| First, let's define karma. Karma is energy, intent, | | | | college that she applied for, you might say it's |
| andaction. It's put into motion in the present and you | | | | "badkarma." Instead, it could be viewed as something |
| feelthe effects now of the karma you've created | | | | thatwasn't meant to be. Perhaps she was meant to |
| during many,many, many past lifetimes. Karma is a | | | | follow adifferent career path. |
| spiritual law thataffects everyone, just as gravity is a | | | | Many kids encounter difficult circumstances like |
| physical law thataffects everyone. It's not something | | | | romanticinterests treating them poorly, personal |
| you can changeimmediately, just as you cannot alter | | | | attacks from otherstudents at school, or the countless |
| the path of anapproaching tsunami. | | | | other challenges thatthey have to work through. The |
| Instead, everyone has free will to react to karma. | | | | traditional meaning ofkarma supports the idea that |
| Plus,doing the "right thing" in all situations will | | | | there are no victims, and thoughit's true from a spiritual |
| preventincurring additional negative karma. | | | | viewpoint, that may sound a littleharsh to a young |
| Some people claim to be able to alter or delete | | | | person. Alternatively, while providingemotional support |
| karmawithout having to directly balance it. We would | | | | and guidance, suggest they consider thatthe challenges |
| liketo believe it's possible, but conclude after 24+ | | | | they work through now will help make themstronger, if |
| yearsof study in this area that it's impossible, and | | | | you're not already doing this. |
| we'venever seen anyone actually accomplish this. | | | | The best approach may be to allow your children to |
| We'renot talking about frivolous things, such as | | | | holdwhatever beliefs about life they choose, yet also |
| decidingto avoid a main highway during a rush hour | | | | occasionallymake helpful suggestions and offer |
| snowstorm,thus skipping two hours of anguish. We're | | | | guidance whenappropriate. |
| referring tokey life circumstances and events, such as | | | | Finally, try to encourage them to get in touch with |
| relationshipand money issues. We've asked people | | | | theirinner-selves through the practice of meditation (or |
| who make suchclaims exactly what the karma was | | | | artistichobbies or cardiovascular exercise, to name a |
| that they altered ordeleted and how they knew it was | | | | couple moreways). Becoming more aware of their |
| their karma to beginwith, and we have yet to hear a | | | | inner guidance willhelp them be more aware of their |
| reasonable,straightforward response. | | | | optimum choices in allsituations. Handwriting analysis is |
| It's very important to note that just because you | | | | also a very useful toolto help identify hidden, |
| don'tget what you want in a particular situation, it | | | | subconscious fears and defenses. |
| doesn'tmean you have "bad" karma. Fate determines | | | | Self-knowledge does wonders for improving one's life. |
| how yourlife unfolds. You then have free will to make | | | | For the skeptics, even if karma and reincarnation |
| the mostof all situations. | | | | didn'texist (these concepts have yet to be proved |
| How you perceive situations can make a big | | | | invalid),encouraging kids to act as if they do helps them |
| difference. | | | | tounderstand the importance of taking responsibility for |
| For example, if one of your daughters didn't get intoa | | | | alltheir actions and doing the right thing in all situations. |