Thursday, April 14, 2011

Can we change the future? A scientific view...

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I was reading this article from 1998 about quantum theory – I know it’s pretty old…, but there was something about it that struck me! It’s maybe also because I’m reading this book that contains a lot of prescience characteristics or just my open mind.
So, I decided to put together all this scientific evidence with one scope – Can we change the future? Do we have an influence on our future?

An extract from the article on ScienceDaily (Feb. 27, 1998)

“demonstrating how a beam of electrons is affected by the act of being observed. The experiment revealed that the greater the amount of "watching," the greater the observer's influence on what actually takes place(...)When a quantum "observer" is watching Quantum mechanics states that particles can also behave as waves. This can be true for electrons at the submicron level, i.e., at distances measuring less than one micron, or one thousandth of a millimeter. When behaving as waves, they can simultaneously pass through several openings in a barrier and then meet again at the other side of the barrier. This "meeting" is known as interference.
Strange as it may sound, interference can only occur when no one is watching. Once an observer begins to watch the particles going through the openings, the picture changes dramatically: if a particle can be seen going through one opening, then it's clear it didn't go through another. In other words, when under observation, electrons are being "forced" to behave like particles and not like waves. Thus the mere act of observation affects the experimental findings.

To demonstrate this, the researchers built a tiny device measuring less than one micron in size, which had a barrier with two openings. They then sent a current of electrons towards the barrier. The "observer" in this experiment wasn't human.(…) Apart from "observing," or detecting, the electrons, the detector had no effect on the current. Yet the scientists found that the very presence of the detector-"observer" near one of the openings caused changes in the interference pattern of the electron waves passing through the openings of the barrier. (…)when the "observer's" capacity to detect electrons increased, in other words, when the level of the observation went up, the interference weakened; in contrast, when its capacity to detect electrons was reduced, in other words, when the observation slackened, the interference increased. Thus, by controlling the properties of the quantum observer the scientists managed to control the extent of its influence on the electrons' behaviour” (Reference Weizmann Institute Of Science (1998, February 27). Quantum Theory Demonstrated: Observation Affects Reality. ScienceDaily)
 
I hope you just read this article as carefully as I did.
A psychiatric study at the Dream Laboratory at Maimonides Hospital, New York that took place for over 40 years tested the hypothesis that sleeping subjects could dream about aspects of randomly selected target material, for example, films, drawings, photographs, or art prints. The research approached the subject of “remote viewing” (the practice of seeking impressions about a distant or unseen target using paranormal means), prescient dreams (perception through dreams that involves the acquisition or effect of future information), and telepathy (the induction of mental states from one mind to another). These experiments were positive.


Alain Aspect, a French physicist, in 1982 discovered that subatomic particles such as elections are able to automatically - instantaneously - simultaneously communicate with each other regardless of the distance separating them. The speed of the information that flows in between is higher than light speed, inverting thus the time.

In quantum mechanics, the Heisenberg uncertainty principle states by precise inequalities that certain pairs of physical properties, such as position and momentum, cannot be simultaneously known to arbitrarily high precision. That is, the more precisely one property is measured, the less precisely the other can be measured.

According to the de Broglie hypothesis, every object in our Universe is a wave, a situation which gives rise to this phenomenon. Consider the measurement of the position of a particle. The particle's wave packet has non-zero amplitude, meaning that the position is uncertain – it could be almost anywhere along the wave packet. To obtain an accurate reading of position, this wave packet must be 'compressed' as much as possible, meaning it must be made up of increasing numbers of sine waves added together. The momentum of the particle is proportional to the wavenumber of one of these waves, but it could be any of them. So a more precise position measurement – by adding together more waves – means that the momentum measurement becomes less precise (and vice versa).

And then, come all the questions:
Is our future written?  Can one to influence it?  Do we really have a free will? 

In the book – my hero can see the future of his life, but he also has a glimpse of a something else beyond his life. And that something else, makes him decide to change his life in order to change that far future. But, how do you know you are making the right choices? The uncertainty principle. More you focus on the future, more you lose sight of the present, more you focus on the present, more you lose contact with the future. Fair?
But…by following the quantum theory – by barely being present here today – a mere observer of your future you are influencing your future. In other words the system is to be found in a given state at a given time – the universe wants that future to happen. Let’s say you don’t want to follow that future, so you change something. The path adjusts its self to the new course.
Lame, as it may sound – but “the Secret” theory seems to have a base. To simplify this - once you glimpse something, you make it real. Or maybe not – just focus on the present…
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Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Stress Management Tests

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We like it or not stress is taking place in our lives and studies are showing that even the youngster among us, I’m referring to children are dealing with stress. Believe it or not about a quarter of Canadians report a high degree of life stress.

Is just most of us we have a busy life and we pile up the things we want to do…Copping home, work- school, family, social relationships it’s not easy.
Different associations are trying to raise awareness about the level of stress and the impact on our lives. The problem with stress is that it affects one’s health…
If you are suffering from high stress levels, you may feel tense or anxious, have headaches, stomach complaints or even symptoms that mimic illnesses. Long-term exposure to stress can also lead to mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety. How stressed are you?
Here is a test to give you an idea about the level of stress you experience.
What your score means
1-6: You have few hassles, and generally lead a low-stress life. That’s great! But, don’t spend so much energy avoiding problems that you shy away from challenges.
7-13: You’ve got a handle on your life. Though you’re in good control, try to improve choices and habits that might still cause some unnecessary stress. You’ll find useful advice in this booklet.
14-20: Warning: You’re in the danger zone! Even now you’re probably suffering stress-related symptoms. Take time out every day to look at choices you’ve made and reflect on outcomes. The suggestions in this booklet will enable you to take better control of your life.
Above 20: Red flag emergency! Stop. Re-think. Change your lifestyle. Improve your diet. Make physical activity a regular routine, and above all, try to find ways to relax. Is it running? Knitting? Spending time with your kids? Try to positively alter your attitudes.

Another test is also offering a solution if your answer was not in line with dealing with test.
Answer with True or False
During a recent stressful situation…
  1. I ignored the fact that something was bothering me and tried to carry on as usual. True/False
  2. I made sure that I had information on how to manage this stressful situation. True/False.
  3. I tried not to notice that I was experiencing signs of stress such as an increase in heart rate, problems sleeping, muscle tightness or hurried behaviour. True/False
  4. I used alcohol, smoking, or other substances as a way of relieving my stress. True/False.
  5. I made a plan and followed it, one step at a time. True/False
  6. Every so often, I took time to relax and forget about my stress. I read, listened to music, watched a film or rested. True/False
  7. I looked at the humorous side of the situation, or I gave my support and understanding to people around me who were also under stress. True/False
  8. I took time to remind myself of the important things in life. I reviewed the goals for my personal life and the priorities of my work. True/False
  9. I took out my anger and frustration on my friends and family. True/False
  10. I kept thinking that I was helpless to deal with this situation. True/False
  11. I didn’t let anyone know what was really bothering me, even though there were people available who would have been supportive or helpful. True/False
  12. I started a physical activity I love (hiking, playing badminton, dancing) or doing a hobby (woodworking, knitting, crossword puzzles), so that I could enjoy myself for a while. True/False
Check the answers below to see how effectively you coped with the stressful situation in your life. If you answered in the same manner as below, you’re already practicing some effective stress strategies. If not, you may want to review the situations and consider alternative strategies that may help you live a healthier, more enjoyable life.
  1. F – The first step to managing stress is acknowledging the need for change. Take some quiet time to try to identify the source of your stress. Continuing to deny a stressful situation can have serious, long-term effects on your heart health.
  2. T – Once you’ve identified what causes stress in your life, it’s important to find information on how to develop new skills or improve already existing ones. A certified professional can help.
  3. F – A number of problems (an increase in heart rate and blood pressure, muscle tension, poor concentration, irritability and sleep problems) can all be symptoms of excessive stress in your life. Don’t ignore these signs: they’re your body’s way of telling you something is wrong. See your doctor or a certified professional for help.
  4. F – You may feel that alcohol, smoking or other substances may numb your stress and help you deal with a difficult situation. But any relief is only temporary, and this behaviour can only lead to additional problems for your physical and emotional health.
  5. T – Setting some priorities and being flexible about things that are not critical can help you adapt to a particularly stressful period. Learn to manage your time and set realistic deadlines. This should be part of your overall stress management plan.
  6. T – Realize that there are equally rewarding sources of satisfaction available to you. You may want to look for inspiration in art, literature, philosophy, spirituality or religion. Or simply spend time on the activities you enjoy.
  7. T – Stressful situations often present an opportunity for you to grow in your positive emotions and attitudes. These can include the ability to see the humour in your situation, to trust in your convictions, and to develop more confidence in the people close to you.
  8. T – Sometimes it may be necessary to re-examine your life goals to see if they still effectively reflect what you want out of your life or career. If they don’t maybe it’s time to re-assess your goals and priorities.
  9. F – When you’re under pressure or stress, you may be more irritable with the people closest to you. There are more positive ways of letting out the emotional and physical tension contributing to stress. Try to avoid situations that are bound to be stressful, be physically active to reduce tension or temporarily remove yourself from a situation.
  10. F – At times, stress can lead to feelings of anxiety or helplessness. It’s important to break the cycle of negative thoughts by looking for ways to reduce stress or cushion how much it disrupts your life.
  11. F – Talking to others can give you a fresh perspective on a stressful situation. Plus, friends and family can provide valuable moral support when you need to feel good about yourself.
  12. T – Sometimes it’s important to get some emotional distance from your daily hassles. Take on an activity that lets you temporarily forget what’s going on. Enjoy yourself.

Some steps on how to de-stress your life:

Note: Tests from the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Ontario