Everything we do produces an effect whether we recognize it or not. Everything we put into the world changes the world in some way. Those changes inevitably affect us as part of the world. This blog post has the potential to change the world for the better or for the worse. My intention creates the first wave of effect. The words made available to the eyes of readers creates the second wave. The thoughts generated by the reading of the words creates a third wave. A resulting action, a flash of understanding, a deepening of wisdom, a rush of inspiration, a stirring of intuition; all potential waves of effect. A conversation, a quick flurry of research, a moment of contemplation; all these things things change and affect our individual experiences, and because we are all connected through our shared human experience, they affect us all. Like waves across the surface of the blue planet.

Like paying it forward. Like a light bulb moment which alters our course. Like doing better when we know better. These are all examples of being affected and changed by something someone else put into the world. Karma is simply the inevitability of consequence.

And when we are sure we aren’t affecting anyone else at all, we still affect ourselves. We affect ourselves most of all. Body, mind, spirit — all made of energy, all changed by energy, all affected by energy. Scientists have lots of other names for this if karma makes you uncomfortable. All of them mean you can’t exist as a part of this human experience without affecting it and being affected by it. Even thoughts are brain energy. Your thoughts affect your experience, your behavior, your health, your relationships, and your place in the world. You change your thoughts, you change your karma. Good or bad, you choose.

— Mercy