1. There are many more secrets left to be discovered
Interstellar showed us that there are many more things to discover in this world. There could be planets in another galaxy with different species. There could be an alternate universe where there are 72 hours in a day. Yet, we will never know until we look beyond what we know.
It's a challenge for us to think about the possibilities beyond the Earth we live in. It's a challenge for us to ask questions that go beyond what people tell us. And this is the beauty in life: there's always something left to discover; there are always new places to travel to, new people to meet, and new secrets to unlock. And why can't we be the ones to discover it?
2. The past is important in discovering secrets of the future
It's our ability to connect pieces of the past with the present that will allow us to unlock the future. Just like how Murf was able to use the Morse code from her dad's watch, we have to be observing every detail around us in order to truly understand what lies ahead of us.
It's when we're able to make these new connections that nobody else has made are we able to create breakthroughs and unleash our creativity. It's when we're able to use past research, past experiences, and past events that we are able to move forward. The secrets we're looking for may just lie in our past; we may just haven't searched hard enough.
3. "Whatever can happen, will happen" -- Murphy's Law
Murphy's law typically states that, "Anything that can go wrong will go wrong," but like Cooper said, "Murphy's law doesn't mean that something bad will happen. It means that whatever can happen, will happen." Perspective truly is powerful. We can choose to see things in a negative light or a positive light.
Bad things will happen in life, but good things will happen as well. We must understand that life is full of ups and downs, and that there will be certain things we can't control. It's this understanding that will help us step out of our comfort zone. Like the famous Steve Jobs said, "You're already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart." It's our decision to see every moment no matter how good or bad as a crucial part of our journey here on earth is what will allow us to live our life to the fullest.
4. Our human instinct of survival and willpower is stronger than we realize
It was Cooper's desire to get back to Earth, to see his kids that drove him to find a way to survive. It's our willpower as humans that allow us to achieve the impossible. It's our inner drive that allows us to overcome boundaries, and aim higher. Cooper's quote sums it perfectly:
"We've always defined ourselves by the ability to overcome the impossible. And we count these moments. These moments when we dare to aim higher, to break barriers, to reach for the stars, to make the unknown known. We count these moments as our proudest achievements. But we lost all that. Or perhaps we've just forgotten that we are still pioneers. And we've barely begun. And that our greatest accomplishments cannot be behind us, because our destiny lies above us."
5. It takes time to innovate, and discover and develop revolutionary technology
Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither was the iPhone. It takes time to get good at something. It takes time to create breakthroughs. It took Murph more than 50 years before truly solving the equation that Dr. Brand set out to solve. It took them solving thousands and thousands of equations, changing multiple variables each time.
This is what our scientists do; this is what we should be doing if we want to innovate and create new technologies. It doesn't matter how many trials it takes you; all that matters is getting it right just once. Don't ever give up; your next try might just make all the difference.
6. Love is powerful
Like Brand said, "Love is the one thing we're capable of perceiving that transcends time and space."
Interstellar was more than just a movie about space and discovery. It was a movie about love. It was a movie that showed everyone that love is still the most powerful thing in this world. Love is what allows us to go beyond our limits. It's when we do things out of love that we are able to create the most beautiful things on earth.
Think about it, when was the last time you did something out of love? I'm willing to bet that you made or did something that didn't only make you feel amazing but made others feel the same as well. It's when we do things out of love that we are able to reach further than we initially expected. It's when we do things out of love that we find true meaning in life.
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David Ongchoco is a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania majoring in LIFE. HIs interests range from education and journalism to technology and entrepreneurship. If you have any cool stories you to share, feel free to contact David at david.ongchoco@gmail.com. Also check out his personal blog www.davidongchoco.com.