"The universe doesn’t care what you believe. You can’t redeem yourself; redeeming is what you do to something you’ve done wrong."

This quote is getting at a pretty deep idea: the universe just keeps on spinning, no matter what we think or believe. It's a reminder that our personal beliefs don’t change the reality of things. And when it comes to redemption, it's not about some grand gesture of saving yourself. Instead, it's about making amends for the specific things you’ve messed up.

Historically, this might have been said to counter the notion that personal belief alone can change reality. Think about it: there are countless examples throughout history where people believed in things that were just plain wrong—like the world being flat or that illnesses were caused by evil spirits. Belief alone doesn't shape reality. Reality is stubborn. It’s like hitting a rock with a feather and expecting it to crack.

Now, let’s make this more concrete with a real-life example. Say you hurt a friend's feelings by not showing up to their big event. You believe you’re a good friend, but that belief doesn't change the fact that you didn’t show up when it counted. The universe isn’t going to adjust the situation based on your self-image. The only way to truly make things right is to take specific actions to redeem yourself—like sincerely apologizing, understanding why it hurt them, and making an effort to be there for them in the future.

So, how do we apply this wisdom in our daily lives? Start by recognizing that believing you’re a good person or that you’ll succeed isn’t enough. You’ve got to take action. If you’ve done something wrong, don’t just sit and feel guilty—do something to make it right. Own up to your mistakes, fix what you can, and learn from them. It's about being proactive rather than passive.

Imagine this scenario: you’re at a coffee shop, chatting with a friend. Your friend tells you they’ve been feeling really guilty about not helping their sibling move last weekend. They keep saying, “I’m a good person, I just couldn’t make it.” You nod, understandingly, and say, “I get it. Life gets busy. But remember, it’s not about believing you’re a good person. Maybe call your sibling, apologize, and offer to help next time. That’s how you make things right.” Your friend takes a sip of their latte, mulls it over, and says, “You’re right. I’ll do that.”

This advice feels so real because we’ve all been there. We’ve all made mistakes and wished our good intentions could magically fix things. But they can’t. Only our actions can.

Think about it next time you’re facing a tough situation. Don’t just convince yourself you’re in the right. Check in with reality. What needs to be done? How can you make things better? And remember, the universe is going to keep on its merry way. It’s up to us to navigate it with integrity and action.