I ran through traffic as if my life depended on it, blood pumping, huffing, and sweat running down my spine. Just a minute ago I was casually having breakfast with a friend when I received a text from a client saying that she was on her way to our appointment.
I berated myself in my head. “Shoot! Why did I forget to write it down?! Note to self. Find a better management app! Argh!”
I was rushing, hoping, and praying that, even just for the next 20 minutes, all the muscles in my thighs and legs would grant me the speed of a marathoner, or if time could slow down just enough for me to reach my building before my client does.
I looked at my watch. Two kilometers in less than 30 minutes. For a non-athlete like me, that seems daunting. But I told myself, “Focus. You’ll make it on time.”
And I did. I made it with a few minutes to spare.
So, what happened? Was it adrenaline? Did I slow down time? Was my watch broken?
The Science of Intention
We’ve all heard the sayings, “Mind over matter”, “Think positive”, or “Power of the mind”. The logic is: Any obstacle can be overcome just by thinking and focusing on your goal.
But is there any truth to it?
Did I reach my meeting on time because I consciously and desperately wanted to?
In the world of Quantum Physics, there is this test called the “Double Slit Experiment” which was first conducted by Thomas Young and further developed by other physicists including Erwin Schrödinger (Yes, there is more to him than his cat). [1]
The results of the experiment are controversial and have baffled scientists over the years because it defies the normal behavior of matter. [2][3]
In the experiment, it was theorized that when tiny bits of matter called photons are fired through two slits the shape of the respective slits they went through should be reproduced on the other side. It was also observed that if a wave rather than a particle passes through, they would create their own pattern called the “interference pattern”. [2][3]
However, instead of following their hypothesis, the photons that were fired did not produce just two slits, but instead acted as a wave and produced an interference pattern of its own.[2][3]
(From top to bottom) Double Slit Experiment Using Waves, Theoretical Result of Double Slit Experiment Using Particles/Matter, Actual Result of Double Slit Experiment Using Particles/Matter
The phenomenon led to countless experiments and theories. Later on, physicists wanted to know which slit each particle goes through. So, they set up some sort of an “eye” near each slit to measure and observe.
To their surprise, once this form of “consciousness” was added, the particles started behaving as they had hypothesized and produced two slits instead of an interference pattern. It was as if the particle knew it was being watched and, just like Hawthorne Effect, started behaving like the way the scientists wanted it to act. [2][3]
So, how does all this relate to the power of intention?
In the Double Slit Experiment, when consciousness was absent, there were countless waves of potentials that formed the interference pattern. But once consciousness was added to the equation, it started behaving into this one result. The result the physicist wanted all along.
Some say that events in our lives come at random. However, the multiple results of the discussed experiments show the fluidity of reality, and although there may be infinite potentials of reality, once conscious viewing and intent—a definite way of how a thing must act—is added, the infinite potentials will focus into the desired manner.
Since humans have energy, meaning we are capable of creating change, we can also affect matter.
This suggests that the mere act of thinking a certain way can affect one’s life events. Thinking positive produces more positive results and vice versa.
Facing the Giants
“All great acts are ruled by intention. What you mean is what you get.” ― Brenna Yovanoff
In every sports-inspired movie that we might have seen in the early 2000s, there’s always the pivotal scene where the coach gathers the team with a few seconds on the clock so he can give them an inspirational speech. In the 2006 football film “Facing the Giants”, this pivotal scene is called “the death crawl”.
In the movie’s “death crawl” scene, Coach Grant tells his star player, Brock Kelley, to crawl from yard 10 to 50 while blindfolded and also while carrying his teammate on his back.
During the crawl, coach Grant kept on shouting words of encouragement into Brock’s ear, all the time saying “Give me your very best!”. On top of that, Coach Grant was also giving directions to his blindfolded star player—“straight ahead, a little to the left”. In the end, despite taking a few seconds to rest, Brock didn’t just reach the 50 yards, but he managed to get to the end zone.
Think of Coach Grant as the “intention” and Brock as the particle/matter. Without the coach, the ending of that crawl might’ve been different. Brock could have collapsed out of exhaustion or just simply gave up. But since someone was there telling him what to do and keeping him focused, he was able to do more than what was expected.
The coach’s vision, his trust in Brock’s capabilities, and his intention to see Brock pass the 50 yards combined with the intensity of his emotions, as well as Brock’s ability to tap into hidden energy resources of his body, made this success happen.
That is the power of intention. It shows just how vital it is to make our intentions known not only to ourselves but to the field around us. As in the double-slit experiment, what we focus on will arrange into matter. Its effect can affect our current and future reality.
We can create awareness for the quality of our thoughts and therefore the quality of how we experience reality. How we define our world is entirely up to us. Once we learn how to use the power of intention correctly, the possibilities for humanity are limitless.
Sources:
1. “Thomas Young’s Double Slit Experiment.” The Physics of Light and Color – Diffraction of Light, “Thomas Young’s Double Slit Experiment.” The Physics of Light and Color – Diffraction of Light
3. “This Month in Physics History.” American Physical Society