The heart in the object

Introduction

Reminisce the occasions which stand out as significant moments of achievement: winning a sports day and receiving a medal; getting best in class for math homework; winning employee of the year at the annual work do. How much of this do you relate back to the token of achievement? Do you look at your medal and appreciate the gold plated edges, smooth finishings and how it hangs around your neck? No, you think back to the time you won the medal, the time you went up on stage with your peers and family jeering you on with pride. The award has now become secondary to the experience, merely a token to commemorate a specific moment in time. Everything is filtered through our own unique lens. To a family member, that medal may signify pride and a promise of good parenting, to friends that may evoke envy to achieve similar results. The subjectivity of each of our perspectives begs the question: what actually is definitive and how can this be quantified?

Objects as symbols

A person's view on objects are seemingly definitive but is in fact often based on the context they're applied to, creating a symbolism in ones heads. Our subconscious brain seems to overtake actuality such that seeing the tip of a dolphins fin in the sea can evoke feelings of sheer excitement and wonder yet visually there is nothing extraordinary about a barely visible creature which we already know inhabits the sea. The most joy we get from this experience is the story we tell ourselves and the meaning that comes from this picture. Humans are born storytellers and so by taking an object and wrapping it in a narrative creates a tangible idea of expression from otherwise innate matter. The amount of energy evoked from what could otherwise be deemed as menial is well depicted via the ice berg analogy; we only see the tip with 9/10ths being below the surface. What is in fact 'below the surface' can be translated in human terms as being our brain and our subconscious. Our bodies are the vehicles for the consciously contemplating and the stories we assign to that 1/10th are what separate each and every one of us. Therefore, why does everything need to make sense, why can't we make it make sense to ourselves through our narrative? That is the beauty of individuality, we can write and rewrite our own narrative with much more control over ourselves than we think.

Meaning of meanings

One of the strongest ways humans can elicit their individuality is through communication. Beneath everyday chatter, humans infuse much greater meaning into words than we may realise; as mentioned in the medal example, these meanings alter depending on the frame of reference. Take a gunman who shoots someone at long range killing the victim instantly with one attempt; for the gunman he made a 'great' shot given his accuracy but objectively the shot is not great because it has killed the victim. This provides a greater depth to meaning because as we know for one this is a good feeling and the other it is a tragedy. This is something that cannot be marked objectively but can only be coined from a certain standpoint. The meaning of meanings based on a standpoint is fascinating, highlighting the importance of multiple beings and perspectives in life as opposed to a singular frame of reference. In physical terms, this ties into Einstein’s theory of relativity and how wider parts of the universe such as space, time, gravity, and motion are interconnected.

Relativity

Relativity spans physics across all levels from observing quantum-like structures to observing the physical reality of moving objects. It all depends on a frame of reference, for someone standing on a moving train (whilst conscious of the ground moving beneath them due to the simultaneous rate their body moves in space with the train) they will report being physically stationary. However, from a third party perspective, it appears the person in question is accelerating away from them as they are observing the train grow more distant. Neither of these cognitive frames of reference are incorrect, instead both are valid based on the observers claiming to be moving at constant velocity and at rest, respectively. How much of this is based on gravity is another impacting factor yet despite this relativistic phenomena, physicists have developed a mathematical formalisation for consciousness to bridge the explanatory gap. Interesting how ideas on words, communication and individuality can help to facilitate an understanding of much wider earthly matters.

Conclusion

Ultimately, the meaning we derive from the world is shaped less by objective truths and more by personal narratives, emotional resonance and the unique angles from which we view life. Just as Einstein’s theory of relativity tells us that time and motion are not fixed, our interpretations of symbols, words and experiences shift based on our internal worlds. Whether it's a medal, a fleeting fin in the sea, or a conversation layered with subtext, meaning is never just about the object itself- it is about us. In recognising this, we reclaim the power to shape our own perspectives, redefine our stories, and navigate the world not through absolutes but through the beautifully subjective lens of being human.