When we change our consciousness, we begin changing our karma, and our destiny. 

Imagine holding a ball in your hand. The ball is in your control. You can throw it gently or strongly, in one direction or another. In the same way, before we express a thought, feeling, word or action, we have a choice. Our thoughts, intentions, words, and behavior are karma. The moment we release this energy into the world, it is no longer in our control. It has become a cause, and eventually that cause will have a consequence. The ball we throw represents karma, while the ball returning to us represents destiny.

The returning ball may appear in many forms: situations, relationships, people, circumstances, work, health or other experiences that come into our lives. We may look at something happening to us and ask, "Why is this happening to me?" From the perspective of karma, we can understand it differently. This may be a ball that we have thrown at some point and that has now returned to us. We may not remember when we threw it. It could have been years ago. Not remembering the action does not mean that the karmic account does not exist.

We may have been in one body, in a past life, when we created a particular karma, and may be in a different body, in a new life, when its consequence arrives. But the soul remains the creator of karma. The body changes, while the soul continues its journey. Therefore, when a karmic consequence returns, instead of asking, "Why me?", we can say, "This is a karmic account returning to me. What matters now is what I choose to create."

This understanding takes us out of victim consciousness. Life is not simply about what is coming to me. Life is about what I am creating in response to what is coming to me.

There are always three dimensions: the past, the present and the future. The past is returning to us in the form of present circumstances. The present is where we are creating new karma. The future will be shaped by what we create now.

Sometimes we notice the same patterns repeating in our lives: the same kind of rejection, relationship issue, disappointment at work, or the same kind of conflict. We may ask, "Why does this keep happening to me?" We can look at our own response. If I receive an unpleasant karmic ball and throw back the same energy, what have I created? Another similar karmic ball.

If someone behaves aggressively toward me and I respond with anger, I have continued the energy of conflict. But what happens if I change my response? I can create the thought, “I choose to remain peaceful. I send you good wishes." The original situation may have been unpleasant, but my new response creates a different karma. I have changed the ball I am throwing, and therefore I have begun changing my future.

This does not mean denying someone's behaviour or pretending that something inappropriate did not happen. It means refusing to strengthen negative energy through our own thoughts.

A blessing is not merely a pleasant sentence. It is a high-vibration thought, a pure and elevated intention directed toward another soul. The first person who benefits from this blessing is the self. If I think angry thoughts, I experience anger. If I think of peace, I experience the peace. When we change our thoughts toward another person, we begin healing ourselves. And when we become peaceful, that peaceful energy can also influence the other person and the relationship.

At first, changing our thoughts may feel difficult. But the mind can be trained. As children, we learned to say "thank you." Our parents repeated it until it became natural. In the same way, we can train the mind to create positive thoughts in difficult situations. With repetition, the new thought becomes easier.

Karma can therefore be understood not merely as a law of reward and punishment, but as an invitation to become conscious creators. The past does not have to dictate what we create in the present.

When we change our consciousness, we begin changing our karma and, consequently, our destiny. By repeatedly choosing peace, love, respect, forgiveness and good wishes, we gradually transform not only our own inner world but also the energy of our relationships and the atmosphere around us.

B.K. Shivani is a well-known motivational speaker and Rajyoga teacher.