Chapter 1: The Nature of Change

Stanford professor Scott Sagan imparted a profound statement that has stuck with me: “Things that have never happened before happen all the time.” This notion was echoed by Morgan Housel, who articulated that history serves as a lens through which we can study change, albeit often mistakenly as a guide to the future.

The future is brimming with unprecedented events, yet we frequently rely on historical data—frozen in time—to forecast what lies ahead. The reality is that the future remains shrouded in mystery, a fact that is inherently intriguing. While we cannot predict what will unfold, the unknown inspires both beautiful and irrational actions among people, creating an atmosphere filled with hope for some and despair for others.

In fields like physics, there exists a semblance of certainty; the laws of physics are unwavering. For instance, the gravitational force experienced by a falling ball in 1024 is identical to that of a ball in 2024. However, disciplines such as politics, philosophy, and investing grapple with greater uncertainties.

“History assists us in adjusting our expectations, understanding common pitfalls, and providing a rough framework of what may be effective. Yet, it cannot be seen as a definitive map to the future.” — Morgan Housel

Here are some compelling examples:

Before the introduction of Bitcoin in 2008, digital currencies were merely an intriguing concept or viewed as a Ponzi scheme. Today, it boasts a market capitalization of approximately $1.3 trillion and has the potential to become the world's predominant currency.

Prior to the commercialization of air travel, most flights occurred during wartime. Now, anyone can easily fly globally without a second thought.

In the near future, self-driving cars will become commonplace, and people may even venture into space for leisure.

These ideas would have seemed absurd to someone living in the 1950s. Yet, they are now a reality. What transformations might we witness in the next 70 years, and another 70 years after that? If we could leap forward 140 years, we would likely find ourselves just as bewildered as we are today, grappling with concepts beyond our current understanding.

As we delve into quantum physics, the complexities of existence become even more astonishing.

I often remind myself that “Things that have never happened before happen all the time,” as it brings me closer to the essence of reality. This thought keeps me grounded in the understanding that the world is a fluid, ever-evolving entity driven by unseen forces, rather than a static and predictable environment.

Some refer to these unseen forces as The Divine Spirit, Consciousness, or God; the terminology is irrelevant. When these forces are at play, conventional life rules are suspended in favor of more mystical principles.

To elaborate on this mind-bending subject of quantum physics and the observer effect, here is Dr. Joe Dispenza:

“This subatomic realm is distinctive because it encompasses not only physical attributes but also energetic ones. On a subatomic scale, matter is transient, appearing and vanishing, existing in three-dimensional time and space, only to revert to nothingness in the quantum field. This transformation occurs between particle (matter) and wave (energy). But where do particles go when they seem to disappear?

Quantum experiments have shown that electrons simultaneously exist in an infinite array of possibilities within an unseen energy field. However, the act of observation is crucial; an electron only manifests when an observer focuses their attention on it. Essentially, a particle cannot take shape in our reality—our known space-time—until it is observed.

This phenomenon is termed the “collapse of the wave function” or the “observer effect.” It illustrates that when an observer seeks an electron, a specific moment in time and space occurs where all potential states of that electron coalesce into a tangible event. Consequently, mind and matter cannot be viewed as separate entities; they are inherently linked, as our subjective thoughts yield measurable effects on the objective world.

If our minds possess the capability to influence the appearance of an electron, could they also affect the manifestation of any possibility?

How transformative would your life be if you could harness the observer effect to collapse myriad waves of potential into your chosen reality? Could you enhance your ability to observe the life you aspire to?

This reflection brings to mind a beautiful quote from Heraclitus: “No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it is not the same river and he is not the same man.”

In essence, this reiterates the notion that “Things that have never happened before happen all the time.”

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