We Need To Think Cosmically So We Can Reframe What Matters And Calm (Tha F*ck) Down
In the midst of such an intense cultural climate, thinking about Science not only feels calming — but increasingly necessary.
Astronomy. It’s never been my thing.
I could never alter my perspective enough to understand it, because that’s really what you need to do when you’re trying to understand the universe.
You have to start with the recognition that all the rules which govern your life are, well… really fucking small. That however you currently think about near-and-far, big-and-small, fast-and-slow, old-and-new is a hilarious fraction of the truth.
To open your mind to the Science of the Universe is to accept an entirely different framework for Space and Time. And you can only do that if you’re ready to have your truths blown apart. (Which is, of course, terrifying.)
Because when you genuinely let the Science of the Universe into your life, you have no choice but to redefine what you see as important.
In the midst of such an intense cultural climate, thinking about Science not only feels calming — but increasingly necessary.
We humans are very good at getting hyped up right now. We know a lot. We have access to a lot. We see so much more than was even thinkable just a few decades ago. We have words and images screaming for our attention at every second of every day. And with so much noise, only the loudest topics stand a chance at catching our frenzied attention.
(And if the Kardashians are your loudest topic, this article is not for you.)
When you look at what’s bubbled to the surface of our consciousness right now, it’s the important stuff.
Gun laws. Sexual harassment. Net neutrality. Military spending. Abortion. Gender equality. The algorithms behind our information. Border control. Healthcare access. Climate change. Income inequality. Childhood education. The most heartwarming stories; the most devastating ones.
Our humanity.
It’s vital that we discuss these big and important issues. And regardless of your stance, it is beautiful that we each care so deeply for the tides to turn in the direction we see as Right.
But while vital, it’s also very stressful. It’s exhausting, it’s anxiety-inducing, and it’s making us mad.
You see, we’ve forgotten something crucial in our discussion of these issues. We’ve forgotten how damn small they are.
“Because people become fascinated with pictures and words, and wind up forgetting the Language of the World.”
— Paulo Coelho
To productively discuss the issues of our time, we must do so within the context of the rest of the universe. Without that perspective, our proportions are just off. Our problems are blown up, our egos rule, and everything simply matters too much.
Science is liberating.
As a liberal arts leaner through and through — a person who dropped math the moment she could, who never quite ‘clicked’ with science, who adored and aced every essay-writing class she came across — I’ve always admired science… but from a safe distance.
I finally get it.
Imagine you were in a hot air balloon that was fueled by your Thoughts, Feelings and Opinions. As you had more of them and they got stronger, the balloon would heat up and you’d fly into the sky.
As you floated past passionate balloons that shared your Thoughts, Feelings and Opinions and evil balloons that didn’t, you’d get more and more heated and begin flying frantically further from Earth…
And just when things were getting uncontrollable, your balloon would suddenly slow to a graceful stop. You’d take a thankful breath and calm your quickly-beating heart and peer over the side to see what had steadied you.
It was Science — reaching it’s long, strong, and stable arms into the sky to catch the sides of your basket. Science is what would gently pull you back down to earth, welcoming you back with a warm smile and loving embrace.
“You’re safe now,” Science would whisper as you felt your feet on sturdy ground. “Everything’s a lot simpler here.”
Your Thoughts, Feelings and Opinions matter — but Science is an equal reality. A refreshing reality. Because Science is more true.
Oh calm down. Of course I believe your feelings. I am the queen of believing feelings.
But unlike what we personally experience, Science is based on observable evidence. And unlike our juvenile egos, Science is unafraid of appearing ignorant — it admits what it does not know.
And unlike our hard-wired opinions, Science is more than happy to change it’s mind when presented with Facts. Not facts tweeted by some moron. Facts that have been challenged, tested and proven — with the complete acceptance that they may still change again.
How utterly liberating.
Can you imagine if all us artists and dreamers, activists and dissidents, instigators and protestors paid a little more attention to Science? More specifically, to the Science of the Universe?
You see, when you frame your problems within the context of the Universe — they have a funny way of disappearing. When you recognize that even our entire galaxy is but a blip of existence…. ahh!
It becomes ludicrous to care about what you look like, to let politics define you, to stress when something goes off track at work, to scream at the slow car in front of you, to look at how many ‘likes’ you got on a recent post, even to be afraid of death.
Acknowledging that our problems may feel like everything to us but are actually nothing is a wondrous starting point. It makes it easier to smile a soft, knowing smile. Easier to love a stranger in the street. Easier to take a deep, calm breath — to be open to changing our minds.
The tricky part of internalizing our smallness is figuring out where to go from there. What do you do when you realize you don’t matter?
The way I see it, we have three choices:
1. Ignore your cosmic understanding and continue as you were.
(This is very easy but not very intelligent.)
2. Let your knowledge of how small you are incapacitate you.
Lie in bed wondering what you’re even doing here, why you’d even do anything with life, why you’d contribute to the world when you know it doesn’t matter.
(There is some truth to this, but it also extinguishes the human spirit and is a useless spiral to fall down.)
3. Be in awe of the universe, humbled by your very existence, and grateful to be a sentient being at this exact tiny speck of time.
Look at the world around you with wonder in your eyes. At desert landscapes and built-up cities. At a flower’s perfect petals or the way a song brings tears to your eyes. At the life etched into an old woman’s calm face, or a group of children creating games on a sidewalk.
You can acknowledge it all means nothing, and love it more because of that.
Revel in the astonishing miracle that you get to be here for this moment, and do the moment justice by noticing it. Look into the eyes of the people you pass with a smile and a sparkle because holy sh!t is it ever a beautiful coincidence that you’re both here right now.
Notice them.
See their humanity.
Recognize your sameness.
That we are all one.
And that’s the basis of art. Of spirituality. Of the human condition.
That’s accepting you are nothing, and letting everything blow you away.
That’s allowing the Science of the Universe to calm your anxieties and sooth your soul.
And the idealist in me can’t help but wonder how we might fix the world if our reactions to fear, anger, sadness and stress were rooted in a remembrance of how teensy-tiny we are.
Maybe we can try that in 2018. You in?
