Point Of View, Point Of You.
October 16th, 2009 Posted in Life As A NicoThis recent post by Courtney903 reminded me of an also very recent, drawn-out conversation I had with some of my friends.
Refresh Me, Replenish Me!Courtney's point on her post explores karma and how optimism can affect* karma. For the most part, it reminds us that having a positive disposition will prepare you for the good things karma returns to you.
You are all probably aware of the basic principles of karma. What goes around, comes around; you get what you give; you reap what you sow.
My friends and I discussed this at length the other night and came to some interesting conclusions not only about being positive and negative, but also how karma, as a metaphysical abstract, can be known. It turns out modern humans have a highly intelligent and post-modern understanding of karmic principles without even being aware of it.
The Cosmic Method, as we'll call it, is mostly for "feelers" -- people with good imaginations, high senses of empathy, and an appreciation for the unknown in a very spiritual way. They are prone to sensing things like bad energy, auras, and probably even ghosts. These people are going to see and appreciate karma as a metaphysical force. That is, they'll see karma as an "energy". As much as that might seem to be too New Age for some, I'm finding a it tends to work for a lot of people.
The Scientific Method, as to be expected, is mostly for "thinkers" -- somewhat averse to seeing the karma idea as something metaphysical or spiritual, this doesn't actually dissuade them from supporting optimism as having an effect on one's life. The idea is that if you project positivity into the world, this reflects inwardly just as much. If a person has an optimistic outlook, then they are more inclined to perceive positivity in their interactions. Good friend and once-psychology-major Tek Support (or... wait was it philosophy? I forget.) illustrated this with a good example:
If you're a person who is helping an old lady cross the street, an optimist is going to think, "This is a good thing, I am going to bring positivity into the world, and making a positive impact makes me feel good, too. Everybody wins." Someone who thinks negatively about the situation will roll their eyes and say to themselves, "Oh, GOD, why can't this lady just cross herself? This wastes my time and I get no monetary reward." Good fortune: it's all perspective.
We all probably knew that subjectivity has a lot to do with how people perceive fortune and misfortune.
But now, with the surprisingly post-modern understanding of the world, karma is compatible with logic as much as it is with spirituality.
Trip.
Something to think about as we head into the weekend, nay?
_____
*GRAMMAR POLICE NOTIFICATION: OK you guys, I should explain something to you if you aren't already aware of it. "AFFECT" is a verb that signifies a difference being made to the object of the transitive verb, as in it changes the condition of that something; "EFFECT" is usually a noun ("side-effect"), and when it's a verb, it doesn't connote change, it just means to cause something, like to put it "in effect". If you punch someone in the face, you AFFECT their face because you EFFECT a black eye.
Yes, I am a red pen. Sorry, I get riled up about grammar.
Positivity was the interview topic on the Daily Show a couple nights ago. The guest called it hogwash.
Ok, for one thing I just got overcome with a giant case of I MISS YOU and would LOVE to sit over sake or mimosas or whatevers and talk this topic silly.
For another? I LOVE that you are a grammar cop and took the time to explain that.
If you want to delve into the old school karma ideas, we should talk the whole karma as reconciliation and growth from past and into future lives… *cue Twilight Zone music?*
I'm definitely in the “feeler” category, ha.
i don't generally consider myself “a thinker” but i think i'm in that category when it comes to karma, yes?
you explain things way better than i do. :)
Have you read much about empaths? If not, you should. Interesting stuff along the lines of feelers. I'm a feeler and a thinker and an intuition junkie.
Being a grammar nut, too, thank you for the note. You know how everyone has one thing they trip over always no matter what? That is mine.
I've been working on trying to bridge the gap between the scientific and cosmic methods; I'd love to use both.
Like my political views, I'm down the middle b/w cosmic and scientific. I like to feel it both ways. (TWSS)
I read that post from @courtney903 too and loved how it came out for her; HATE how karma's bit me in the butt for something that so not fair… and I like how you describe the cosmic/scientific POV… what about those of us that are both feelers and thinkers?
oh and thanks for being the grammar police — that kind of misuse drives me up a wall!