Quantum Stress

Everything we call real is made of things that cannot be regarded as real.
Neils Bohr—Quantum Physicist

Ever since the day that an apple fell on Newton’s head we have been living with a model of the universe that has separated mind and body, things from no things. In the world of Newtonian physics the relationship between an apple and one’s head is predetermined and governed by laws that can predict the behavior of both the falling orb and the head that is about to receive it.

In the wacky world of quantum physics things get a little more blurry. Not only is there no true separation between one’s head and an apple, both are involved in a complex dance of interdependence. This connection is so deep that without an observing consciousness inside the head the apple doesn’t even exist. Even weirder is that there are no things in the quantum universe, simply energy that is pure potentiality waiting for a conscious presence to bring it into being. What does all this head-spinning, Alice in Wonderland physics got to do with our stress? Everything, and in true quantum paradox, nothing.

In Newton’s universe, the mind struggles to stay one step ahead of the world lest it do something to threaten the existence of the material form that is the body. When something comes along that challenges the status quo a series of physiological changes take place in the brain in an attempt to bring things back into balance. Classically, the brain triggers a fear response and prepares the body to either run or stand and fight.

In the quantum world, everything arises from within consciousness in what quantum geeks call the collapse of the possibility wave. What that means in terms of our stress is that there is no evil force hiding around every corner waiting to jump out and rain on our picnic, parade, wedding day, or beach vacation. When the line between the observer and the observed is erased the notion of a suffering self in the grips of an uncaring world dissolves. Thus, we give rise to both internal and external reality and in the end there is nothing to fight and nowhere to flee to.

Much our so called stress results from still clinging to the Newtonian model and believing that simply because the mind sees separation in things that these boundaries actually exist. Of course it is threatening to imagine that we are isolated beings that happened upon a rock that is hurtling through space all the while trying to fling off the annoying pests it finds running about its surface. In the Newtonian nightmare, the sky is falling and it’s not only raining apples there are all kinds of nasty things to dodge.

In the peaceful kingdom that is reality, however, we did not arrive upon an alien world, we arose out of it as a wondrous byproduct of intelligent universe. To paraphrase the Desiderata, not only are we children of this universe who have a right to be here, the universe is here because we are here. So the next time you feel a panic attack coming on, brought about by a mind at odds with reality, take a deep breath and make the quantum leap over the imaginary fence that separates mind and matter. Not only is the grass greener, it never needs mowing.