The Observer Effect and the Art of Loving and Creating Authentically

by Jennifer Rodriguez

A few weeks ago, I wandered into a bookstore, killing time while my kid worked on a project. No real agenda—just browsing for Christmas gifts—when I stumbled across watercolor markers and a Moleskine journal. It felt like a gift from the universe—a nudge to finally pick up painting again.

Later, as I dipped the markers into water and watched the colors bloom, I was transported back to childhood, painting outside at an easel my mom had gifted me, blissfully unaware of judgment. Now, with a wine glass in one hand and a brush in the other, it’s still chaotic, imperfect, and completely mine. Then and now, it’s not about the product—it’s about creating for the sake of creating, no audience required.

Which brings me to my point: A lot of you are miserable because you don’t make time for messy, unpolished creativity. Seriously, when was the last time you sat down with no pressure or expectations and just made something? Arts and crafts time—chaotic, deeply unproductive, and purely for the joy of it—should be a weekly ritual.

It’s not about the art itself; it’s about practicing how to exist without an audience. Whether it’s painting, dancing in your kitchen, or scribbling in a journal no one will read, the goal is to let go of the voice asking, “What will they think?” and rediscover the freedom of just being. Let that freedom spill into your everyday life.

We all have an innate awareness of how we’re perceived. It’s not a lack of confidence—we’re just hyper-aware. But what if we shifted our focus toward existing authentically, no matter how we’re being perceived?

I’ve been dipping my toes into quantum physics—*The Elegant Universe* by Brian Greene, to be exact. Apparently, I’m now the person who reads about superstrings instead of texting my ex. Growth. The subtitle alone—*Superstrings, Hidden Dimensions, and the Quest for the Ultimate Theory*—makes me feel both intrigued and over my head all at once. I’m nodding along like, “Sure, particles, do your thing.” But as I’m reading, it’s making me think about my own quest—not for some ultimate theory, but for just existing in this universe. For figuring out how I’d like to show up and actually doing that.

It’s like the observer effect in quantum physics. When something is observed, it behaves differently—like parallel parking while someone watches. We’re like a bunch of particles, constantly adjusting ourselves because we know we’re being watched. But what if you stepped out of that narrative and just existed, no filters?

This is where quantum entanglement comes into play. If we’re all energy, all connected, then when one person steps into their authentic self, it ripples out. We’re not isolated. When we show up as ourselves, it doesn’t just free us—it frees others. It’s magnetic, it’s contagious, and when more of us do it, the collective vibe shifts.

Centuries before modern physics, Democritus casually suggested that everything might be made of tiny building blocks—atoms—without a degree or a LinkedIn bio, just a hunch. If that raw thought could echo through time and shape how we understand reality, imagine the impact your unfiltered authenticity could have, right here and now.

If you’re shaping something to fit an imagined ideal, that’s not creating—it’s marketing. Creating for an audience means editing for approval, not for the joy of the process. And while that’s fine in some contexts, this is about discovering what feels true to you before anyone else gets a say.

We all want to belong and be understood, but how can anyone truly see you if you’re too busy performing a polished version of who you think you should be? Offering something real—unfiltered and honest—lets others connect with who you are. When you show up for yourself first, you’re better equipped to show up for others—and that’s the gift the world really needs.

Look, we all want to be liked. But here’s the thing: even if someone doesn’t love every part of the real you, they’ll still feel drawn to your authenticity. It’s magnetic—something people sense and respect, even if they don’t agree with all your quirks or opinions. There’s just something compelling about showing up as yourself.

Remember, wherever you are, you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.

Love, 

Jen