Imagine you are a fish in a small fish bowl with the ability to think about life.  As a thinking fish, you have plenty of time to swim around and ponder your existence.

How is food dropped from above each day and why do bubbles exist? Why are you the only fish in the fish bowl?  Certainly, the distorted images from beyond the fish bowl would spark some major thoughts.

Developing a set of explanations about life in a fish bowl makes sense. Without the explanations, a fish might feel completely lost within a confusing environment.

Will the explanations always stay the same?

Imagine you are now the same fish in a small pond.  While some explanations remain valid, life in a pond can't be completely understood through the explanations developed in the fish bowl.  The explanation for why you were the only fish in existence might be shattered by the realization that many different species share the small pond. 

Creating and accepting new explanations could take many years and cause enormous confusion.

43: Mysteries of the universe

Human history is filled with explorations into the mysteries of who, what, and where we are. While many things have been discovered, countless mysteries remain.

Every time aspects of science are maintained, new discoveries push concepts further than previously imagined.

New discoveries provide us with the incomplete details of a universe in constant motion.  The universe appears to be expanding from every point in all directions.  If the universe is expanding, how do we know what the universe is expanding into?

42: Mysteries of energy in motion

Everything that exists on Earth and throughout the universe consists of energy in motion.  If energy can be found in everything that exists, then what is the energy and where did it come from?  Can the energy run out?  Why does the energy continue to change into diverse forms? Is energy capable of considering its own existence anywhere else in the universe?

The universe is a long way from our daily lives and perhaps we should focus on Earth.  Is it possible that we have figured out everything there is to know about life on planet Earth? Perhaps all of the mysteries have been solved. 

By focusing our attention on Earth, we still find countless mysteries.  We experience incredible change in our lives because of an infinite number of reasons.

41: Mysteries of the human mind

We know the human mind has great potential.  In ancient times, humans used the energy in fire for warmth.  Generations later, we use energy to transmit streams of information to distant locations.

Not only can we imagine wonderful advances in our ability to think, but our mind may also contain the power to perform functions never imagined.

As soon as we develop a calculated plan for how to live, an advancement of the human mind could make our plan seem absolutely ridiculous.  Imagine trying to plan the actions of a computer for the next fifty years without knowing how capable computers will be.

40: While everything changes, a closed mind is disadvantaged

With all of our scientific advances, we remain immature in our attempt to explain our momentary human existence and what we are to do with it.  Philosophy, religion, government, science and culture have all influenced our search for understanding and purpose in life, but none can promise the absolute elimination of every mystery. 

Thinking about life would be a waste of time if we could follow a perfectly calculated plan.  There would be no reason to think because we wouldn't be in control of our lives.  Maybe the realization that we can think about life is frightening because it gives us control.

While everything around us continues to change, a closed mind is disadvantaged. Our explanations will continue to change as each generation experiences new discoveries. We can look to others for guidance, but nobody can demand the total rejection of individual thought.

We all make the decisions that influence the course of our lives.

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