What are we, where do we come from, where are we going, and how do we succeed in this life?

October 22, 2024

What are we, where do we come from, where are we going, and how do we succeed in this life?

We are working on an ebook to address these existential and practical questions. The ebook, which we may title "Success: Mastering the Art of Pain Relief", should serve as yet another a guide for humans on Earth. The draft so far addresses topics ranging from the beginning of the universe (Big Bang) to the potential end of the universe (Big Rip, Big Crunch, Big Freeze), and everything in between. The information is practically infinite (PI) so the ebook threads very lightly on many different subjects. Below are snippets on 25 different subjects.   

1. Everything is Energy

We often wonder what are we and what is everything else around us. Well, the simplest answer is that everything in this universe is energy (the capacity to do work). This capacity to do work called energy cannot be created and cannot be destroyed. Energy can only be transformed. That is, the capacity to do work can only be "worked up". We're bundles of energy coming from past transformations of energy. While specific transformations begin and end at certain points in time, energy itself has no beginning and no end because energy cannot be created and cannot be destroyed. Energy, in one form or another, has always existed and will always exist. Again, in one form or another.

2. There's no magic; just work.

We often wonder what will it take for us to "succeed" in life. With the term "success" we typically refer to achieving a specific desirable result (a specific energy transformation if you will). Well, success (a transformation of energy into desired results) derives from work (i.e. energy transformations). The good news is that most of the work that is required for success is completely outside of your control. That is good news because once you accept that reality you can forget about everything that you cannot control, and focus on the little work that is within your control. Do your best and forget about the rest. That will simplify everything and will optimize the odds of success in life. 

3. Motions and particles (MAPs) 

As stated above. everything in this universe is energy (the capacity to do work). Everything is energy being "worked up" or transformed. There's no magic; it's all work. We're bundles of energy and we're part of the universe itself. Everything is in motion. Everything is the result of motions and particles ("MAPs) interacting with each other. Gravitational motions (gravity and its effects) move particles around. Interactions between fundamental particles generate the fundamental forces of nature. The fundamental forces of nature generate the transformations and combinations (e.g. atoms, elements, molecules, stars, planets, cells, etc.) that form everything in the universe including all of us.

4. The Big Bang

The Big Bang theory tells us that at time "zero", about 13.8 billion years ago according to current estimates, everything was packed in a singularity in a super hot and dense state. For reasons yet unknown, the singularity began to inflate, expand, and cool off in what is called the Big Bang. The universe is still expanding and cooling off to this date. 

5. Before the Big Bang

No one knows yet what may have preceded the singularity prior to the Big Bang. Our guess is that the original singularity in our universe was created by a black hole in another universe.  In any event, after 13.8 billion years of energy transformations, here we are as an intelligent part of a practically infinite (PI) universe. To be sure, we're part of the universe itself. It is not that we live in the universe, is that we are the living part of the universe. We are the rock stars of a universe full of rocks and stars. 

6. Fundamental Particles and Fundamental Properties of Particles

Everything in this universe--with the exception perhaps of gravity, which may be non-particle based energy in gravitational motion--is composed of particles. Particles exhibit different characteristics based on their fundamental properties.

There are three fundamental properties: spin, electrical charge, and mass. 

• Spin is angular momentum or inclination. 
• Electrical charge is a fundamental characteristic that can be neutral or have two opposite effects referred to as positive and negative. 
• Mass is accumulated matter or stuff.

Most particles are composed of other particles and may be divided into their components. Some particles are non-composite and cannot be divided into components. Those indivisible particles are called fundamental particles. 

There are two types of fundamental (indivisible) particles in this universe: bosons and fermions. The main difference between bosons and fermions is that bosons have integer spins and fermions have half-integer spins. 

• Bosons. There are five types of bosons: photons, gluons, W bosons, Z bosons, and Higgs bosons. Bosons mediate the fundamental forces of nature: strong force mediated by gluons; weak force mediated by the W and Z bosons; and electromagnetism mediated by photons. The Higgs boson assigns matter to particles when they interact with the Higgs mass energy field. 
• Fermions. There are two types of fermions: quarks and leptons. 
• There are six types of quarks, also known as flavors, which are: up, down, charm, strange, top, and bottom. Quarks have fractional electric charges, with either a positive charge of +2/3 or a negative charge of -1/3. 
• There are six types of leptons: electrons, muons, tau particles, and their corresponding neutrinos (same particles with neutral charge). Electrons, muons, and tau particles are negatively charged (-1). Their neutrinos are neutral (no charge).  

7. The Fundamental Forces of Nature.

Gravity and the three fundamental forces of nature create everything (i.e. all the energy transformations ) in this universe. Bosons bouncing back and forth create the fundamental forces of nature: strong nuclear force, weak force, and electromagnetism. [Note that we prefer to conceptualize gravity as motion (gravitational drilling that bends the fabric of space) rather than as a force per se because so far scientists have not been able to identify particles causing gravity and have been unable to merge gravity with the standard particle model of physics.] These forces of nature combine fermions into different combinations. 

• The strong force joins quarks into hadrons (either protons or neutrons). When the strong force joins two up quarks (each with a +2/3 charge) with one down quark (-1/3 charge), the +1 charged quark trio is what we call a proton. When the force joins two down quarks with one up quark, the neutral (0 charge) result is a neutron. 

• Electromagnetism joins the positively charged protons with the negatively charged electrons into what is called an atom. The proton is in the center or nucleus of the atom. The electron is everywhere around the proton as a wave / particle. The number of protons in the nuclei is called the atomic number. The atomic number determine the identity and characteristics of the element. 

• The weak force is generated by the W and Z bosons. The weak force decays atoms and is essential for sparking nuclear fusion in stars. The Higgs boson assigns mass to particles when they interact with the Higgs mass energy field.

8. The Elements 

Hydrogen is the first element with one proton in its nucleus. Helium is the second with two protons. Lithium is the third with three. Beryllium has four. Boron has five. Carbon has six. Nitrogen has seven. Oxygen has eight. In total, there are 92 naturally occurring elements. Iron, with 26 protons in its nucleus is the heavier element that can be produced by stars before collapsing on their own weight. More about that in a second. Uranium is the heaviest naturally occurring element with 92 protons in its nucleus. In total, there are 118 counting elements, 92 naturally occurring plus 26 heavier ones created artificially by humans. 

9. Stars: The Natural Factories of Elements. 

Stars are formed when gravity pulls together zillion of hydrogen atoms together. Gravity keeps pushing the hydrogen atoms together until the weak force triggers a chain reaction that causes the strong force to overcome electromagnetism to fuse two hydrogen atoms into one helium atom. One helium atom is slightly more stable than two atoms of hydrogen. That means that after the fusion, there is a little extra extra energy as a leftover. That energy leftover that is shed off in the fusion process is the light and heat radiated by hydrogens stars like our sun.  

10. Until Hydrogen Fusion Do Us Part

Hydrogen stars keep fusing hydrogen into helium until hydrogen runs out. Once the hydrogen fuel runs out, gravity keeps pulling together the helium atoms forcing fusion that generates heavier elements. Once the star is generating iron, the core gets so heavy that the star essentially implodes on its own weight. The implosion ends up putting so many particles of the same charge together that at some point the electromagnetic repulsion of similar charges causes an outward explosion of the star called a supernova. In the supernova event, the heat and pressure is so high that stars can fuse the heavier elements up to uranium. 

11. From Stardust to Planets

Following the explosion of the star (supernova event), there is cosmic debris leftover everywhere. Gravity, with its relentless gravitational and downward spiral motion, begins to pull and aggregate pieces of cosmic dust, bundling them into celestial bodies like meteorites, asteroids, and protoplanets. Protoplanets eventually gravitate into becoming planets like Earth. The planets rotate gravitationally around a host star like Earth rotates around the sun. The distance from the planet to the host star will dictate the temperature and other conditions in the planet. 

12. Early Earth and CHON Molecules

At least in one planet in the universe, early conditions allowed for combinations of different elements into dynamic molecules. On the early Earth, four elements carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen (CHON) combined to form organic (carbon-based) molecules that eventually led to the formation of the interesting dynamic phenomena known as life. Atoms combine into molecules by forming bonds by either transferring or sharing electrons between themselves. Carbon has six protons and six electrons (two in its inner shell and four in its outer shell) and is very versatile in creating complex molecules with elements such as hydrogen, oxygen, and nitrogen. The CHON molecules can form long molecules (polymers) and highly complex organic molecules and organic compounds. The interactions between these organic molecules gradually evolve into the dynamic network that we call life.   

13. Biological Cells: The Protagonists of Life

Biological cells are the protagonists of the phenomena known as life. Cells were not created overnight. The process began about 4 billion years ago as soon as conditions were ideal for the creation of CHON molecular compounds. 

Abiogenesis is the natural process by which cellular life arose from non-living organic molecules until it formed the first living creature, our last unique common ancestor (LUCA).

• Organic Molecules. The first step in the origin of biological cells involves the formation of basic organic molecules, which are the building blocks of life. Scientists believe that these molecules, such as amino acids, nucleotides, and sugars, could have formed under the conditions present on early Earth. This step is often explained by the Miller-Urey experiment conducted in 1953, which simulated the conditions of early Earth and demonstrated that organic molecules could form spontaneously from simple gases (such as methane, ammonia, and hydrogen) when exposed to energy sources like lightning or UV radiation.
• Polymerization of Organic Molecules. Polymerization is the assembly of simple organic molecules into more complex polymers. For example, amino acids join together to form proteins. Nucleotides link to form nucleic acids, such as RNA and DNA. This polymerization likely occurred on surfaces like clay, where the molecules could concentrate and interact, or in shallow pools or hydrothermal vents where the right conditions were present.
• Self-Replicating Molecules (RNA World Hypothesis). RNA (ribonucleic acid) is thought to have been the first self-replicating polymer. RNA is a polymer (long molecule) and its components can hold amino acids together in patterns that serve as templates or "information" for the assembly of replicas and the assembly of three dimensional amino acid clusters called proteins. RNA could have formed naturally through the electromagnetic assembly of nucleotides. The replication process would continue and growing exponentially with the continued replication of the replicas. 
• Fatty Membranes (Protocells). Lipid molecules can naturally arrange themselves into bilayers when in water to form a type of membrane similar to the modern cell membrane. These membranes could enclose RNA and other organic molecules, creating a "prison cell" contained environment that protects the RNA from the external environment. Inside the cells, chemical reactions can take place more efficiently. Moreover, external environmental processes can serve as input for chemical processes inside the cell. 
• Energy Metabolism. Spontaneous chemical reactions within the protocells processed (metabolized) energy from the external environment into energy useful within the interior of the protocells. Early forms of metabolism could have been simple chemical reactions that used energy sources like sunlight, chemicals in water, and minerals on the earth. Primitive metabolic pathways provided energy for cell growth, maintenance, and replication. With the passage of time, simple processes can evolve into more complex biochemical pathways such as the ones seen today in cells.
• DNA. While RNA likely played a central role in early life, eventually, DNA, a double stranded polymer became the primary polymer serving as the template for the assembly of proteins and for the electromagnetic processes that serve as "instructions" for cellular function. DNA is more stable than RNA, making it better suited for long-term storage of the templates that serve as genetic "information". Proteins are also very varied and versatile, serving to facilitate and catalyze many cellular functions. The transition likely involved a gradual shift by natural selection, meaning that cells that relied on DNA over RNA had a better success and survival rate over time.
• Self-Replicating Cells. The final step in the formation of biological cells was the evolution of cells capable of reproducing independently. The first true cells are thought to have been prokaryotic cells (cells without a nucleus), similar to modern bacteria and archaea.
• LUCA. The Last Universal Common Ancestor (LUCA) represents the hypothetical most recent common ancestor of all current life on Earth. LUCA likely had basic cellular machinery for metabolism, genetic replication, and protein synthesis. From LUCA, life diversified into the three domains we recognize today: Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukaryota (organisms with complex cells that contain a nucleus, such as plants, animals, and fungi).

14. The Early Earth 

Modern research continues to explore this question through laboratory simulations of early Earth conditions, studies of extremophiles (organisms that thrive in extreme environments), and investigations into the chemical and physical properties of protocells and RNA. There are various competing hypothesis under continuous investigation. Some scientists propose that life may have originated in the deep-sea hydrothermal vents, where chemical gradients and mineral surfaces could have provided the right conditions for life to form. An alternative theory suggests that life, or its building blocks, may have been brought to Earth from space via comets or meteorites. In sum, the formation of biological cells and life was a gradual process involving the self-assembly of organic molecules, the emergence of energy metabolic processes, self-replicating nucleic acid polymers (RNA and DNA), and the formation of primitive membranes leading to cells. 

15. Cell Differentiation and Specialization 

The differentiation of biological cells into different types of cells is what allows a single fertilized egg (zygote) to give rise to the diverse range of specialized cell types that make up tissues and organs. The process of cell differentiation involves changes in gene expression, influenced by both internal and external factors, that lead to the development of cells with distinct functions and structures.

At the core of cell differentiation is the activation or suppression of specific genes (the "electromagnetic templates") within a cell’s DNA. Initially, all cells contain the same "genetic information" (electromagnetic templates or patterns), but different expressions (activation or suppression of "templates") end up generating different types of cells. Internal and external factors such as proteins binding to and blocking sections of the DNA or external pressure and forces exposing or blocking certain templates lead to different cells. 

16. From Stem Cells to Neurons

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that have the potential to develop into various types of specialized cells, including neurons. The process by which stem cells become neurons is known as neurogenesis. Stem cells become neurons when specific signals, such as growth factors and transcription factors (e.g., neurogenin, neuroD), activate specific genes (electromagnetic templates) that push the stem cells toward a neural lineage. The stem cells transition into neural progenitor cells from where they can differentiate into neurons or glial cells (support cells in the brain, like astrocytes and oligodendrocytes). As the progenitor cells mature into neurons they develop the specific structures of neurons including axons, dendrites, ion channels, and specialized neurotransmitter receptors. The new neurons form connections, or synapses, with other neurons. These synaptic connections allow neurons to form neural circuits for signal communication.

17. Basic Structure of Neurons

Neurons are specialized cells in the nervous system responsible for transmitting information throughout the body. They are the building blocks of the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system. Neurons communicate through electrical and chemical signals, allowing us to perceive, think, move, and regulate vital bodily functions.

• Cell Body (Soma): The cell body contains the neuron’s nucleus and is responsible for maintaining the cell's metabolic functions. It processes information received from the dendrites.

• Dendrites: These are branched extensions that receive signals from other neurons. Dendrites carry these signals toward the cell body.

• Axon: The axon is a long, thin projection that transmits electrical impulses away from the cell body toward other neurons, muscles, or glands. The axon can vary in length, from a few micrometers to over a meter (as in motor neurons in the spinal cord).

• Myelin Sheath: In many neurons, the axon is wrapped in a fatty substance called myelin, which acts as insulation. This helps increase the speed of electrical signal transmission.

• Axon Terminals: At the end of the axon, the neuron branches out into axon terminals. These terminals are responsible for releasing neurotransmitters into the synapse, a small gap between neurons, to communicate with other neurons.

• Synapse: The synapse is the site where the axon terminal of one neuron communicates with the dendrite of another neuron, passing along signals through chemical messengers called neurotransmitters.

18. Basic Functioning of Neurons

Neurons transmit information using electrical signals (action potentials) and chemical signals (neurotransmitters). 

Electrical Signaling: The Action Potential

Neurons communicate through electrical impulses known as action potentials. This process involves the movement of ions (charged particles) across the neuron's membrane, which changes the electrical charge inside and outside the cell. 

• Resting Potential: In a resting state, the inside of the neuron is negatively charged compared to the outside. This difference in charge (about -70 millivolts) is maintained by ion pumps and channels in the cell membrane. The neuron is said to be polarized.

• Depolarization: When a neuron is stimulated (for example, by a signal from another neuron), ion channels open, allowing positive ions (such as sodium ions, Na⁺) to rush into the cell. This makes the inside of the cell less negative (depolarization), triggering an action potential if the threshold is reached.

• Action Potential Propagation: Once an action potential is generated, it travels down the axon in a wave-like fashion, as sodium ions continue to enter the cell along the axon. In neurons with a myelin sheath, the action potential "jumps" between gaps in the sheath called Nodes of Ranvier in a process known as saltatory conduction, allowing faster transmission of signals.

• Repolarization and Refractory Period: After the action potential passes, ion channels allow potassium ions (K⁺) to leave the cell, restoring the negative charge inside the neuron (repolarization). During the refractory period, the neuron cannot fire another action potential until it returns to its resting state.

Chemical Signaling: Synaptic Transmission

At the end of the axon, when the action potential reaches the axon terminal, the electrical signal triggers the release of neurotransmitters into the synapse. This is how neurons communicate chemically:

• Neurotransmitter Release: When the action potential reaches the axon terminal, it triggers the opening of voltage-gated calcium channels. Calcium ions (Ca²⁺) enter the cell, causing synaptic vesicles to release neurotransmitters into the synapse.

• Neurotransmitter Binding: Neurotransmitters travel across the synaptic gap and bind to receptors on the postsynaptic neuron (the receiving neuron). Depending on the type of neurotransmitter and receptor, the signal can either excite or inhibit the postsynaptic neuron.

• Excitatory and Inhibitory Signals: Excitatory neurotransmitters (e.g., glutamate) cause the postsynaptic neuron to become depolarized, increasing the likelihood that it will generate an action potential. Inhibitory neurotransmitters (e.g., GABA) cause the postsynaptic neuron to become more negatively charged (hyperpolarized), reducing the likelihood that it will fire an action potential.

• Signal Termination: Once neurotransmitters have delivered their signal, they are either broken down by enzymes, taken back up by the presynaptic neuron in a process called reuptake, or diffused away from the synapse.

19. Neural Networks

Neurons do not function in isolation; they form complex networks in the brain and nervous system. Each neuron can form connections with thousands of other neurons through synapses. These networks allow for the integration of information from multiple sources, enabling complex processes like perception, movement, thought, and emotion. Neurons and their connections can change over time through a process called neuroplasticity. This allows the brain to adapt to new experiences, learn new information, and recover from injury.

• Stem Cells to Neurons: Stem cells differentiate into neurons through a regulated process involving growth factors, gene expression, and environmental signals.

• Neurons: Neurons are the fundamental units of the nervous system responsible for transmitting electrical and chemical signals. They have a unique structure consisting of a cell body, dendrites, an axon, and synaptic terminals.

• How Neurons Work: Neurons communicate through electrical impulses (action potentials) and chemical signals (neurotransmitters) at synapses, forming the basis of brain function and complex behaviors.

• This intricate system allows for the coordination of nearly all biological functions, from basic reflexes to higher cognitive processes like reasoning and memory.

20. Basic Neuroscience of Pain

The multidimensional sensation known as pain is a complex experience that involves a combination of sensory, emotional, and cognitive processes. Pain is not simply a straightforward physical sensation but involves multiple neural pathways, regions of the brain, and modulatory processes that contribute to how pain is perceived and experienced.

Pain arises through a process called nociception, which involves specialized sensory neurons known as nociceptors that detect certain stimuli (e.g. injury, heat, pressure, stretch, stress). Nociceptors transmit signals from the site of the stimuli to the brain, where the information is processed and perceived as the unpleasant sensation known as pain.

Once pain signals reach the brain, multiple regions process different aspects of the pain experience. This is where the multidimensional nature of pain comes into play, involving sensory, emotional, and cognitive components.

• The somatosensory cortex is the region responsible for the sensory-discriminative aspect of pain, which helps you identify the location, intensity, and type of pain. For instance, the somatosensory cortex allows you to recognize whether the pain is sharp, burning, or throbbing, and where it is coming from on your body.

• The limbic system (Amygdala, Insula, and Anterior Cingulate Cortex): The emotional and affective aspects of pain are processed in the limbic system. This is what makes pain unpleasant and causes emotional responses like fear, anxiety, or stress. The amygdala is involved in the emotional response to pain, including fear and anxiety. The anterior cingulate cortex is involved in the unpleasantness or suffering associated with pain. The prefrontal cortex is where the cognitive-evaluative aspect of pain is processed to interpret the meaning and importance of pain. This includes your ability to focus on pain, anticipate its duration, or evaluate its severity based on past experiences and expectations.

• The thalamus acts as a relay center, directing pain signals to various regions of the brain for further processing. It plays a central role in integrating sensory information and relaying it to higher brain areas.

21. The Multidimensional Experience of Pain

Pain is experienced on multiple levels, which is why it is often described as multidimensional. The experience of pain is shaped by:

• Sensory-discriminative component: This is related to the physical characteristics of pain, such as its location, intensity, and quality. It involves the somatosensory cortex.

• Emotional-affective component: Pain is almost always unpleasant, and this emotional response is handled by brain regions like the amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex, and insula. The emotional experience of pain can also depend on a person’s psychological state. For example, anxiety or depression can amplify the emotional aspect of pain.

• Cognitive-evaluative component: This involves how pain is interpreted based on prior experience, beliefs, and expectations. It includes processes like attention (how much you focus on pain), coping strategies, and anticipation of future pain.

The sensation of pain can be modulated or changed by several factors, involving both the brain and spinal cord:

• Descending Pain Modulation: The brain has mechanisms to either amplify or reduce pain signals through descending pathways. For example, the brainstem releases neurotransmitters (such as endorphins, serotonin, and norepinephrine) that inhibit pain signals at the level of the spinal cord. This is how the brain modulates pain in response to different circumstances.

• Endorphins are natural opioids produced by the brain that bind to opioid receptors in the spinal cord and brain, reducing the perception of pain.

• Gate Control Theory of Pain: This theory suggests that non-painful input can “close the gate” to painful input in the spinal cord, thus preventing pain signals from reaching the brain. For instance, rubbing a sore area can reduce the sensation of pain because the sensory input from touch activates inhibitory neurons in the spinal cord, blocking the transmission of pain signals.

In some cases, the normal mechanisms for processing and modulating pain become dysfunctional, leading to chronic pain or neuropathic pain:

• Chronic Pain: This occurs when pain persists for long periods (months or years), even after the initial injury has healed. The brain and nervous system become sensitized to pain, causing increased pain sensitivity (hyperalgesia) or pain in response to non-painful stimuli (allodynia).

• Neuropathic Pain: This type of pain results from damage to the nervous system itself, rather than from an external injury or stimulus. It can result in abnormal pain signals, leading to sensations such as burning, tingling, or stabbing pain.

Overall, neurons create the multidimensional sensation of pain through a complex network of interactions involving specialized sensory neurons (nociceptors), pathways in the spinal cord, and multiple regions of the brain. Pain is a multidimensional experience (sensory, emotional and cognitive) shaped by sensory signals, emotional responses, and higher-order brain processes. Pain modulation mechanisms allow the brain to amplify or reduce pain, and dysfunction in these processes can lead to chronic pain or pain disorders.

22. Pain and The Law of Perceived Convenience.

Neurons are the specialized sensory cells that form the central nervous system (CNS). The CNS is composed of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. The CNS controls everything in the body. The rest of the body is essentially there to protect, feed, and transport the CNS. 

You are your CNS. Within your CNS, the multidimensional sensation of pain is controlling everything that you do or don't do. The pain-pleasure mechanism of the CNS explains every past and present chapter of human history and of your own personal history. It will predict every future chapter of human history so long as we continue being biological organisms. 

We're all bound to obey what we call the Law of Perceived Convenience. When given the choice, we will always opt to do whatever our CNS perceives that is more convenient for us from a pain-pleasure perspective. Mastering your pain-pleasure mental associations is the ultimate key to a fulfilling life.  

23. The Big End

The universe may end at some point in time. There are various theories about how the universe could end. 

• The Big Freeze: universe continues expanding and cooling off until all energy is consumed leaving a cold and dark empty space. 

• The Big Crunch: Gravity reverses universe's expansion, collapsing the universe into a single point (singularity) from where another Big Bang could start all over again. 

• The Big Rip: Universe keeps expanding until it rips apart. 

• Vacuum Decay: A type of sequential collapse in quantum energy fields destroying the whole universe. 

24. Eternal Energy and Mortal Humans  

Energy is timeless and eternal. Energy is the capacity to do work--whatever that may be. Energy cannot be created or destroyed, and can only be transformed. This means that energy was not created at any point in time and will not be destroyed at any point in time. Energy will be transformed. As a bundle of energy, you will also be transformed. Sooner or later your current life form will die. What type of life do you want to live before you die? What would you like to accomplish in life? What will be your legacy?

25. The Wisdom of Pain Relief

Pain is the master creation of this universe so far. Everything that you want in this life is predicated on the notion of avoiding certain perceived pain be it classical "physical" pain, psychological pain (100% physical at the tiny scale of neurons and neurotransmitters), or a combination of both.

The universe is a creative matrix or what we call a "creatix". A matrix is a place or platform where things are created. To create is to transform. To transform is to combine or to separate components into different creations. The main method of creation is motion. The universe uses gravitational motion (gravity) to combine fundamental (indivisible) particles (energy bundles) into different forces that create different combinations and forms. Stars, planets, and cells (SPCs) are master creations of the universe. Pain is the ultimate creation. Pain is the source of biological intelligence. Intelligence is problem-solving ability. In trying to relieve pain, organisms develop intelligence (the ability to solve problems). 

Everything humans in life is trying to avoid perceived pain and trying to obtain pain relief. The trap is when we obtain too much pleasure because excessive pleasure breeds more pain. When you get high on pleasure, you fall into the lows of pain. The advanced approach is to obtain pain relief, stopping there without getting too high on pleasure. 

Life is pain. As soon as you are done taking a breath, thoracic pain forces you to take the next. 

We are the heirs of pain. As products of evolution and natural selection, we inherited the pain "wiring" that led our ancestors to survive. Whatever evolutionary adaptations and mutations helped our ancestors survive, survived in us via natural selection. For example, if evolution ever produced a group of living organisms that experienced pleasure from starvation and pain from feeding, that group got extinct enjoying their starvation. However, the group that evolved the opposite pain wiring (the group pained by hunger and pleased by food) got to survive, reproduce, and replicate their genes. We inherited the pain/pleasure wiring that helped our ancestors survive. 

Intelligent life is pain management. Wisdom in life is rewiring our pain associations to make them fit our objectives. This is an art that takes a lifetime to master. We are all born completely clueless into an incredibly complex and utterly complicated world. The complexity will always be there because biological evolution lacks smart design. The complications, however, can be tamed with education and organization. 

Stay tuned to learn more. The best is yet to come. 

Now you know it. 

Live well. Die better. Enjoy.

www.creatix.one