Coincidence and Synchronicity

Edan wrote: Do you believe in synchronicity? Do you believe there are only concidences? Bit of both?

I started this on my wall but I think perhaps discussion might be better in a proper topic.

My own personal view.. I used to see synchronicity everywhere.. but now I think if you expect to see synchronicity, you will see synchronicity. So now I tend to assume coincidence.

If you always expect to see the number '33', you're going to see '33' and the number of events that have '33' associated with them is going to be large simply because of the number of things that happens in the world.

That said, I am not averse to the idea that things may be purposefully synchronistic, I just don't know how you would know either way. Although I did see something that seemed quite synchronistic this week.. so who knows.

Tough to say, tough to believe unless you experience it frequently. After something happens so many times I discount coincidence.

I do think our thoughts create and so some will say we find what we look for. I'll say there is no difference.

I think we can project our thoughts and they have influence on and make things happen.

If you believe we are all united by and a part of a living force why is it so hard to believe in synchronicity?

Our minds are desperate for patterns

Yes they are and that muddies things up a bit.

Rickie The Grey wrote: If you believe we are all united by and a part of a living force why is it so hard to believe in synchronicity?

Why must belief in the Force mean a belief in synchronicity?

Is it somewhere written that you have to belief in synchronicity to belief in the Force?

There is a difference between believing in synchronicity and observing that synchronicity occurs. The events at the end of WW1 were almost certainly connected in a meaningful way to the events which ended up beginning WW2. That is an observation that is not based on faith, on something otherworldly that I trust in to be true.

I do not believe in synchronicity, that is to I do not have faith in some otherworldly meaningfulness that connects disparate events together. There may be a reason why they are connected, but deaths from swimming pools are not related to the number of films Nicholas Cage appears in.

I think of it like Niel DeGrasse Tyson thinks of God and his "working in mysterious ways". That we always explain what we can and when we can't then that is just "God working in mysterious ways". It is basically a cop out from having to find some actual reason why something happened.

Similarly I do not believe that things are particularly connected in some otherworldly manner. Things are definitely connected, and very holistically so, but that can be perfect explained by science and ecology, it doesn't need some kind of belief or faith based reason for that.

It feels like trying to find a metaphysical explanation for something when it isn't needed.

That is my opinion at least.

Certainly if we have unkept habits they might produce patterns of coincidence. If other people were reacting to those habits then these might more easily carry some meaningful dialogue which could be experienced as organization/synchronicity.

I guess we'd reinforce a coincidence if it occurred at the same time with some nature of realization - cementing the learning as a lesson referenced through a series of past/present events and therefore somehow interrelated, and as a result feeling larger or more meaningful.

Perhaps synchronicity in this way is a means to categorize coincidental events into orders of coincidence. Awareness of them then at least gives the opportunity to reflect on why it might be coincidental and why you'd even notice to begin with. A useful tool for self reflection perhaps!!

Edit; though I do invite the possibility of it to be true, just because I cannot explain something doesn't mean I won't explore it with whatever tools I can gather.

Edan wrote:

Rickie The Grey wrote: If you believe we are all united by and a part of a living force why is it so hard to believe in synchronicity?

Why must belief in the Force mean a belief in synchronicity?

Must? Didn't say must but why not? Seems like a good connection to me. It feels right to me.

Aqua wrote: Is it somewhere written that you have to belief in synchronicity to belief in the Force?

Nope and I doubt it never will be. I have to say this again...you have to feel if it's right or not. that's all I got and that is what I work with. Everyone else....I don't know, it's up to them.

Rickie The Grey wrote:

Edan wrote:

Rickie The Grey wrote: If you believe we are all united by and a part of a living force why is it so hard to believe in synchronicity?

Why must belief in the Force mean a belief in synchronicity?

Must? Didn't say must but why not? Seems like a good connection to me. It feels right to me.

It sounded to me as if you were questioning my belief.. but maybe not.
Indeed, we have to go with what feels right.

Just came across this article: http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/7008674

Nice introduction to synchronicity - perhaps a bit too esoteric in part but overall worth reading.

Cyan

Adder wrote: Perhaps synchronicity in this way is a means to categorize coincidental events into orders of coincidence. Awareness of them then at least gives the opportunity to reflect on why it might be coincidental and why you'd even notice to begin with. A useful tool for self reflection perhaps!!

Well stated, Adder! This is a big part of how I utilize synchronicity in my own life.

I respect all opinions on the topic, though I don't typically concern myself with the legitimacy or reality of synchronicity. Whatever the truth of matter, it's real and beneficial to me, and has been an effective and useful tool over the years.