The simplest way I have heard Einstein’s General Theory of Relativity described was something like “gravity determines where things are and space determines where things go”. We know gravity is a function of mass. More mass equals more gravity. Have enough of it and it effects the shape of space, hence where things go as they tend to follow the shape of space. This is why Dark Matter has been postulated and (supposedly?) discovered. It was necessary to explain the movement of galaxies because the amount and distribution of visible matter did not adequately predict the observed movement. Pretty much everyone has heard of a black hole. This is something so dense that if a light were to be shined upon it, there would be no reflection because the photons could not escape the gravitational pull, which is why it is called a black hole, you cannot see it. But we do know they are there, for they impact movement of physical astronomical objects and are evidenced by radiation of energy as subatomic particles in their presence are dismembered.
Our physical universe has invisible (dark) masses and forces and yes here is dark energy as well but no time for that right now. I cannot help but wonder if our psyche and therefore our behavior is influenced by extremely dense massive invisible thoughts. Thoughts and models that are the equivalent of dark matter. Are there some black holes in our mind? Do we have unconscious models that are so massive and dense that we do not notice them until the trajectory of our behavior is altered? And if we are paying extremely close attention, can we notice the errant energy emitted?
There is no question that we live in a universe that is too dimensionally vast to comprehensively comprehend. Whether this is expressible as a multiverse or parallel universe or sequential alternative universes are not that important psychologically. What is important is that our universe or universes is or are, really big and of great dimension.
Perspectives can be considered to be perceptual dimensions. If we attempt to deny the possibility of multiple perspectives than we are denying reality. There is only one thing we can do when faced with vastness, adapt. We can try to escape by putting our heads in the sand, but this has not been shown to be a good long term survival strategy. The other extreme, adapting or innovation does have a pretty good track record.
It has been said we can never step into the same river twice. This is because rivers constantly change course, depth and volume velocity as does the rest of the universe or even multiverse we live in. We rarely can precisely predict the conditions we will be encountering unless we have particularly static and passive lives (death?). The act of living is one of adapting by responding to circumstances. If we did not have to ever do this, what would we be doing? Nothing!
The problem is change can be frightening, because we cannot predict the outcomes. On the other hand many situations demand change because we can predict the outcome if we do not. This occurs early when learning to ride a bicycle. Leaning too far in one direction requires quick rebalancing to avoid falling over and crashing. Adapting is perhaps our most natural act. Babies have it easy. All they have to do is drink or eat what is offered and hug back when embraced. It is not until later that they learn to duck and cover, hit back or run away.
Innovation is simply an advanced form of adapting to circumstances. When see something that is not working, we can respond by creating a new situation which sometimes has us bring into the world new behaviors, devices, technologies, companies, institutions, wealth or all of the above. It is an entirely natural and for many, involuntary act. You see a problem and fix it. You lean too far in one direction and correct, or fall over and next time lean less. Or discover if going very quickly enables you to lean more, as all who have been on a motorcycle know first hand. It seems Elon Musk is doing this right now with Tesla and his other companies.
Resisting change is not sane because it is impossible. All living organisms have the capacity to adapt to their circumstances. We all have to, because our environment is always in a state of flux, never constant. Fortunately humans have proven to be a most adaptable species. Innovation and adaptation are reasonable responses to the situation we always find ourselves in. We simply cannot step into the same river or multiverse twice, because it is not there any more.
Being subject to the dark matter in our minds, perhaps it is time to examine those invisible thoughts and models dense enough to exert a strong gravitational pull on our behavior. We can better adapt to these massive models impacting our beliefs if we know they are there. We often have to hypothesize something, before discovering it. When we observe behavior that makes no sense, it is time to look for invisible models that may be causing powerful fears to exist.
Poor behavior is often the result of fear, even if the poorly behaving folks are unaware they are fearful. What are they afraid of? That the world as they know it is changing. They are right, it is. If they remember all humans are potentially masterful at adapting and innovating, perhaps they can be less fearful in order to be more creative, for it is the only way out. We can not go backward without pushing civilization into a great dieback which is certainly possible. The earth does not need us.
This brings me back to point I have made many times, “Innovate or die!” But now keep an eye out for the dark matter of the mind, which can be unfortunately unconsciously perspective shifting. Remember our physical universe has a lot more dark matter than visible matter and it is likely that our minds do as well.
We certainly have the capacity and the need to investigate and explore externally and internally. My simple definition of innovation is “applied insight”. If you never look inside, what are you going to apply? How will you adapt and what will you adopt? Because we all do and will continue. The question is unconsciously or consciously? This is not only a question for each individual but for society at large and the world.