How the universe began and what's our connection to it?

Imagine the entire Universe inside a tiny bubble that was thousands of times smaller than a pinhead, hotter and denser than anything we can imagine. This tiny miracle exploded with brutal force and from this release the basic building blocks of matter, quarks and electrons, floated free in an incredibly hot and dense soup. As the Universe expanded and cooled, the quarks bound together into the protons and neutrons that thrive today. This is the beautiful story of how our Universe began: ‘The big bang theory’. 

Scientists estimate the age of the universe to be about 14 billion years old! They also estimate that 97% of the human body is composed of stardust and we each carry at least a few million atoms of gold inside us.

It’s mind-blowing to know that we can trace back to the beginning of creation and there will be more mind-blowing discoveries made and new theories proven in the future. The James Webb telescope is working its magic and sending back incredible images like the famous picture of thousands of galaxies of different ages, including the four oldest galaxies in the universe, born just 300 million years after the Big Bang. There are now 300 million years of unexplored universal history between these galaxies and the beginning of time. 

“The universe is under no obligation to make sense to you.” 

- Neil deGrasse Tyson - 

It is absolutely fascinating that everything we see around us, from a grain of sand, trees, mountains, the earth, galaxies, and the Universe were all formed after a tiny ball exploded and continued to expand forever.

 

So you, me, and everything around us are made from stardust! Pretty magical don’t you think? We may come from different parts of the world but we share a common heritage: the elements in our bodies were created in stars! From the carbon in our DNA to the calcium in our bones, nearly all of the elements in our bodies were forged in the fiery hearts and death throes of stars.

Many people dismiss the importance of understanding where we come from and our connection to everything. We don’t know much but enough to understand that being connected to both everything around us and everything billions of light years away is something we should hold dear in our hearts as for all we do, think, and voice has an impact on us, and our Universe.

Can you imagine the energy needed for this extraordinary event to materialise? Scientists cannot tell us the energy released by the Big Bang, as they don't accurately know what happened. Nevertheless, all that energy was released and became the basic building blocks of our world and of us, so it’s reasonable to assume that this energy impacts our lives in some way. An extraordinary power that is dormant in our bodies and in our minds. The legendary Albert Einstein best known for his equation E = mc2, proved that energy and mass, also known as matter, are the same thing, just in different forms.

“Everything is energy and that’s all there is to it. Match the frequency of the reality you want and you cannot help but get that reality. It can be no other way. This is not philosophy. This is physics.” - Albert Einstein -

 

This quote seems like a simple thing to achieve, but how many of us manage to match the frequency of our dreams with success, only a few have mastered this great law of physics. We have yet to truly comprehend how to use energy and its benefits. The digital world is evolving faster than the human mind, the influence of technology is impairing our ability to stop and silence our minds to reconnect with our inner voice, our internal GPS that has all the answers about which way to go and what to do next. However one day or another we will understand and use this guidance for the betterment of humanity. As Newtonian thinking evolves from the three-dimensional view of the world to the quantum world, we’re progressing towards new possibilities, a beautiful promise for our future and the generations to come. We must evolve all our senses to live better lives. Some believe it’s our purpose, to learn how to manipulate energy. Since our thoughts are energy signals, the energy transmitting our thoughts has mass.

If we use this process for an idea and with this idea comes a firm belief, it has no other alternative but to come into existence. This can be applied to all inventions created since the beginning of time, from the wheel to rocket ships and everything in between. Energy and mass (matter) are interchangeable; they are different forms of the same thing. Under the right conditions, energy can become mass, and mass can become energy. Look around you, if you’re in a furnished room, your eyes are telling you that you are surrounded by solid and stationary objects, that’s true as far as visual perception is concerned but in reality, you’re looking at thoughts and ideas that materialised through the work driven by human thoughts. It was a thought that created the chair, the door, the car, and the millions of unique objects that exist today. Thought is the original source of all wealth, great discoveries, success, inventions, and achievements. With that in mind, it becomes easy to understand that a person’s thoughts either make them or break them.

 

“There is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so”.

- Shakespeare -

 

It’s important to emphasise that hard work alone will not bring success. Creative thinking and a strong belief in your ability to execute your idea will result in the realisation of your goals.

 

We’re in the era of a global awakening. We finally appreciate that we have more control over our lives than we were led to believe, but for this to be true, for everyone across the world, and impact our lives for the better, we need healthier minds, we need to make better choices, and we need to live better lives. With the rise of anxiety worldwide due to social media, violence, unhealed trauma, stress, war, and everything else, the resulting negativity has impacted our psyche, throwing our lives out of balance.

 

Our potential to achieve a healthier mind is within reach for all of us. The first step is to want it! We need to engage the energy of our hearts as much as the energy of our minds.

 

It has been demonstrated that the heart is the strongest source of our bio-electrical energy. It’s 40 to 60 per cent stronger than the electrical energy of our brains. The incredible part, the heart's electrical energy is so powerful, projecting beyond our skin and can be measured three to four feet outside our bodies, radiating in a 360-degree field.

 

We won’t change our world overnight, but once we appreciate the power which resides within us, we can start making better decisions and affect everything and everyone around us. This power was given to us from the beginning, so it’s time to use it for the better.  We aren’t superheroes but we all have a piece of the heavens within us and it’s waiting for us to make the connection. We’ll always have doubts and fears, that’s part of being human, the yin and the yang, but all fears can be overcome, with faith, courage, and love.

"Thinking is the hardest work there is,

which is probably the reason why so 

few engage in it." - Henry Ford -

 

Given that most of us are victims of thought overload with an average of 60,000 thoughts a day, ranging from mundane daily tasks to deeper contemplations about life, no wonder it’s hard to keep a clear mind and focus on the good things in front of us. But when our mind truly understands its great power and puts it to work, we will accomplish wonders. Everything will be within our ability to achieve, and the image created in our minds will give birth to reality in the world.

 

“Know yourself, know your power, just believe that there is a real creative magic in believing, and magic there will be, true belief will supply the power to succeed in anything you undertake.” - Claude M. Bristol - 

It’s important to accept that difficult times are part of life. Some events are predestined to happen in the course of our lives, depending on the choices we make, both willpower and bravery will be tested, and when we make a choice to go in a particular direction we must overcome and learn from tough times before gaining access to the next chapter in our story. No matter the choices we make, challenges await but with courage, faith, and the right direction, these obstacles, once overcome will give you tools to carry on!

Thank you so much for reading this piece, always remember to make good choices for yourself and to have faith in your dreams. By doing this you’re helping the world become a better place and rippling out your good vibrations to all of us.

@lifeaswegoalong

THE HIGHLY SENSITIVE PEOPLE OF THIS WORLD

Imagine all your senses on full alert 24/7, including your sixth sense ‘intuition’, in this loud and at times insensitive world.

What it feels like?

The man behind you is chewing gum. It’s deeply vexing and you’re praying for the queue to go faster. You’re at the library and once settled, you begin to feel what others are feeling. It’s becoming tense, you need to find a quieter space to gain your balance again. The bathroom fan, two floors down is driving you nuts. To you, it’s right inside your ear, frustratingly loud, you can’t focus on anything. The tiny label inside your tee-shirt is irritating your skin, like two wasps having a rave on your sensitive birthday suit. That label needs to come off - now! The sound of your partner chewing food at the dinner table makes you angry, the noise is just too much for your mind to process and you need to get away. The woman’s perfume next to you on the plane is overpowering, it makes you feel nauseous, the chemicals hold your nostrils hostage, so you cover your face and hold your breath. Your good friend broke her promise and it hurts so much, you’re disappointed. For many it’s no big deal but for you it’s like your heart has been ripped out, it’s beyond upsetting. You’re at your work summer party, and suddenly you feel like you’re gasping for air, it’s too noisy, crowded, loud, you need to escape. These are the stories of many people on Earth, we call them Highly Sensitive People.

“Highly sensitive people tend to have stronger emotional responses than others.” 

- Andre Sólo -

Who are they?

Between 15% to 20% of people are highly sensitive, very attuned to the people around them and their environment. They feel immensely, all of the time. For them sadness is sorrow and joy is pure bliss. Some are more sensitive than others, but nevertheless to feel intensely is a blessing and a curse if badly managed. 30% of them are extrovert, which makes it even more challenging when you love being around people. Imagine being allergic to music but loving a good party, antihistamine just won’t cut it! It’s important to know that HSPs qualify as empaths too, they feel the emotions of others just like empaths. Being highly sensitive involves being deeply connected to everything around you through all of your senses, it’s not just being emotional.

A highly sensitive person can be of either sex, it’s pretty much 50/50. Tougher on men though, as we’re heavily conditioned to believe that men don’t cry - women cry, but not men! What a pile of hogwash, you can be strong and still let a few tears out to release the pressure eating you up inside!

“Have a good cry, wash out your heart, if you keep it inside 

it'll tear you apart”

HSPs have so many gifts, they don’t just connect deeply with others but with nature and animals too. They’re precious, and they’re sensitive for a reason. Their mind is intense, making it tough to switch off. It’s like they’re tuned into some divine radio station 24/7. Their sleep patterns can be disturbed, as even at night their sensitivity is active. They over analyse everything, and can be easily overstimulated, or under stimulated. They cannot stand the violence on TV and the news is a strong NO! It’s too much for them to process that amount of negativity. They have an amazing intuition, some have psychic ability, and they connect on a much higher level with other people, to the point that they can sense information or intentions about a person. It’s possible they connect to the mysterious pool of consciousness where all our thoughts are amassed. Other people’s moods affect them, so they need to withdraw during busy days, somewhere private to recharge. Bright lights, strong smells, coarse fabrics and sirens can be too much for their sensory receptors (as described in the examples at the beginning). The arts or music deeply move them. When they sense that someone is uncomfortable in their proximity, the HSP will tend to know what to do to make it better. The feeling of being very hungry creates a strong reaction in them, at times disturbing their concentration and mood. But, who doesn’t get a little grouchy when they’re hungry? However, for HSPs it’s on another level! It’s the same if they’re sleep deprived.

Distinction between highly sensitive & hypersensitive.

It is important to understand the difference between hypersensitivity and highly sensitive. Hypersensitivity means being emotionally fragile. Highly sensitive is a genetic trait that has little to do with emotional toughness. High sensitivity means you’re very perceptive, conscientious, easily overstimulated or under stimulated, and empathic. So, every time an HSP is told that they’re too sensitive it’s like telling someone with green eyes, - “Your eyes are too green”-.

Relationships with HSPs.

These souls truly value deep relationships, they generally cannot entertain an oil-water relationship, superficial and instable, they’ll get bored quickly and move on. They want to dive deeply into your soul, and connect with you in a profound way. Let them, it’s pure magic for them. Sadly, they have to kiss many frogs before finding people who can equal their love and values. That’s why they’re quite selective about who they let into their lives. As much as it can be intense to be in relationship with an HSP, from friendship to being in love, they’ll do almost anything for you and their loyalty and commitment are immeasurable. Having said that, if you have earned their trust don’t abuse it. But if you awaken their inner fury, ladies and gentlemen, prepare the chocolate, and as you throw it at them - run for cover! As humans, we all have duality, so the deeper we feel love, the deeper we feel pain. Don’t mistake their kindness for weakness. They aren’t weak, they’re sensitive! The most likely hood is if a sensitive person is having a reaction which may come across as overdramatic, help them gain balance by talking to them and bring them back to the present moment, or if they’re having an intense emotional reaction, hug them! HSPs have work to do on themselves before they fully gain control of their gift, so have a little patience if you know one!

“Everything I experience hits me deep, raw, and intense. As an empath, I feel the energy of myself and others. As I age, this ability only grows deeper and stranger.” - Sylvester McNutt III -

HSPs and toxic people.

An HSP will often say ‘sorry’ first, if they think they have hurt someone. They believe all people are good at heart, and they do their best to see the best in everyone. This is why they’re magnets for attracting toxic people. Toxic people will see their sensitivity as an opportunity. A highly sensitive person will often feel overpowered by a controlling person, they prefer not to offend or worse, face confrontation. So, they let it be, easier said than done, as sometimes they will need to find courage to stand up for themselves.

For a sensitive person, it’s unacceptable to hurt someone and not apologise, or at least acknowledge the other person’s feelings. How can toxic people behave as they wish without thinking about the impact of their actions and words? This type of behaviour doesn’t equal with an HSPs’ values. If a sensitive approaches a toxic people, they must do it with great care, if possible avoiding the person or keeping their distance as these people usually display narcissistic, sociopathic and psychopathic behaviour. If a highly sensitive person gets too close, they’re setting themselves up for potential hurt, just like a beautiful butterfly in the hands of a malicious person.

HSPs in our culture.

As much as it’s demanding to be so sensitive in a brutal world, HSPs are majestic empaths. With an incredible ability to connect with people at the drop of a hat, they know what to say to start a conversation and make a connection. They have great intuition, and if they rely on it, they usually make better choices than others in life. Sadly, they’re often seen as too sensitive, feeble, or intense. Many of them are told: ‘toughen up’, ‘grow a thick skin’, or the most common one ‘you’re too emotional’. Believe me when I say they’re plenty tough, experiencing the world we live in with all your senses at full power demands a lot of courage to keep going. That’s why so many struggles to cope. They turn to recreational drugs, smoking, pharmaceutical drugs, and addictions of every kind. When the feeling of a heartbreak is amplified, or the accumulation of negative energy has reached their limit, without the right tools to deal with those feelings, they’ll likely reach for the wrong things to survive, or worst, make a rash decision to end their internal agony.

Although being sensitive is often seen as a disadvantage in our culture, to feel intensely is not a symptom of being flawed - it’s the essence of a truly thriving and compassionate human being. It’s not HSPs who are broken, it’s society’s understanding that has become dysfunctional and emotionally weakened. There is no shame in expressing your authentic feelings. Those who are sometimes described as being ‘too emotional’ are the life-force keeping the dream alive for a more kind, sympathetic and humane world.

“If you are an HSP, you’re a champion in the making, you have what it takes. Make sure to meditate daily. Ask for professional help. Find a method to manage your feelings in order to find balance, body & soul. Wear black tourmaline jewellery to protect you from negative energy. Surround yourself with positive and joyful people. Keep going no matter what. Day by day, you will find what works for you.”

YOUR FEELINGS ARE SUPERPOWERS. EMBRACE THEM!

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