You get what you deserve.
This phrase is usually uttered with a negative undertone as a direct response to something someone did that warranted a certain outcome. For example, if a person does something wrong, immoral, or unethical, and then something bad happens to them, they might think that they are “getting what they deserve”. They may even use the word karma in this context and really think that one thing had a direct connection with the other. In the past, I would agree with this way of thinking, but not anymore. Personally, I don’t believe karma works like that. I do not subscribe to the notion that God or the universe would be that petty and keep tabs on us in this “tit for tat” fashion.
What I do subscribe to is the duality of this phrase: you get what you deserve. We all have a fairly good understanding surrounding the negative subtext attached to it, but what about the positive association? Can’t “getting what you deserve” mean you are receiving something positive in your life, something that makes you happy, something that makes your soul smile? Yes, it can. And, since it can be perceived in both a positive and negative light, it’s easier to grasp the belief that a duality or dual meaning can be applied to “getting what you deserve”.
As a result, there is no fundamental difference between the concept that if you do something good, something good will happen and if you do something bad, then something bad will happen. This philosophy puts the onus on the action when I think the focus should be more so on the motives driving these actions. Therefore, it’s not so much the actual action but the “why” behind it. Why did you do something? Why do you constantly do things that are not in line with your moral compass? Why do you choose to carry out good deeds on a regular basis? It’s these questions, these “why’s” that are the driving force behind the phrase: you get what you deserve.
The reason this came to my attention was that, over the last month, I’ve been blessed with unconditional love in my life through certain offerings. I didn’t expect to be given help, or a gift in one case, without thinking I’d have to compensate them for the services provided. Yet, in several of these instances, I was given something unconditionally without being
asked for anything in return. When it happened the first time, I didn’t think too much of it. But, after this last time (receiving the amazing handmade Mala beads pictured to the right), I took a step back and started to ask myself questions: Why was this happening? What did I do that warranted this type of support and acknowledgment? Did I deserve it?
Well, did I deserve it? To be honest and completely candid, I think these offerings that came with no strings attached were fully justified. And to reiterate what I was trying to say before, it wasn’t the actions I performed that allowed this to happen. It’s not that simple and can’t (and shouldn’t) be reduced to such a primitive relationship. It has a greater association with why I consciously choose to do what I do and the motivations behind my proclivity to always do the right thing for the right reasons.
Having this mentality is pretty much aligned with the law of attraction, which states that a person can bring about positive or negative experiences in their life as a direct result of the positive or negative vibrations their thoughts carry. In other words, what we decide to focus our attention on plays a major role in what we attract into our lives, hence the word “attraction”. Our thoughts are just thoughts, but when we allow them to manifest and integrate into our reality, we give them permission to potentially control our actions and words. Which means, depending on the thoughts you choose to acknowledge, believe, and trust will ultimately determine the types of experiences you invite into your life. So, if you continuously donate your mental energy to self-sabotaging behaviors that are harmful, destructive, and damaging, you’ll eventually place yourself on the receiving end of something negative; something that does not serve you.
At the same time, concentrating on positive thoughts and positive affirmations can produce the most amazing experiences to transpire. It all depends on our thoughts. And yes, we all have thousands and thousands of thoughts per day, a majority of which are negative. Knowing this, and being aware of the power a thought, should make us very cautious what we allow our minds to dwell on. Because a thought is only a thought until it’s not. Until it presents itself as an action or a word, or a belief in real life. We have a choice about how these thoughts affect our lives in a positive or negative way, so it’s imperative that we choose wisely. That we choose from a place of love, kindness, and compassion, always.
Being able to truly comprehend and internalize this new and fresh perspective can absolutely shift your mindset. This shift will allow you to thwart any obsessive thoughts about the inevitability of being punished just for doing something wrong. Because you know what? We all have our moments. We all make mistakes, but those mistakes, those slip-ups, those lapses in judgment, do not define us. And, they certainly do not write us a prescription for a guaranteed dose of karmic payback.
Remind yourself that your thoughts are just thoughts and we, the individual, can use them to manifest positive or negative life experiences. I hope you choose the former and allow yourself the opportunity to get what you deserve: a life that is happy, joyous, and free.