Karma, the Golden Rule, sowing and reaping, “there is no such thing as chance,” “what goes around comes around” — these are phrases that often come to mind when I think about the universal Law of Cause and Effect. This law means that whatever energy or actions we send out into the universe inevitably come back to us. How we treat others is how we will be treated, though not necessarily by the same person. This law applies to everyone, everywhere, all the time. It’s to our advantage to learn how to live in harmony with this law and use it to our benefit.

Last year, I tried to attract money to pay off my husband’s $22,000 school loan. By “tried,” I mean I put forth effort but stopped short of success. When I visualized writing that $22,000 check, self-sabotaging thoughts would suddenly surface, like, “There’s no way I’ll have that kind of money by December.” Those thoughts—those seeds I planted—became my cause. And the effect was exactly what I planted: not having the money.

Growing up, I knew I wanted to be married in the LDS Temple and sealed for time and all eternity. To achieve that, I understood I had to live a certain kind of life—morally, physically, and spiritually clean—and gain a solid foundation of gospel knowledge. Throughout my years, I consciously made decisions aligned with that ultimate goal—and I reached it.

Here’s another example: Have you ever known someone who was once deeply religious and just isn’t anymore? Change can happen so subtly we barely notice it. One day, that person prays twice daily and at every meal, attends church regularly, lives moral standards, pays full tithing, speaks cleanly, dresses modestly. Then maybe one morning they skip their prayer, then another, then evening prayers fade away, meals go unblessed, tithing stops—and step by step, they become a very different person. The Law of Cause and Effect works in small increments, causing significant change naturally, without force or sudden jolts.

We are directly responsible for every event in our lives. We create our reality from the thoughts, words, and actions we send out. These thoughts are vibrations that attract events, people, and circumstances accordingly. One thing that has often blocked my progress has been those sabotaging thoughts. Becoming aware of them and uprooting them is essential to producing the results we truly want. God has promised that He will bless us when we truly believe and prepare ourselves to receive those blessings:

“I the Lord, am bound when ye do what I say; but when ye do not what I say, ye have no promise.” — Doctrine and Covenants 82:10

Tammy Graham is an Honors Graduate of the Thoughtsalive.com Family Time & Money Freedom Course. (Mindset Mastery) She is currently training to become an official Thoughtsalive.com Mentor. A successful childrens teacher and author, she considers her greatest accomplishment being a mother to 4 beautiful, sweet children. She resides in the gorgeous Willamette Valley of Northern Oregon with her husband, children, cat and three pet frogs.