The law of causation or the law of ‘cause and effect’ as it is commonly called is the supreme governing law. This law is the only unfailing reality that controls consequences of our past, present and future actions. The consequences that we face now are a result of our earlier decisions, which are governed by this law. For every situation that you are experiencing today there is a cause which affected it. This is the ultimate truth. There exists no other reason. Every other reason is manipulative logic, far from truth. To understand and apply this law we need to cover a few basics.

The first fundamental of this law is that you can never control a consequence or the desired result; you can only take actions to get to it, the consequence being the moment of truth arising out of your actions. Every consequence is thus an experience, a learning, in the present which ultimately becomes the past. An analytical mind will have logic contrary to this. Analytical approach would mean collating the past data for controlling the future. Subsequent to this we then prepare a forecast and planned action for the future based on the past trends as its basis.

Once the time consideration of the forecast is over and we have experienced a different consequence, which mostly is the case, we then process the same past data in a new light and give a justification for the consequence which is counter logic to our earlier logic. I am certain from my past experiences the data analysis and the forecast with the strategy can never assure the desired future. I find all data analysis techniques manipulative to varied extents. The truth is manipulation takes you nowhere. The Newton’s law if applied in this context would result in an equal and opposite manipulation in the future to cover the earlier manipulation.

So the law is that you can never control the future or the consequence you can only set a goal and strive to work towards it through your actions in the present. We cannot discount the past experiences, but we should only treat them as learning for the future. A base of future on past data is a very dangerous proposition. The truth is our actions in the present shape up the future. Since you cannot control the future it is futile to presuppose actions for the future. Past is learning and a process of evolving for gearing up for higher challenges in life.

The second fundamental is that the consequence or the future is a result of the choices we make. There is nothing called a right choice or a wrong choice. In our present state we have an impulse or a situation which needs to be acted upon. We have choices of actions and they are purely in our control. These choices then result in a consequence on which we do not have any control whatsoever. Even to not exercise a choice or take an action is a choice and shall result in a consequence which you can only experience.

Thus the situation that we are experiencing is a sum total of all the choices we made in our personal life and in work. When it comes to a group function we call it the collective causes and the collective effects that shape the circumstances of today. Thus whenever a change is required to be initiated it is the entire group that has to be a party to it or else there would always be an imbalance which results in disharmony. Disharmony always stops growth.

Planet Earth is a planet of choice. It is only through your choices in the present that you can create your future. The moment in the present where we action our choices is called moment of choice. The effect or the consequence is the moment of truth.

The law of cause and effect has no exceptions. Every one is governed by it at a physical, mental and intellectual level. An organization is a result of individuals coming together and hence it is collective physical, mental and intellectual levels. The law of cause and effect falls under two heads, the ‘law of destiny’ and the ‘law of karma’.

The law of the destiny connects all your past actions with the present status. Thus the present results in an organization or in your personal lives is a direct fall out of your past actions. These are your own past actions as also the action of the environment around you. The only difference is the approach. When the environment drives you then you can only be ‘reactive’ and when you demonstrate leadership to drive the environment, then you control it. Both the choices are yours. The fact is a few would like to take ownership of their choices.

Mostly we complain of the choices that the world around us demonstrates. Being ‘reactive’ or ‘proactive’ is also a choice exercised in the past. Reactive approach will always result in stagnation of growth and the control is always outside you; a sure path of choice to be a ‘victim of circumstances’.

The law of karma deals with your past, present and future. The law of karma is complete and comprehensive. It gives you a picture in totality. This means that though you are a product of your past, you are also the creator of your future through the choices that you make in the present. This law always guides you to the betterment of life. Your self-effort is the cause and the destiny is the future or the effect that you shape. It is all the choices exercised in the present by taking ownership of the consequence, shapes your destiny.

When your choices are not in line with the laws of the nature which is the ‘law of the Universe’ you create an imbalance. An undesirable situation in an organization is a result of such collective imbalances, which need to be corrected or balanced. The choice of instant result is always manipulative and not in line with the law of the nature. The choice of correcting all the imbalances is in line with the law of the nature and is always a delayed result or a delayed gratification as it is often called.

The organizations which, are not growing are a result of karmic debts or imbalances, and they need to act fast by facing this truth and taking corrective actions to get rid of the imbalances. Imbalances will only result in further imbalances.

What you sow is what you reap. The law of the nature is commitment and cooperation. The application of the law says when you sow trust and cooperation you reap growth. A hostile and political environment will only result in decay. The choice is totally yours. So does it apply to your personal lives? The reality is growth, not decay. Every organization has been set up for growth; the question is whether the causes and the choices are growth oriented.