Soul-Centered Success: Transform Vikarm Into Karm and Akarm in Your Career and Life

Introduction – A Story

When Kamala was a little girl in Pune, she painted vibrant landscapes with sunrise skies. She’d lose hours swirling colors on canvas, unaware of time or hunger. Fast forward twenty years: Kamala sits in a gray cubicle as a corporate analyst, eyes strained under harsh fluorescent lights. She’s good at her job—but every morning, dread coils in her chest. At night, she lies awake wondering:

“Is this really what my life is meant for?”

Kamala's story echoes millions worldwide. Gallup’s 2023 survey found only 23% of employees globally are engaged at work, while 59% are quiet quitting—physically present but psychologically detached (Gallup, 2023). The rest are actively miserable. Behind these statistics are souls caught in what ancient philosophy calls vikarm—living out of alignment with one’s true self.

But there’s a way forward. It’s the journey from vikarm (misaligned action) to karm (aligned action), and ultimately, the rare grace of akarm—effortless action free of ego or inner conflict.

Let’s explore how this can transform not only your career but your entire life.

Karm: Soul-Aligned Action

Karm is when your inner calling matches your external actions.

You feel purposeful and energized—even during hard work.

Consider teaching. Despite challenges, teachers frequently report high personal fulfillment.

In the U.S., about 77% of K–12 teachers say they find their work meaningful (Pew Research Center, 2022).

This is karm in action: hardship becomes meaningful when aligned with the soul’s purpose.

Yet globally, only 23% of employees feel engaged—meaning over three-quarters of the workforce is missing that sense of karm (Gallup, 2023). That’s a staggering gap.

Signs you’re in Karm:

✅ Time flies—you feel “in the zone.”

✅ Challenges feel meaningful, not merely draining.

✅ You experience growth, even in difficult moments.

Vikarm: Misaligned Action

Vikarm arises when you act against your soul’s calling.

It’s not simply having a tough day—it’s persistent dissonance between your work and your inner truth.

This misalignment carries real costs. A 2023 Gallup report linked disengaged workers to:

• 23% lower profitability for companies

• 18% lower productivity

• Higher absenteeism and turnover rates (Gallup, 2023)

Moreover, the American Psychological Association (APA) reported in 2023 that 77% of workers experienced work-related stress, with significant mental and physical health consequences (APA, 2023).

Globally, the situation is dire:

• 59% of employees are not engaged, meaning they’re “quiet quitting” (Gallup, 2023).

• Only 33% of workers worldwide say they are thriving in their overall well-being (Gallup, 2023).

This is vikarm at scale—millions living out of step with their deeper selves.

Signs you’re in Vikarm:

❌ You dread mornings.

❌ Work leaves you exhausted physically and emotionally.

❌ A voice inside whispers, “I was meant for something else.”

Akarm: The Flow of Effortless Action

Akarm represents a rare state of pure flow—a space where action happens effortlessly, free of ego or inner conflict.

Neuroscience calls this “transient hypofrontality,” where brain regions tied to self-criticism and time awareness go quiet, boosting creativity and performance. A 10-year study by McKinsey & Co. found that executives in flow states report being up to five times more productive (McKinsey, 2018).

Yet achieving akarm is rare. While Gallup doesn’t measure “akarm” directly, the 23% global engagement figure implies that true flow states are scarce in today’s workplaces.

Signs of Akarm:

🌿 Actions feel effortless and spontaneous.

🌿 Time seems to disappear.

🌿 There’s joy without attachment to outcomes.

Why This Matters—for You and Society

Living in vikarm isn’t just personally painful—it’s a massive economic drain. Gallup’s 2023 report estimates that low engagement costs the global economy $8.8 trillion in lost productivity annually, about 9% of global GDP (Gallup, 2023).

Beyond financial costs, the personal toll is severe:

• Employees experiencing high stress have higher risks of depression, anxiety, and chronic diseases (APA, 2023).

• Meaningless work leads to identity struggles and lower life satisfaction (Pew Research, 2022).

Conversely, aligning work with inner purpose brings measurable benefits:

• Highly engaged teams are 23% more profitable (Gallup, 2023).

• People who feel their work has meaning report five times higher well-being (Pew Research, 2022).

  
  

Important insight: Even if you’re stuck in vikarm, small changes can begin to shift your life. Researchers at Yale coined the term “job crafting”—adjusting tasks or perspectives to align work with personal values. Employees who practice job crafting report greater engagement and lower burnout (Wrzesniewski et al., 2010).

How to Transform Vikarm → Karm → Akarm

Here’s a practical roadmap:

1. Listen to Your Soul’s Clues

Ask yourself:

• “When did I last feel truly alive?”

• “If money weren’t an issue, how would I spend my days?”

Reflect, journal, or talk to someone you trust.

2. Make Micro-Changes

Start small:

• Spend 30 minutes daily on your passion—even if you can’t leave your job yet.

• Look for ways to integrate your interests into your current role.

This is job crafting—and it works.

3. Practice Presence

Even in vikarm, presence helps reduce stress. Mindfulness has been shown to lower workplace stress by as much as 32% (Harvard Health, 2021).

Simple practice:

Before a task, pause. Breathe deeply. Say: “I choose to be here.”

4. Detach from Outcomes

The Bhagavad Gita teaches:

“You have the right to perform your actions, but not to the fruits of your actions.”

This mindset helps you move closer to akarm.

5. Test the Waters

Explore small projects or freelance work in your passion. Gather evidence that your soul’s path can be practical too.

The Soul-Centered Shift

In a world driven by productivity and profit, it’s revolutionary to ask:

“Am I living from my soul—or merely surviving?”

Kamala hasn’t quit her analyst job yet—but every evening, she paints for an hour. She’s sold her first canvas online. She’s inching from vikarm toward karm—and perhaps one day, akarm.

The statistics may look grim, but they’re not destiny. Even a few minutes of soul-centered action each day can transform your career—and your life.

Because ultimately, your soul already knows the way.

References

• Gallup. (2023). State of the Global Workplace Report.

• McKinsey & Company. (2018). Performance in the Flow State.

• Pew Research Center. (2022). Job Satisfaction in the U.S.

• American Psychological Association. (2023). Work and Well-Being Survey.

• Harvard Health Publishing. (2021). Mindfulness Meditation: A Research-Proven Way to Reduce Stress.

• Wrzesniewski, A. et al. (2010). Job Crafting and Meaningful Work. Yale School of Management.

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This article was written by Piyush Agrawal, who is passionate about encouraging people to write their everyday happiness stories, no matter how small.

Disclaimer:

The character “Kamala” is fictional, but the concepts and statistics shared are based on real research. Some links in this article may be affiliate links.