Physics, Love, and Money

Life Lessons from a Wave Equation

Brandeis University’s “Waves and Oscillations” wasn’t your typical advanced physics class. It was an immersion into the mathematical language of the universe, a first-principles exploration of the equations that govern everything from the smallest subatomic particles to the grand symphony of the cosmos — all described as waves and oscillations.

If I could go back in time, I’d hit those books a lot harder because this course was a revelation. It wasn’t just about abstract formulas; it was about understanding the fundamental rhythms that underpin reality, particularly the concept that energy itself is manifest as waves and oscillations.

We didn’t just memorize Heisenberg’s Uncertainty Principle; we derived it. We painstakingly unraveled wave equations to arrive at this profound truth: the more precisely we know a particle’s position, the less precisely we can know its momentum (direction). It was a triumph of mathematics, a testament to the power of wave equations to illuminate the mysteries of nature.

The wave equations we studied were like magic — a secret key to predicting everything. They described both the limits of what we can objectively “know” and hinted at the power of our perspective to shape our limited experience of reality.

Through this lens of waves and oscillations, even seemingly solid matter dissolved into a dance of oscillating electrons, revealing the vast emptiness that lies beneath the surface of our everyday. Nothing material in matter beyond waves and oscillations of tiny particles in a vast empty space.

In the nearly thirty years since that course, this insight has permeated my entire worldview. I calculate the period and amplitude of my marriage: an up-and-down ride on an ocean of judgment and love. My relationship with myself is equally fluid.

I see oscillations in finance and politics. On particular mantra has served me well: don’t fight natural waves and oscillations.

These are not just metaphors, but reflections of the fundamental energy patterns that shape our world. Being down isn’t good or bad; it’s just down.

Life may be little more than navigating an infinite layered reality of waves and oscillations. At its simplest, this means understanding that whatever is going on will pass and will return again. It sounds trite, yet it’s quite powerful as a guide once you start actually calculating values of periodicity.

Becoming familiar with oscillations requires a shift in perspective. It means stepping back from the immediacy of emotions and circumstances, adopting the viewpoint of a detached observer who is looking for larger patterns.

To effectively sail these life waves, I estimate the amplitude and frequency of my moods. A familiar cycle. When down, I can predict when I can expect to be back up. When I’m up, the higher I go, the farther I’ll have to come down. Too often, my tendency is to resist the downs and hold onto the ups, which has the opposite effect. When I see them without judgment, there’s comfort in knowing that this too shall pass.

I try to avoid major decisions while at an extreme. If I can, I delay action, becoming familiar with the period of the underlying wave first. This has greatly increased the effectiveness of my deliberations.

A patient study of cycles has served me well. I’ve made more money with my savings than I did as a public school principal. Today, I focus on philanthropy without working a day job at all. Traders want to buy at the peak of the wave and sell when the price is at a cyclical low. The physics of waves and oscillations are in effect! It feels like I buy higher than I might wish for and sell when everyone else fears missing out on continued gains. Great patience in volatile times comes from observing the cycle beyond short-term fear and greed. Euphoria and depression are peaks of momentum (velocity); meanwhile, I’m looking at acceleration, which peaks first and thus can be predictive.

Waves and oscillations suggest that if I pass on one cycle, opportunity will return: non-action proves more profitable than rash active management. When finally in a phase of great success, I can’t help but see destruction lurking, reminding me to be humble for my good fortune.

In my marriage, when my wife and I are at each other’s throats, I remember that I don’t want to lose her because I’ve reminded myself of that over and over with each wave. I’m focused on the cyclical nature of our relationship, and I have abundant evidence that within two weeks, the cycle will play out, and I’ll be falling in love harder than ever. Eighteen years and counting. We sometimes find dark humor now in our judgmental and angry periods because we can accept it as part of what a working relationship looks like. It’s not bad or wrong; it’s just a little mean, selfish, pessimistic and scared.

At best, we may resonate with or dampen some waves. But be careful what you wish for when trying to manipulate cyclical behavior. Waves can quickly spin out of control or flatline as energy transfers between its various forms. The interaction of all the different waves results in a complexity that can only offer probabilistic predictions. Nature owes us nothing and will introduce volatility to remind us of her overlapping waves and oscillations. Trying to fight natures curves is futile. The best we can do is notice them from some distance, estimating the period of the wave to buffer our narrow momentary experience.

Ultimately, this course taught me that the universe operates according to a set of mathematical principles, principles that can be deciphered through the study of waves and oscillations as manifestations of energy. By embracing the inherent oscillations of life, we can navigate its ups and downs with greater grace and resilience, riding the wave toward a deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us.