Even if you don’t believe in karma, you can’t deny that the world works in mysterious ways sometimes. Most of us probably remember brief moments in our lives when we’ve watched how events quickly move to restore the balance of how things should be. And you can’t help but smile.
We’re featuring the most satisfying instant karma stories from all over the internet to brighten your day and remind you that, even if superheroes don’t exist, you can still get some justice. Check out their stories below.
#1
Here's a fun story:
When I was around 8 or 9, I went to a petting zoo with some friends and family. The zoo was set up so that you could walk along a path and pet/feed different groups of animals. Anyway, there was another kid there roughly my age with his parents who kept showing up at the same exhibits I was at.
This child was obnoxious. He would often scream at the animals and/or his parents and occasionally would make threats to hit the animals.
So my family and I show up at the llama exhibit, and that kid is there. He's got a solo cup filled with dry food and is talking/yelling at the llamas. He decides he'd like to feed one of them, so he offers the llama his cup. The llama begins to eat from the cup. This interaction overjoys the kid and he's shouting to his parents,
"Look, look! I'm feeding the llama! look at him eating! look!"
The llama sees this distraction as an opportunity to stuff its face and begins to cram as much food as it can into its mouth. The child turns back and notices what's going on and becomes absolutely livid.
"STUPID LLAMA," he screams, making a fist and waving it around. "You're so GREEDY. Here, since you're so HUNGRY, why don't you eat ALL THE FOOD!!"
The child then empties the remaining content of the cup onto the llama's head. The llama just stares at the child, chewing its food slowly. This kid is still really pissed, so he begins to swing his fists at the llama. His parents begin to step forward to try and stop him, but the llama acts first.
It tilts its head back, makes an odd guttural noise, then leans forward and spits/vomits all over the kid's face and torso. He was quite literally covered in pre-chewed brown goo. He cries and throws a tantrum as his parents lead him away to clean him up.
I've never forgotten that day and still hold that llama in high regard. It's an animal hero.
When I was around 8 or 9, I went to a petting zoo with some friends and family. The zoo was set up so that you could walk along a path and pet/feed different groups of animals. Anyway, there was another kid there roughly my age with his parents who kept showing up at the same exhibits I was at.
This child was obnoxious. He would often scream at the animals and/or his parents and occasionally would make threats to hit the animals.
So my family and I show up at the llama exhibit, and that kid is there. He's got a solo cup filled with dry food and is talking/yelling at the llamas. He decides he'd like to feed one of them, so he offers the llama his cup. The llama begins to eat from the cup. This interaction overjoys the kid and he's shouting to his parents,
"Look, look! I'm feeding the llama! look at him eating! look!"
The llama sees this distraction as an opportunity to stuff its face and begins to cram as much food as it can into its mouth. The child turns back and notices what's going on and becomes absolutely livid.
"STUPID LLAMA," he screams, making a fist and waving it around. "You're so GREEDY. Here, since you're so HUNGRY, why don't you eat ALL THE FOOD!!"
The child then empties the remaining content of the cup onto the llama's head. The llama just stares at the child, chewing its food slowly. This kid is still really pissed, so he begins to swing his fists at the llama. His parents begin to step forward to try and stop him, but the llama acts first.
It tilts its head back, makes an odd guttural noise, then leans forward and spits/vomits all over the kid's face and torso. He was quite literally covered in pre-chewed brown goo. He cries and throws a tantrum as his parents lead him away to clean him up.
I've never forgotten that day and still hold that llama in high regard. It's an animal hero.
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103points
In a nutshell, karma is the belief that divine justice will punish evildoers and reward people who do good things. And yet, there is a twisted, well, twist lying underneath all of this.
According to recent research published by the American Psychological Association, there is a layer of self-serving desire underlying the belief in karma. In short, the belief in karma plays out differently for yourself versus for others.
“People are more likely to believe that they’ve earned good things in their own life through karmic merit, while bad things that happen to other people are due to karmic punishment.”
#2
My little brother got a grass-cutting job for this older, single woman when he was young. He cut it, weeded it, took care of stuff for her, minor repairs, oil changes.. As they grew older he continued cutting her grass and doing things for over 30 years. He never charged her because she was old and female and needy and he was a great guy. When his divorce came, she let him stay in her garage apartment until he could get back on his feet. Long story short, he worked for free for years but she passed away and left him the house he had taken care of for so long. It sold for $350,000 in Nashville and he retired four years early.
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79points
#3
On the way to lunch today, a jerk drove up beside me while I was trying to merge onto the interstate and laughed as he kept pace with me so I couldn't merge. He then ran over a piece of metal in the road and blew out one of his tires.
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57points
Self-positivity bias, our desire to see ourselves as good, makes us more likely to focus on good karma in our lives. Meanwhile, human beings tend to focus on other individuals’ bad deeds and the need for karmic punishment.
According to Cindel White, PhD, of York University, who studied the psychological motivations behind belief in karma together with her colleagues, people apply supernatural beliefs strategically. Their end goal is to feel good about the experiences in their daily lives, and to make sense of them.
#4
My ex-husband who had anger and control issues, and a money neurosis, couldn't believe I had the gall (or strength) to leave him and promised to 'drag me through court' and make me spend 'every penny' I had.
Needless to say it was a terribly long and messy divorce. He was in a management position; I was in a clerical position. He made about 3 times more money than me.
The divorce cost me about a year's salary, but I did get full custody of our 2 yr old son (although child support was rarely forthcoming). I went through many, many years of financial hardship... but all the while I encouraged my son to have a close relationship with his dad... and they did.
Finally when my son was living away from home and in university, his relationship with his dad became problematic. His dad's anger and control issues were surfacing between them. My son, to preserve his sanity and on his own volition, cut off all ties with his dad and hasn't spoken to him for a number of years. He now understands why I left the marriage... and also comprehends how difficult it's been for me.
THEN... my ex's father/son's grandfather passed away recently and left a substantial inheritance. Gramps had anger and control issues too and did not get along with his son (my ex). Gramps left all his money (+$1.5M) to his 3 grandchildren... one of them being my son.
My son is giving me a huge chunk of his inheritance money. My ex doesn't see a dime.
TLDR; I end up with inheritance money from my deadbeat ex-husband's family... he gets nothing.
Needless to say it was a terribly long and messy divorce. He was in a management position; I was in a clerical position. He made about 3 times more money than me.
The divorce cost me about a year's salary, but I did get full custody of our 2 yr old son (although child support was rarely forthcoming). I went through many, many years of financial hardship... but all the while I encouraged my son to have a close relationship with his dad... and they did.
Finally when my son was living away from home and in university, his relationship with his dad became problematic. His dad's anger and control issues were surfacing between them. My son, to preserve his sanity and on his own volition, cut off all ties with his dad and hasn't spoken to him for a number of years. He now understands why I left the marriage... and also comprehends how difficult it's been for me.
THEN... my ex's father/son's grandfather passed away recently and left a substantial inheritance. Gramps had anger and control issues too and did not get along with his son (my ex). Gramps left all his money (+$1.5M) to his 3 grandchildren... one of them being my son.
My son is giving me a huge chunk of his inheritance money. My ex doesn't see a dime.
TLDR; I end up with inheritance money from my deadbeat ex-husband's family... he gets nothing.
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53points
#5
At my previous job, the owner heard that morale was down among employees. Employees were finding out the real reasons we couldn't get raises the last two years was because the owner and his wife decided to treat themselves to a Million dollar home and two 100k+ SUVs. Instead of addressing morale, he held a meeting that was essentially a "deal with it or quit" kind of meeting. He figured the employees were stuck and absolutely needed the job. So he offered employees $4,500 if they wanted to quit and he'd file it so the employee could collect unemployment. Boy was he shocked when half the staff took his offer before the meeting was over.
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49points
#6
Years ago I was working at Blockbuster and I find approximately $80 worth of cash and a lottery ticket receipt. A girl comes in shortly after asking if we have come across said cash, being the lying jerk I was I said no. Days later I play a lottery ticket and win $100 cash (most I've ever won.) I cash the ticket and the next day I get an oil change and upon leaving the car shop I realize I left my wallet there. I had approximately $80 leftover, and when I asked if anyone came across my wallet the answer was....no.
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48points
“Thinking about karma allows people to take personal credit and feel pride in good things that happen to them even when it isn’t clear exactly what they did to create the good outcome, but it also allows people to see other people’s suffering as justified retribution,” White says.
“This satisfies various personal motives—to see oneself as good and deserving of good fortune, and to see justice in other people’s suffering—and supernatural beliefs like karma might be especially good at satisfying these motives when other, more secular explanations fail.”
#7
My friend was mad and punched a hole in my wall. He broke his hand on the stud behind the wall.
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45points
#8
I knew a dude in college who always made fun of people for having a significant other. If you even casually mentioned your girlfriend/boyfriend in conversation, he'd make "whip" noise and imply that you have zero independence. God forbid you should hang out with your significant other instead of playing beer pong and watching the same movie for the 80th time; you'd be ridiculed by him for weeks.
Sophomore year rolls around and this annoying dude is nowhere to be seen. Turned out he met a girl at a party during the summer, got her pregnant, and her highly religious parents forced him to marry her. He then dropped out of school and took a job working for the girl's father at a used car dealership a few states away. To this day I want to prank call him and just making "whip noises" over the phone.
Sophomore year rolls around and this annoying dude is nowhere to be seen. Turned out he met a girl at a party during the summer, got her pregnant, and her highly religious parents forced him to marry her. He then dropped out of school and took a job working for the girl's father at a used car dealership a few states away. To this day I want to prank call him and just making "whip noises" over the phone.
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45points
#9
Middle school bully that called me fat for years got rejected from the army for being too fat. Joke's on her.
44points
What are some of the most satisfying instant karma moments that you’ve personally witnessed?
What issues in society are you most worried about right now, and why?
From your perspective, what needs to happen for truly toxic people to change their ways?
Tell us what you think. We’ll be waiting in the comments to read your insights.
#10
I worked at this startup company with a horrible manager. I always worked hard and did as I was told but he'd constantly have powertrips and even though the CEO told me personally that I was in a separate department than him, he'd constantly give me pointless busywork just so I'd have to stay late. Anyone who knows me knows I hate confrontation and I'm extremely patient but with this guy it was so bad we'd get into arguing matches. He was a horrible micro manager and would make excuses for me to stay late even when all my work was done. Everyone couldn't stand him and agreed he had a bloated ego. There was so much BS he pulled but I won't get into it. I ended up leaving the company because I couldn't stand working with him. Fast forward 6 months when I ended up going into business for myself. I head to the loan office to take care of final touches on my business loan (where my dad happens to be really good friends with the CEO so I get a bit of special treatment). As I'm taking care of stuff I hear my name and turn around to see my old manager standing there. (Apparently the company we worked for went under soon after I left) Before I can say anything, the VP who was helping me turns to him and says..."oh you know each other? She's a very big client and VIP here so make sure you bring her coffee and she gets everything she wants." Best day ever...
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42points
#11
I watched as someone finished packing their groceries in their car and moved the empty cart about two spots down.
As they returned to their car and got in, the cart slowly turned itself and ran right into their own car.
As they returned to their car and got in, the cart slowly turned itself and ran right into their own car.
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42points
#12
The classic. A guy tailgating me on the highway - I could see the cop up ahead, he could not. I let him pass, he zoomed ahead, flipping me off.
Cops got him not 30 seconds later.
For a brief moment we made eye contact after he'd been pulled over. I blew him a kiss.
It remains one of the most satisfying moments of my life.
Cops got him not 30 seconds later.
For a brief moment we made eye contact after he'd been pulled over. I blew him a kiss.
It remains one of the most satisfying moments of my life.
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40points
#13
I had a boyfriend who terrorised me after I broke up with him. I even had to involve the police. It was scary. I eventually discovered through social media that he passed away in a car accident. I remember feeling relieved. The fear was over. I finally exhaled. May he Rest In Peace despite everything. But I’m relieved.
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33points
#14
My ex-cheated on me and spread some pretty awful rumors about me to boot. It fractured our group of friends, but later on we all went to support a mutual friend at a play of theirs. It was awkward, he trash-talked me in close quarters.
He drove off after the play and a huge, I’m talking massive tree branch fell on his Jeep at the stop light outside of the little community theater.
Oh and he did the same thing to the girl he cheated on me with— used her, cheated, talked trash. She was amazed it also happened to her, as she later told me. Will wonders never cease.
He drove off after the play and a huge, I’m talking massive tree branch fell on his Jeep at the stop light outside of the little community theater.
Oh and he did the same thing to the girl he cheated on me with— used her, cheated, talked trash. She was amazed it also happened to her, as she later told me. Will wonders never cease.
31points
#15
A group of my friends were walking home after school, and this car of high school age kids drove by and they yelled, "HEY GET A CAR!" at my friends. WTH you're yelling at clearly middle school aged kids. The car said "putt putt putt clunk krsh putt putt" and stopped. So everyone walked past them and laughed.
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29points
#16
A girl that used to mess with me really hard in high school (jokes about me being poor, etc) showed up on the Judge Judy show about 5 years later, because she borrowed money for a car and didn't pay it back and they sued her. Also, by this time, she had 2 kids with 2 different men.
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26points
#17
My ex husband we were together 7 years and have 2 children together, at the end of our marriage i found out he cheated on me with 5 women. I was heartbroken but i didnt lash out i didnt want revenge we got a divorce and life goes on.
Well he hooks up with this beautiful 21 year old they are dating, he ends up getting her pregnant they had only been together for maybe 2 months. She ends up breaking up with him and she has turned baby mama crazy and his life is crumbling in front of him. I've never been happier with the karma he's getting right now.
Well he hooks up with this beautiful 21 year old they are dating, he ends up getting her pregnant they had only been together for maybe 2 months. She ends up breaking up with him and she has turned baby mama crazy and his life is crumbling in front of him. I've never been happier with the karma he's getting right now.
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26points
#18
My sophomore year of high school this kid had a crush on a girl and I would tease him and somehow I ruined his chances with her. Come the end of junior year and I try to run for class president and I lost by one vote..... His vote.
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26points
#19
Not me, but a friend. She was driving during a snow day, and she was being careful as common sense would dictate. However, the guy behind her was hugging her behind and honking at her. When the opportunity came, he passed her and flipped her off while he was doing it. Then he drove into a ditch immediately after.
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25points
#20
I am an intern at an ad agency and one day my intern buddy and I where talking and wasting time. I had left my chair in the middle of the walk way on accident when a girl worker walked by. She stopped, looked at the chair, then at us, then at the chair and said "you're going to be interns forever". As she stepped away, her shoe got caught under the leg of the chair and she fell face first on the ground spilling coffee everywhere. Cocky I said, "can't be that long before I'm permanent I've never embarrassed myself like that." I start to walk away when I trip over the chair and fall face first. Freaking chair, I will be an intern forever.
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24points