A-LIGNing Perspectives: The Laws of Life and Nature
It’s very likely that everyday, you will have interactions with friends or strangers. You make decisions, whether it be choosing what to eat for breakfast or taking on a new job opportunity. These everyday occurrences have become second nature for all of us; most of these experiences, one may believe, don’t require any further investigation. However, in both life and nature, patterns emerge. They exist everywhere, constantly evolving and intertwining, often going unnoticed. And perhaps unexpectedly, most if not all of these patterns can be understood from math.
Sounds strange, right? “How can square roots and algebra influence the choice between cereal or eggs?” you may be thinking. Well, that isn’t entirely what I mean. Math offers a new perspective to our lives: the ability to derive simplicity from complexity. With the same idea, physics joins math, granting us this special power. And the greatest thing about it is that obtaining this power doesn’t require you to be a human calculator. In fact, it’s okay if you consider yourself to be “bad with numbers”. This is because at their very core, math and physics can be understood without numbers. Numbers are simply the language that humans developed to communicate the inherent laws of the universe. But like the languages we are most familiar with, many of these methods of communication exist, and they all have their own ways of expressing, growing, and understanding. From the path we take to reach a decision to the dynamic changes in our relationships, the laws of math and physics offer insights into the forces shaping our journey.
At first glance, it may seem like the realms of science and your personal experiences exist in separate spheres. But beneath the surface, they are intricately connected. The principles that govern the natural world abstractly shape the human experience in ways that are surprisingly profound. Consider the geometric concept of a line—simple, continuous, and straight. A line represents direction and purpose, something we all strive for in life. But rarely is anyone’s path a perfect, unbroken line. More often, our journey resembles a collection of planes intersecting at various angles—different experiences, relationships, and decisions that shape who we are. Each plane may seem disconnected, but when viewed together, they reveal a coherent pattern. Like geometry, life has a structure that only becomes visible when you step back and connect the dots.
By looking at the laws of life through the lens of math and physics, you will begin to see that these universal forces are at play around and within us. Our experiences—whether personal or professional, joyful or painful—are not random occurrences. They follow certain patterns, much like the laws that govern nature. By understanding these patterns, we can navigate life’s complexities with greater awareness and intention.
