The Other Side of Relativity

There was a young lady named Bright,

Whose speed was faster than light;

She went out one day in a relative way,

And returned on the previous night.

―?Arthur Henry Reginald Buller

My astrophysicist father was a big fan of Albert Einstein. So, the college where he was the Head of the Physics Department couldn’t find a better person to lead the birth centenary celebrations of Einstein in 1979. Amidst the elaborate preparations which included organizing lectures, seminars and demonstrations of Einstein’s famous experiments, he did not miss a single opportunity to tell my brother and I about Einstein’s ground-breaking theories – overtly simplified considering our tender ages. What we really got hooked onto was the theory of relativity and the fact that nothing can ever beat the speed of light; and if we could, we would probably find a way to travel into the past or the future.

The theory of relativity got me thinking about how it can be applied to everyday life. The concept of a four-dimensional space time continuum which suggests that everything in the universe is connected can so easily be explained by our own circumstances. The very reason that life has brought us to this exact place at this exact time is because of the innumerable events that worked in close harmony to create this unique symphony for us.

Everything in the universe, on earth, in our life, is a phenomenon of relativity – a notion subject to our perception based on our frame of reference and our assumption of reality influenced by our emotions & biasness and our interactions & interconnectedness with others. So, when I tend to think too much about certain things, especially the ones that I perceive to be bad or negative, a change in the frame of reference usually helps.

If I am feeling sad about something, I check my reference point for that feeling – is it because I am not as successful as some others, is it because I am not as rich, or is it because I am not leading a life of fulfilment as much as they are? If yes, I change my reference point to others who are probably praying for a life like mine and then I realize how incredibly lucky I am. In that sense, everything is relative and nothing can be perceived without the existence of its exact opposite – we cannot experience joy if we have never been sad, we cannot enjoy success if we have never tasted failure, we will never appreciate the benefit of having something if we have never lived without it.

The theory of relativity also deals with counterintuitive phenomena like time passing slower for objects in motion. In fact, if we could get anywhere even close to the speed of light, time would slow down to such a considerable degree, that a few weeks for us could translate into a few hundred years for those living their lives at a much slower pace. And while we would be successful in traveling millions of miles at a breakneck speed, our achievements would be restricted to a few weeks in comparison with multiple life-times on earth.

To translate this in reference to human behaviour, the faster you move, the lesser you achieve – a rolling stone gathers no moss. Today’s world has become exceedingly fast – we need fast results, we need fast growth, we need fast internet, we need fast food. We are all traveling at an incredibly fast speed. But if you slow down just a bit, you will notice that happiness is sometimes hidden in those little moments of stillness that have the potential of bringing incredible calm & peace into your lives. Sitting still, slowing your breathing, slowing your thoughts – all these have a tremendously positive effect both physically as well mentally. It is in these moments of intense focus that we get the ability to heal & learn.

In summary therefore, the theory of relativity has a profound impact not just on our understanding of the universe as a scientific concept, but also how it can be associated with our own physical and spiritual beliefs & experiences if we can draw a parallel between the universe outside and the one inside our own minds. Appreciating this connection can help us enrich our understanding of where we stand amidst this continuum of space & time.

What is this life if full of care,?

We have no time to stand and stare.

―?William Henry Davies