Karma is the law of the Universe that brings ultimate balance between opposite energy - the yin and the yang. So many people view it as punishment, which isn't the full truth. At this day and vibration, you can wipe out all karma very quickly if you choose to.
Action - Reaction
I give wisely, I receive wisely.
If Karma isn't about punishment, then why do bad things happen to good people?
Let's say you're born into a life of service. You grow up living your life giving and doing for others, a heavily yang energy. However, you have a hard time receiving help from others, a yin energy. Karmic Law must bring balance to that yang energy by forcing you into receiving the yin energy. Meaning, if you don't learn to receive equally to what you give, you'll be forced into receiving whether in this life or future lives. You could become physically or mentally incapacitated, homeless, or whatever it takes to balance your Karma by receiving help from others. While some might view this as a punishment, it is merely Karma bringing your life back into balance.
We should always strive for balance.
While this is easier said than done, reflect deeply on your life to understand where more balance is needed.
"All experience is impersonal. How we interpret our experiences, whether we see them as negative or positive, failures or successes, is what personalizes the events of our lives."
- Carolyn Myss