Do You Know Why Bad Things Happen To Good People?
The world can be a cruel place, and sometimes bad things happen to good people. It's heartbreaking, but also incredibly frustrating — and sometimes we have no explanation as to why it happens. Why do bad things happen? What did they do to cause this to happen? Why am I not affected by the same bad luck that seems to strike down other people all the time?
It's hard not think about these questions when something goes wrong. But before you give up on figuring out an answer, it might be worth looking into what "bad" actually means.
It means really bad. It's severe, severe, severe… The kind of bad that keeps people up at night. The kind of bad that lingers long after the circumstances have been resolved. Even when it might have been a misunderstanding or a mistake, it doesn't mean it was an act of god or some unexplainable cosmic force at work. It means you were to blame for something and you did something bad. And now you're suffering the repercussions from that action.
That's not meant to be taken literally — even though we've all had those moments where we thought about doing something really awful and then ended up regretting it later — but in this context, "bad" isn't the opposite of "good. "Bad" and "good" are two sides of the same coin. There's a reason why you've heard the phrase "the road to hell is paved with good intentions." Think about it — in almost every good deed, there's a potential for badness to manifest. Or in most cases, it manifests into reality immediately.
The same goes for bad deeds. In fact, I'd argue that the road to hell is probably cemented by more than just one type of intention — whether it's malicious or well-meaning. So when something bad happens to someone, chances are that they're paying for something they did at some point in time.
It could be an action or a word. It could be a thought or a belief. It could be something that you did wrong, or something that you did right and had a negative consequence. But it was your responsibility nonetheless — and it was your fault for not realizing that at the time.
When things happen, try to look at them with a more compassionate perspective. Sure, there are some things that just might not be our fault. There's no point in trying to place blame on anything other than your own actions or yourself — because you are ultimately the one who is responsible for the outcome of your actions and thoughts. You get the good and the bad of it all.
Your karma is a reflection of your life, and bad things happen when you do something bad. Your reaction to the situation is just as important as the action itself — if not more so. You are always responsible for what happens. And the best way to make sure that something doesn't happen again is not to repeat it in the first place.
Even if you're going through something right now, you can choose how you feel about it — how you react, and how you want to proceed from here on out. Life will never be perfect, so why focus on all the negativity? Take it day by day and don't let any experience get you down or keep you in misery for too long.
There's more to life than just the bad things. There's a lot of good in it too — and sometimes you don't even realize how good you've got it until something bad happens to you. By that point, it might be too late to undo what's been done, but there's always a way to work on improving your life. And once you've recovered from the initial blow, try not to let things get you down again.
Bad things happen because they are supposed to happen. By that I mean they're supposed to make us grow as individuals and give us something to learn so we can benefit from the experience.
When things go wrong, don't just focus on the negative. Focus on the positive and what you can do to make it better. Take a new perspective so you can move on, forgive yourself, and pay it forward. Do everything in your power to learn from what happened so you can one day reach your full potential in everything you do.
You are not a victim of circumstance. You are a creator of circumstance. And it's up to you how much you create for yourself — or how much gets created for you. That's the most important thing to remember.
So next time something bad happens, don't just sit there and dwell on it. Don't just shrug it off. Don't just accept it as fate or a punishment from a higher power. Do something about it — whether that means making an attempt to do something good in the future, or finding a way to make the best of what you've got right now. By not doing those things, you'll never be able to fully understand your role in life and what your purpose is supposed to be — and how you can accomplish it.
Bad things happen to remind you that they're supposed to happen. You can't change that, so take advantage of the learning experiences — and never ignore your mistakes, even if you think it's just for a little while. Our lives are meant to be about growth and learning — and not just for ourselves, but for others as well.
By acknowledging the bad now, you have the opportunity to learn from it and grow from it — whether it's a small mistake or something bigger you've made that needs changing in your life. Strive for perfection in everything you do, because anything else won't lead to success on any level — no matter how hard you try.
The only way to achieve perfection is to never stop trying to be better. Your mistakes aren't failures because they're not permanent — unless you don't learn from them. If you learn, it's inevitable that you will grow. And then in time, bad things won't happen anymore because they won't need to. You'll have done away with all the errors and misgivings that cloud your judgment and keep you from moving forward in life.
So focus on becoming a better person every day — not for yourself, but for the sake of others. That's the best way to repay your karmic debt so you can finally be free of it — without paying for it again later down the road.
Photo by Quinn Dombrowski
About Christian Finn Christian Finn was a "late bloomer" in life. He didn't get involved in the personal development field until later in age, and once he got started, he quickly realized it was the perfect profession for him. After leaving a career as an investment banker and losing his job during the recession, he decided to pursue a career as a life coach. He now spends his days helping others reach their potential through coaching, writing and speaking. He shares his insights on his personal blog located at http://www.ChristianFinnCoaching.com/, where you can read over 200 articles about how to improve yourself or your business.
Conclusion
Next time you or someone you know is in pain, reach out a hand and try to help them through it. Or just be there for them to talk to when they're going through something. Words are powerful — especially the ones from someone you care about. And if all else fails, just listen carefully and avoid saying anything that's going to make matters even worse.
Life will throw all sorts of problems your way, and no one is perfect. But that doesn't mean we can't all strive for excellence because of it — or at least try not to make the same mistakes again.