Let’s talk about Schrodinger’s cat. What is it? What does it mean? And how can a cat in a box possibly apply to your life?

What is Schrodinger’s cat?

Schrodinger’s cat is a thought experiment cooked up by Austrian physicist Erwin Schrödinger in 1935. He designed it to point out a flaw in the Copenhagen interpretation of superposition in quantum theory.

WHAT?

Let’s back up.

Here’s an (admittedly super oversimplified, apologies to all my physicist friends, but it’s the broad idea I’m getting at here) explanation.

Picture this. You take a cat. Put it in a box with some poison. Then seal the box.

Now, is the cat alive…or dead?

According to this theory, ALL possibilities exist in a physical system UNTIL they’re observed (because observation causes the system to collapse and forces the object into one of the possible states).

That means that, theoretically, the cat is BOTH alive AND dead at the same time. And we won’t know until we open the box and observe the results.

(Little known fact: Schrödinger actually disagreed with the Copenhagen interpretation of the law, and designed this experiment to show he thought the idea was preposterous.)

Regardless, it’s an excellent illustration of how this theory of quantum mechanics works.

So, let’s get practical: How can you apply this kind of thinking to your life?

Meditation exercise to have a more open mind

Think of an important situation in your life right now.

Now, close your eyes. Focus on your breathing until your heart rate slows and steadies.

ASK:

Have I already decided the outcome of this situation?

What other possibilities exist? Explore them: the good, the bad, the unlikely, the preposterous.

Is there an outcome that would be more desirable to you?

What can you do to break out of your conventional thinking and make it happen?

And then? Listen.

When you’re done, write down any thoughts or impressions you had during your meditation.

Reflect on them over the next few days. Begin to formulate a plan to help address the situation in a fresh way.

Explore more meditation exercises

Try this meditation to explore your personal power more.