Science 🤓

At some point in our journey to improve our lives, many of us decide to take matters into our own hands. This often involves diving headfirst into research—whether it’s about nutrition, psychotherapy, physiotherapy, or even understanding how our medications work. Along the way, we’re bombarded with a torrent of information from books, websites, social media, and even the news.

For many, science becomes a kind of guiding compass through this overwhelming "jungle" of information. We’ve been taught to believe that if something is backed by science, it must be true, reliable, and the "right" path to follow. It’s comforting to think that science can help us distinguish between right and wrong. But the reality is more complex and layered than this, and to navigate it, we must first understand what science truly is—and what it isn’t.

Science as "Truth"? Not Quite

The public perception of science has been heavily shaped by media, social networks, and even political rhetoric. More often than not, science is presented as synonymous with truth. Anything bearing the "scientifically approved" label is treated as irrefutable and beyond question.

This oversimplification has created a culture where people often invoke science as a definitive authority—a kind of "trust the science" mantra used to support their opinions or dismiss opposing views. For instance, I often read reviews of health and wellness books where someone critiques the content for not being "scientific enough." It’s as if the worth of information is now judged solely by how well it aligns with a vaguely defined standard of scientific credibility.

But this raises an important question: do these critics actually understand what science entails? When they demand "scientific evidence," do they mean the number of citations, the reputation of the authors, or something else entirely? Do they have any intention to study these references? Are they genuinely interested in science, or simply too afraid to trust anything that doesn't come with a scientifically approved label? When I read these reviews, I sometimes suspect it was written by someone who doesn’t know the first thing about scientific theory.

Science Isn’t…

It’s crucial to understand that science doesn’t deliver instant truths. A single study—or even a series of studies—rarely provides the full picture of any given subject. Not all scientific methods are created equal: a simple questionnaire won’t yield insights as reliable as those from a controlled, double-blind laboratory experiment.

In a controlled experiment, researchers manipulate one factor (called a variable) while keeping everything else the same in order to assure that results can be attributed to this one factor alone. Ideally. For instance, to test if fertiliser affects plant growth, researchers give one group of plants fertiliser and another group none, while keeping factors like sunlight, water, and soil the same for both groups. This way, any difference in growth can be attributed to the fertiliser.
A double-blind experiment means that neither the participants nor the researchers know who is in the control group and who is in the experimental group. This reduces subjective opinions that could influence the results. For example, if a researcher knows who is receiving the actual treatment, they might unintentionally influence how they interpret the results.

These methods are important because they help ensure the findings are as objective and reliable as possible. This is a very simplified explanation of scientific theory. However, there are many factors in a study that can introduce errors. Results from any study may not yield straightfoward conclusions. All this has to be considered for further analysis of a study.

When it comes to human sciences, most studies reveal trends and patterns rather than definitive answers. Scientific progress is a collective and long-term endeavour. A single study is like one piece of a much larger puzzle. Building a theory requires many studies, rigorous peer review, and ongoing questioning. Even then, what we know is never the full truth—it’s a snapshot of our best understanding at that moment.

Do Your Science Homework

If you want to use science as a yardstick for quality, you must be willing to learn how it works. This means developing critical thinking skills, understanding the scientific method, and—most importantly—reading studies yourself. Simply quoting science without engaging with it is no better than blindly trusting an authority figure.

Science is for the curious, for those who question, and for those who test boundaries. It’s for people who seek to confirm—or challenge—current paradigms. And it’s not just for scientists in labs; anyone can adopt a scientific mindset with that right effort.

SCience Plus Intuition

Why am I even lecturing you here? Because the way we treat science matters. Too often, we mistake it for a seal of approval, a shortcut to certainty. But science doesn’t confirm reality—it explores it. It’s a tool, not a verdict.

We’re still learning. We haven’t decoded the mysteries of human life, and we may never do so completely. But that’s not a reason to stop trying—or to stop listening to our intuition. Life is a challenge we’re meant to tackle ourselves, not something to outsource entirely to science.

In wellness and healing, intuition plays a crucial role. While science can offer us valuable insights into what might work for us—based on trends and patterns—intuition draws from our lived experiences, emotions, and deep inner knowing. Intuition can guide us when scientific answers are incomplete, unclear, or even contradictory. It’s a different kind of knowledge—one that often feels right, even when it can't be fully explained by scientific data. It’s the quiet voice that tells you when something feels right for your body or mind, or when an approach doesn't resonate, no matter what the studies say.

After all, what is science for if not to enhance the quality of human life? While it’s tempting to look for supposedly scientifically approved answers to every question, we mustn’t abdicate personal responsibility.

Science is a powerful tool, and its results can improve our lives in incredible ways. However, we must remind ourselves that we are not immortal. We don’t have the time to wait for science to give us all the answers to life we need. And why would we? We were granted a lifetime to also figure life out ourselves.