“Don’t judge each day by the harvest you reap but by the seeds that you plant.”
–Robert Louis Stevenson
That’s a marvelous quote from Robert Louis Stevenson. It describes one of the most important principles in life—we sow seeds and then we reap the results of our actions.
That statement is the essence of the Law of Cause and Effect, which Ralph Waldo Emerson called the “the Law of Laws.” Everything in the entire universe happens according to Law—there is no such thing as chance in any situation.
Well, the Law of Cause and Effect reveals that every effect must have a cause, and in turn, that cause must have an effect. Thus, we have a perpetual, never-ending cycle of cause and effect.
When Carrots Turn Into Watermelons
If a farmer wants to harvest cucumbers, he sows cucumber seeds. The cucumber seed is the cause; the vegetable will be the corresponding effect.
If the farmer plants and nurtures watermelon seeds, watermelons will grow. However, if he doesn’t plant anything, nothing will grow—no matter how many times he goes to the field, waiting to harvest fruits and vegetables.
Now, let’s say the farmer wants carrots. So, he plants a few rows of seeds in a freshly plowed field. Several weeks go by, and when it’s time to harvest, there are only watermelons. The farmer doesn’t get what he wanted because he sowed the wrong seed.
That’s also how this Law works in your everyday life. First, you must sow the “seeds” for the things and experiences you want in life. And second, you will reap the corresponding or appropriate effect of the cause, the exact seed you planted. There are no exceptions to this.
Something Else to Consider
Continuing with the farming theme, mango seeds are designed to produce a specific result—create a tree with mangoes. However, if you place mango seeds on a rock, will mangoes be produced?
Of course not!
You must combine the seeds with specific conditions such as soil, water, air, and sunlight. When these conditions are met, the result you want, a mango tree, will appear. Without these conditions, the seeds will not grow.
The same is true for the seeds you plant in our mind—your thoughts and feelings.
You see, your results don’t come from passing or occasional thoughts. It’s what you think about most of the time and feed with emotion that creates the results you get in life. Sustained thought and emotion are the conditions that are required for an idea (cause) to become your physical reality (effect).
So, the Law of Cause and Effect is only complete when certain conditions are present. A cause alone, such as seeds on a rock, will not generate an effect. A condition alone will not produce a result. When these two are combined, a result will appear.
You Have the Power
The Law of Cause and Effect decrees that whatever you send into the universe comes back. The action and re-action are equal and opposite.
When you understand this Law, you understand that the circumstances in your life come from the seeds you have sown.
You are, of course, very interested in the effects in your life—your physical health, your relationships, the respect you earn, your income.
If you concentrate on the CAUSE, the EFFECT will automatically take care of itself. Practice gratitude, feel good about what you want, say kind things to everyone, treat everyone with respect, take care of your body, and it will all come back. That is how the Law works.
Plant a seed and think thoughts and take actions that align with your desire. When you do those things, you can reap something bigger and better than you imagine. You have the power to build something that can multiply itself.
To more and better,
Sandy Gallagher
P.S. Want to see how the Law of Cause and Effect is showing up in your life? Get the download below.
