second thought, even if it was something as simple as holding the door open for them or giving a sad friend a hug. You probably felt as good as the person you helped.

Take your kindness a step further and volunteer for a good cause. There are many organizations that need extra hands. If you have a certain skill you can offer, such as graphic design or cooking, call some places up to see if they need you. Chances are they'll be grateful for your services. Psychology Today states that doing good deeds for others boost feel-good hormones in our body that reduce depression and promote overall happiness. Practicing generosity not only does good for the world, but it will also leave you with a sense of contentment.

Practicing forgiveness is a great way to balance out your karma if you've been feeling some negativity. Holding onto past wrongs is not only hurtful to the person you're angry at, but it's actually worse for yourself, physically and emotionally. Long-lasting resentment can lead to anxiety, depression, high blood pressure, heart issues, and inflammation, per Healthline. It can also affect your relationship with others. No one wants to be around a negative Nelly!

So how do you let go of hurt feelings, especially if they're deep-rooted? The first step is to acknowledge them. Tell yourself that it's okay for you to feel the way you do. Next, try to see things from the other person's perspective. Many people have a reason for why they act a certain way, just like you. Often, it may have nothing to do with you and everything to do with what drives and motivates them. Once you accept the hurt, make a conscious effort to let it go. Talk it out with a therapist or vent in your journal. Part of forgiving is letting go of your anger. It may not be easy but think of it as a process that takes time.

We all have a history filled with good and bad experiences that define us and shape the way we are now. However, if you often find yourself thinking about the past, it may be time to start looking ahead instead. Everyone thinks about past failures, whether it's an important exam or losing at a track meet. Perhaps you wonder if you had studied extra hard for the SATs, you would have gotten into your dream university, but instead had to settle for your second or third choice. While it's good to use our failed experiences to motivate us, it doesn't do us any good to feel regret. There's a reason your life led you down a certain path and obsessing about your past can lead to a self-defeatist attitude.

It's important to forgive yourself just as much as it is to forgive others. Get rid of negative self-talk such as, "I'm lazy," or "If only I had..." Instead, look to your past as a learning lesson for your future and use it to make informed decisions. If you bombed a job interview because you weren't prepared, make notes for your next one and practice answering every possible question that can come at you. Every time you fail and get back up will only make you a stronger person.

Life is full of peaks and valleys — and it's the stressful times that try our patience the most. During these moments, it's important to take a deep breath and learn to let go of things beyond your control. Accepting that not everything will go your way will help you roll with the punches and find alternate solutions to your problems. Sure you can get angry and frustrated when someone dings your car or your kid spills glue all over your rug. But getting mad isn't going to solve the problem. Instead, focus on looking at the bigger picture and finding a solution.

Don't try to fight what the universe throws at you. Enjoy life's many challenges and learn to bend instead of break. The strongest trees during a storm lean with the wind and not against it. During hardships, it's hard to remember to be grateful and thankful, but remember that these are the moments that make life beautiful, even if it's frustrating at the time.

If you're feeling stuck in a state of bad karma, perhaps you need a good aura cleansing. Although it hasn't been scientifically proven, many spiritual people believe everyone has an energy force that surrounds them and some can even feel aura. There are seven layers of aura and they are each connected to your chakra. When one or more of your chakras are blocked, you may feel anxious, depressed, or emotionally stuck.

One way to cleanse your aura is to see an energy or Reiki healer. During your session, they will gently place their hands on your body, including your head and chest, and figure out which parts are blocked. They will then move the energy around to allow it to flow within your body. Afterward, you'll likely feel rested and relaxed, or sometimes emotional as your energy becomes unlocked.

You can also cleanse your chakras with DIY methods. Burning sage is a great way to get rid of bad juju. You can buy bundles of sage online or at health and wellness shops. The best way to smudge yourself is to light a stick, stand with your arms and legs apart, and wave the sage a safe distance from your body, starting from your feet and working your way up. Be sure to do this safely and in a well-ventilated place. After you're done, make sure to extinguish the sage in a fire-safe container.

Our planet is a giver of resources that we continually take, and a great way to shift your karma is to help Mother Earth by giving back. Many of us are already used to recycling our plastic, paper, and glass, but there are other ways we can do our part to be greener. Conserve energy by turning down your thermostat a few degrees or shutting the air conditioner off when it's not scorching hot. Walk or ride your bike instead of driving. Save wild animals by being conscientious of your garbage. If you buy a six-pack of soda or beer, cut the plastic rings into pieces so that they don't get stuck on helpless sea creatures. Plastic straws are also dangerous to wildlife, as they can be ingested or get stuck in the animals' noses or beaks.

Do your community some good by organizing a town or beach clean-up. Not only will you help with pollution, but you'll also get your body moving and socialize with like-minded people. You may even make some new friends, which is a clear sign that you're on the right path to better karma.