The 7 Laws of the Universe for a Happier Life

Have you ever wondered why some people are such visible successes and why some people are painful failures? You don’t have to work harder or make more money in order to be successful. You can move toward success with more joy by following a few simple laws of nature.

This article was greatly inspired from the teachings of Deepak Chopra and other spiritual teachers.

The Law of Pure Potentiality

The first law is that your true self is pure consciousness. Each of us has infinite potential. We can access this potential by sitting in solitude and meditating.

Think of your mind as a pond. When the pond is calm, the image becomes calm. When you meditate, the pond becomes calm and reflects your image. One morning, sit in silence for 20 minutes.

At first the mind will jump to work and family. After some time the pond settles. Thoughts get clearer during the day. Decisions get a little better. This law is a reminder that we are connected to more than just our jobs or roles.

To apply this law, follow these steps:

• Prioritize silence every day.
• Stay away from technology for a while.
• Spend time in nature.
• Accept people for who they are, and don’t judge their worth by their appearance.

Less criticism creates more energy. A friend stopped criticizing his work and started enjoying it. This allowed him to channel his natural creativity instead of his inner criticism, and he became a better artist as a result.

Silence should not be seen as an escape from life. Silence actually gives us an opportunity to hear our own life once again.

Most of us are stuck to the phone or are constantly doing a task. Without silencing our mind there’s always some kind of mental chatter going on all the time. The pond, which is the mind, never gets still so the picture always stays broken.

Even just 10 minutes of silence throughout the day is more than enough to start the practice. At first you’ll feel restless and that restlessness is just a way of getting rid of your old habit. It’s practice anyways and eventually with enough practice you will be able to overcome that restlessness and enjoy silence.

The Law of Giving

The second law shows that in the flow of energy in the universe, giving and receiving are not opposites but two sides of the same coin. Life is all about exchange.

This law changes the old habit of holding everything tight. Saving is useful. Clutching is different. Giving creates space in a life.

For example, a small business owner started offering free samples with every purchase. At first she was worried about the price, but her happy customers told their friends, and the word spread. Within a few months, she doubled her sales.

Practice the Law of Giving:

• Give something to everyone you meet. A smile, a kind word, a prayer.
• Receive gifts with gratitude.
• Let attention, affection, gratitude, and love flow into your life in abundance.

Even if you don’t have money, you can still give a kind word or listen. These are more valuable gifts than material gifts.

The Law of Karma

This third law pertains to cause and effect. Actions create power, the power of energy that comes back to us. You only receive what you give.

Every choice has its pros and cons. Let’s assume you help a neighbor move furniture. Months later the car breaks down and that neighbor gives a ride to work for a week. What we do for the world is what the world does for us later when we are in need.

To apply this rule:

• Act without being frozen by fear of consequences.
• Ask yourself, “Will this decision bring joy to me and others?”
• Don’t be foolish.

Everything you do today affects your life tomorrow. Good intentions can lead to good actions someday.

The Law of Least Effort

You don’t have to work to make flowers bloom. Nature moves without effort. The fourth law says that we can do more by doing less.

This law doesn’t say that laziness is good. My sister had an abusive boss for years, and she kept resisting, but it ruined her life. On the other hand, when reality is accepted and energy goes into the work instead of fighting the world, better assignments often show up.

To use this rule:

• Let go. Accept people as they are.
• Accept situations as they are instead of blaming others.
• If you’re stubborn, you’ll get outraged. Making any change is annoying.

One time, I was stuck in traffic and was getting frustrated. Then I remembered this rule and used the time to listen to a podcast. Now, things that could have been a waste of time became useful.

The Law of Intention

Intention and desire can be tools, not only sources of suffering.

Whenever we come together to make a plan, we focus our minds, and consequently, many options are presented to us.

A teacher at a school found out some students who weren’t reading to their full potential. She wanted a special reading program. At first there was no budget and no support. But with pure passion she pursued the matter.

After a few months, the program was funded by local businesses and volunteers. She had a particular goal, and therefore she found support. This law works because the energy that drives attention must be directed toward a goal.

Under this law, attention can exhaust you. Intention can transform you. What you focus on expands in your life.

Steps to apply this law:

• Write down your desires and dreams.
• In everything, assume there’s a reason.
• Be encouraged daily.

The Law of Detachment

The sixth law is that if you want something, you must detach yourself from gripping it. This may sound counterintuitive, but it works.

Imagine a child with a toy. Holding onto it so tightly that no one else can touch it. In situations like these, our desires can generate anxiety and fear. When we detach, we still have intention, but we are no longer obsessed with the outcome, as if it has already been decided by panic.

To practice detachment:

• Don’t worry about the outcome you’re seeking.
• Accept that life is and always will be uncertain.
• Focus on what you can control: your behavior, not your results.

Farmers don’t just throw seeds in the ground and cross their fingers. They don’t measure the plant every hour. They trust the system and keep doing the work. Just set some intentions and let life do the rest. Doing so often brings much more than we could have ever imagined.

The Law of Dharma

This last law tells us that you, too, have a special gift and a special way of using it is to help others. Combine these three factors, and you have the recipe for growth that does not dry up so fast.

There’s an accountant friend of mine who was very successful but still felt empty inside. In retrospect he realizes his true talent is teaching. Now he teaches personal finance to high school students, and he loves it.

This is how you discover your dharma:

• Identify your skills.
• Think about how those skills could help others.
• Discover a career or business that fits your abilities and your state of happiness.

Too often success seems like a one-dimensional, mundane goal where the criteria are wealth, status, or fame. But this law shows us that we are more prosperous by dedicating ourselves to our talents and the benefit of others.

Conclusion

These seven truths are not “achievements” that we must strive to obtain. They do not demand enlightenment from a person. They only ask for awareness and presence. Applied slowly, they bring more peace of mind and better relationships.

That’s the beauty of these laws. In order to follow these laws you don’t need to have a secret club or special experience. You do not even need to practice these laws aggressively all the time to perfect them. All you need to do is understand the rules and apply them. Keep a small notebook with the seven laws. Every day, choose one law to focus on.

Success isn’t where you arrive. You don’t “arrive” at all. It’s who you are while you walk. Follow these laws, and you’ll have a life with more purpose, more happiness, and more confidence in any outcome.

The next time you feel stressed or under pressure, try practicing one of these laws. You’ll be surprised how much flexibility can count. You’ll learn that you don’t get far by fighting the universe.