QUANTUM MECHANICS REVEALS HOW WE ARE ALL TRULY CONNECTED

We all know, deep down, that we are all connected. But is this notion of being connected only a magical feeling or is it concrete fact? Quantum mechanics or the study of the micro-world states illustrates that what we think of reality, is not so. Our human brains trick us into believing in the idea of separation when in truth, nothing is truly separated —including human beings.

The Perception of Separation

As a species that grew and evolved to become one of the Earth’s most dominating forces, we came to believe that we were its greatest glory. Surely this thinking has slowly evaporated, but it still holds weight in today’s culture. But when we look into the atomic world with a magnifying lens, it becomes evident that we are not exactly what we thought we were. Our atoms and electrons are no more important or significant than the makeup of the oak tree outside your window, blowing in the wind. In fact, we are much less different from even the chair you sit on while you read this. The tricky part in all of this knowledge and wisdom that quantum mechanics has imparted to us, is that we don’t know where to draw the line. Primarily because the physiology of our brains prevents us from truly experiencing the universe as it is. Our perception is our reality; but it is not the universe’s.

The Basics of Quantum Theory

In order to truly understand what is happening at a sub-atomic level when we think of someone or when we feel the lightness of love for another; we must first bridge the gap between the micro-world and the macro-world. This is much easier said than done, because the micro-world operates under significantly different laws. String Theory states that our universe is made up of tiny little string particles and waves. These strings are the building blocks of the universe we experience, and make up the multiverse and the 11 dimensions that exist in the multiverse.

Quantum Entanglement’s Spooky Actions

So how do these tiny strings that bind the book of life, correlate to how we experience consciousness and affect the physical realm?
It was in 1935, that Albert Einstein and his coworkers discovered quantum entanglement lurking in the equations of quantum mechanics, and came realized how “spooky” and strange it truly was. This lead to the EPR paradox introduced by Einstein, Poldolsky and Rosen. The EPR paradox stated that the only ways of explaining the effects of quantum entanglement were to assume the universe is nonlocal, or that the true basis of physics is hidden (also known as a hidden-variable theory). What nonlocality means in this case, is that events occurring to entangled objects are linked even when the events cannot communicate through spacetime, spacetime having the speed of light as a limiting velocity.
Nonlocality is also known as spooky action at a distance (Einstein’s famous phrase for describing the phenomenon).
Think about it this way, when two atoms that come into contact with each other, they experience a sort of “unconditional bond” with one another. That spans an infinite amount of space, as far as we are capable of observing.
This discovery was so bizarre that even Albert Einstein went to his grave thinking that Quantum Entanglement was not real and simply a bizarre calculation of the universe’s workings.
Since Einstein’s days, there have been a multitude of experiments to test the validity of quantum entanglement, many of which supported the theory that when two particles come into contact, if one’s direction is changed, so too will the other.
In 2011, Nicolas Gisin at University of Geneva was one of the first humans to witness that very thing, a form of communication that went beyond the realm of space and time. Where there would typically be a medium like air or space for the atom to communicate what it was doing; during quantum entanglement there is no medium, communication is instantaneous. Through Gisin’s work in Switzerland, humans were physically capable of witnessing quantum entanglement through the use of photon particles for one of the first times in human history.

So What Does This Mean For Humans?

Senior scientist at Princeton University, Dr.Roger Nelson began a 14-year long study and organization called The Global Consciousness Project (GCP). The GCP uses electromagnetically-shielded computers (called “eggs”) placed in over 60 countries around the world that generate random numbers. Imagine that each computer (egg) is flipping a coin and trying to guess the outcome. With heads being counted as “1’s” and tails as “0’s”. Each time they guess correctly, they consider it a “hit”. The computers do this 100 times every second.
Based on probability, you would imagine that with enough attempts, the computers would break even at 50/50. And up until the catastrophic and rattling events of 9/11, that’s what was occurring. Randomness created by quantum physics, to the best of its ability.
After 9/11 occurred, the numbers that were once supposed to behave randomly, started working in unison. All of a sudden the “1’s” and “0’s” were coinciding and working in sync.  In fact, the GCP’s results were so far above chance it’s actually kind of shocking. Over the 426 pre-determined events measured in the entirety of the project, the recorded probability of a hit were greater than 1 in 2, far more than probability could explain. Their hits were measuring in at an overall probability of 1 in a million. 
Reminding the world and skeptics alike, that even quantum physics shows itself in the least likely of places.
So what this means on a psychological and philosophical field, is that what we once thought was a figment of our imagination is much more real than we could’ve ever imagined. When you touch someone’s heart, emotionally becoming attached to someone, something occurs. Your atoms, the building blocks of your presence in the universe become entangled.
Sure, most physicists will tell you it’s impossible to feel this entanglement, this “spooky” connection to another living being. But when you reflect on a past love or a mother’s inexplicable knowledge of their child in danger; then you really have to stop and look at the evidence. There is proof that we are all connected, and it has more to do with the creation of the universe than the simple fact that we are all humans.
It’s not magic, it’s quantum mechanics.

 http://www.learning-mind.com/quantum-mechanics-reveals-how-we-are-all-truly-connected/

THE POWER OF LOVE

 

In the last few weeks I’ve been doing a social experiment unbeknownst to the people around me. My family, friends, colleagues and even total strangers have all been unwittingly drawn into the exercise. Inspired by the work of Professor Barbara Fredrickson, a leading researcher looking at the health benefits of positive emotions, I’ve been practising the ‘Three Loving Connections’ exercise. It involves consciously trying to boost my brain and body’s experience of the power of love by seeking out three meaningful interactions each day and reflecting on them each night. According to Fredrickson’s findings, it appears these micro moments may not only make me healthier, but they may also make me live longer.

In the last decade the fascinating research field of positive emotion has exploded with studies showing that people who experience warmer, more upbeat emotions tend to live longer and healthier lives. In her new book Love 2.0 Fredrickson writes that the supreme positive emotion is love. Its presence or absence influences everything we feel, do, think and become. It’s the glue bonding us together for the survival of our species.

Fredrickson is not talking about the kind of smoochy, pop culture love associated with romance and marriage, but rather a scientific version of love that she calls positivity resonance, which happens when you and another person mirror each other’s positive emotional state.

 The research shows that in most instances your eyes meet, and what occurs is a kind of mind-body-meld. On a physiological level, activity in your body and brain triggers parallel changes within another person’s body and brain. Your minds literally sync up.

 This all happens within a micro moment. It’s not about sexual attraction. It’s not about fond regard. It’s not even about those special feelings you have towards your partner, kids, parents or close friends. This is a physiological, biochemical event that occurs in harmony between people. Viewed this way, love belongs to not one person, but to pairs or groups of people and is actually all about finding connection.

So, if we want to boost our love to boost our health, what can we do?

Three Loving Connections

Frederickson and her team has shown the power of practicing Loving Kindness Meditation; which can lead to a boost in positivity and life satisfaction as well as a reduction in depressive and illness symptoms. But if you’re not a meditator, you might like to join me with your own ‘Three Loving Connections’ experiment.

• Each day look for three opportunities to connect with others (it could be a relative, friend, colleague, or complete stranger. Each interaction can be with the same person or with three different people)

• Approach this potential interaction with warmth, respect and good will

• Make an effort to stay present and listen with an open heart

• Offer your eye contact and (when appropriate) your touch

• Share your own light-hearted thoughts and feelings

 Write It Down

Each night call to mind your three interactions. Rate each of the following statements on a scale of 1 (not true at all) to 7 (very true):

• During these interactions, I felt “in tune” with the person/s around me.

• During these interactions, I felt close to the person/s around me.

 In preliminary findings, one of Fredrickson’s postgraduate students has uncovered that actually recording these experiences triggers positive physiological effects on the body. In a pilot study for her yet to be published dissertation, Bethany Kok has shown that taking one minute each day to record how ‘close’ and ‘in tune’ you feel when interacting with others can produce improved heart function and a boost in day-to-day positive emotions.

I find that this Three Loving Connections exercise ties in nicely with Dr Martin Seligman’s Three Good Things exercise that I wrote about at the end of this blog post. (The research shows that doing the Three Good Things exercise for just one-week increases happiness and decrease depressive symptoms for six months.)

 Boosting Your Success Rate

In doing my experiment, I’ve learnt the hard way that not every exchange with every person is an opportunity for Fredrickson’s positivity resonance to blossom. (I had a rather awkward moment with a parcel delivery guy who interpreted my eye contact and open conversation as an invitation for romance). This newly defined version of love is tough to grow. It blooms only under very specific circumstances. It doesn’t happen automatically and it’s very hard to manufacture, stemming from particular patterns of thought and action. Fredrickson believes there are two strict conditions that must be met:
 A feeling of safety, both internal and external
If there’s any sense of threat or danger, love won’t bloom. You don’t have to be about to be hit by a car to feel unsafe; this is about your perception of danger.
 Real-time sensory connection
 Scientists believe that eye contact may well be the most potent trigger for connection and oneness and although voice such as over a telephone, gestures, touch and laughter can also act as fertilizer, Fredrickson is adamant that the key is physical presence. 

Conclusion

I’ve been trying this out for a few weeks and I’ve experienced some amazing connected micro moments. They’ve happened when I’d expect them to (seeing my best friend and her newborn baby), they’ve happened after I’ve deliberately sought them out (connecting with my son’s childcare teacher while talking about their shenanigans during the day), they’ve happened when I didn’t expected them to (while I was on a panel doing a Q and A about my film) and they’ve happened with hundreds of people all at once (the result of a swelling of shared joy that sprung up during a live Michael Franti gig).

There have also been many failed attempts (the delivery driver is one example) and I’ve found that often the circumstances aren’t right because the other person I’m hoping to connect with is busy, disconnected and mentally somewhere else; a symptom of the world we live in full of ‘things to do,’ email, texts, Instagram, XOXs and LOLs. More than ever I’m conscious of missed opportunities for deep connection. Blink, and they’re gone.

I’ve also found that making a conscious effort to cultivate connections nurtures deeper and stronger relationships. I’m more relaxed and cheerful and I find that facing difficult relationships is a little easier too. I have more generosity and warmth towards people.

The writing exercise is also valuable. It’s so nice to know I will end each day on a positive note. No matter how tough.

I realize that taking this scientific view of love reduces the essence of some of human kind’s greatest art, profound journeys and grand acts of compassion to a chemical reaction and you may think the ‘L word’ is far too strong, preferring to call it positivity resonance. However you think of it, I hope you are intrigued and start looking for your own micro moments of connection. I believe this kind of loving mindfulness has the potential to profoundly change our connectedness with each other and with ourselves.

Happy positive resonating!

https://www.theconnection.tv/the-power-of-love-how-3-micro-moments-change-everything/

A Hug a Day Keeps the Doctor Away

 
 Research demonstrates cold fighting power of hugging

During my final semester of undergrad, I made two signs that read, “Feeling stressed about exams? Have a free hug!” Then I recruited a friend and we stood in the entrance of the campus library, held up the signs, and waited. Passerbys had one of two reactions: Either they quickly looked down at their phones and awkwardly shuffled by, or their faces lit up as they embraced us. Most people were enthusiastic. Some exclaimed, “You made my day!” or “Thank you. I needed this.” One leapt into my arms, nearly toppling me over. After two hours of warm interactions, my friend and I couldn’t believe how energized and happy we felt.

A study published earlier this month suggests that, in addition to making us feel connected with others, all those hugs may have prevented us from getting sick. At first, this finding probably seems counterintuitive (not to mention bizarre). You might think, like I did, that hugging hundreds of strangers would increase your exposure to germs and therefore the likelihood of falling ill. But the new research out of Carnegie Mellon indicates that feeling connected to others, especially through physical touch, protects us from stress-induced sickness. This research adds to a large amount of evidence for the positive influence of social support on health.

Social support can broadly be defined as the perception of meaningful relationships that serve as a psychological resource during tough times. More specifically, this means emotional support, such as expressions of compassion, and may include access to information or other assistance. The researchers measured social support by giving out a questionnaire in which participants rated different statements (e.g. “I feel that there is no one I can share my most private worries and fears with.”). Then, they conducted interviews every night for two weeks to find out how often participants experienced conflict with others and how often they received hugs. Finally, the researchers infected participants with a common cold virus and observed what happened.

Several interesting results emerged. Encouragingly, people overall had a strong sense of social support, as shown by a high median score on the questionnaire. Similarly, they were more likely to be hugged (which happened on an average of 68% of days during the two-week interview period) than to experience conflict (7% of days).

The most important results, however, were what the researchers deemed a “stress-buffering effect.” Keep in mind that interpersonal conflict can cause people a lot of stress and thereby weaken their immune systems. Yet regardless of how much conflict they endured, participants with a strong sense of social support developed less severe cold symptoms than those who felt socially deprived. Likewise, the more often people hugged, the less likely they were to get sick, even among individuals who frequently had tense interactions. In other words, both social support and hugging prevented against illness.

The same lead researcher has previously shown that the more diverse types of social ties a person has, such as with friends, family, coworkers, and community, the less susceptible to colds they are. But relationships impact more than a runny nose. On the extreme end, social connectedness seems to play a role in preventing against death. For instance, researchers in Sweden found that the otherwise robust association between job strain and mortality risk disappeared among men high in social support. In fact, low levels of social support can increase the risk for premature death more than commonly known factors like smoking or alcohol consumption, according to a review paper that examined data for over 300,000 people around the world. It’s no surprise, then, that the World Health Organization identifies social networks as a primary determinant of health.

Interestingly, social support may be beneficial for the giver as well as the receiver. Researchers at UCLA scanned participants’ brains while their romantic partners were receiving electric shocks next to them. If the participants held their partners’ hand during the experiment, their brain regions associated with fear attenuation were activated. This finding indicates that offering social support through physical touch better enabled them to cope with the stressful experience.
On the flip side, loneliness and having a small social network correspond with a lower antibody response to the influenza vaccine, compared to feeling a strong sense of social connection. Socially isolated patients with coronary artery disease have lower survival rates than socially connected patients, even after controlling for demographics, disease severity, and psychological distress. One in three individuals is chronically lonely and therefore twice as likely to say they have poor health. This is especially alarming given that the number of people who have no one to confide in tripled between 1985 and 2004, putting a large portion of the population at risk for poor health.

Evidently, just as we prioritize exercise and nutrition, we ought to prioritize quality time with loved ones; just as we avoid unhealthy habits like smoking, we should make effort to avoid isolation and to counter social exclusion. And even if you don’t want to hug hundreds of strangers (although I recommend trying it), don’t underestimate the healing power of touch.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-hug-a-day-keeps-the-doctor-away/