How often have you experienced coincidences in your life? Or are you a person who believes stuff just happens? I can’t say I land solidly on either side of the equation. I often am in awe of the seemingly unconnected pieces of information that comes together at about the right time for something I need to happen.
Sometimes it’s just people coming into your life at the right time. I’ve experienced that frequently over the last several months. Someone who just seemed to pop up and over time I get to know better only to discover that person is carrying knowledge that I can greatly benefit from.
Some wonderful friendship has developed out of coincidental meetings. So no matter how they happen, I’ll always be thankful for them.
Is it just coincidence or is it meant to be?
I don’t think we’ll ever know for sure. In the meantime, there has been a lot of discussion in scientific and religious circles. Scientists often argue that coincidences are nothing more than the laws of probability at play.
You meet enough people, you will make meaningful connections. Religious people will often argue that those coincidences are divine providence. That an all knowing creator will place you where you need to be at the right time.
Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung theorized that coincidences occur because of what he called “synchronicity” which he defined as a ‘casual connecting principle’. Many over the years have taken an interest in compiling accounts of coincidences like American Charles Hay Fort who compiled data on phenomena for which science could not account for.
He visited libraries in New York and London pouring over scientific journals, newspapers and magazines from which he collected notes on phenomena not explained well by the accepted theories and beliefs of the time. In a short story he had published he used his data collecting techniques to solve a mystery. He suggested that unrelated bits of information were actually related.
More than once over the years, Fort would get depressed and destroy his notes then would start over. Many believed that Fort took very few of his theories seriously. Although few had respect for his writing styles, they certainly found his collection of data of value.
Several well known science fiction writers have been influenced by that data and Fort’s ideas like Stephen King, Philip K. Dick and Robert Heinlein. So it seems some of our science fiction owes its existence to people being interested in coincidence.
Or is that just a coincidence?
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Posted from my blog with SteemPress : http://idesofmay.com/2018/10/15/coincidence-or-the-universe-at-play/
In Sanskrit, that universal play is referred to as Lila—divine play. I've seen it in action many a time, along with synchronicity. I know part of life comes from the choices we make, but there's a lot that I can't explain away by merely saying it's a coincidence. Great post!
just like you said on the show... perspective + open eyes!
I think these things are all around us. There are people who are aware (and then share!!!) which makes it seem like it always happens to them
and there are people who are unaware (and dont care) which makes it seems like it never happens to them hehehee
but so many cool things happen all around us! just need to have eyes to see :)
our mindset on how we view what we see with our eyes makes a difference too.
Oh so true... Mindset is critical. It affects everything!
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I once read about a comparison, which in my opinion is very useful in this case. The author of a book compared the universe to a large online shop. lol
And the search results in the shop to events that can happen in our real life.
For example if you were interested in office equipment, you will find similar or related items in the shop, next to or under the product characteristics. But that's not all. When you're surfing the web, you'll still see ads with office equipment. Because you have previously spent time and shown your attention to this type of products.
I believe that it is the same in real life too. For example, if you are working on a project and showing interest in it, the universe gives you related search results. These can be events, people, objects that are simply related to what you are doing. People often call it a coincidence, but in my opinion it is an attraction of things that we are generally interested in. But it's up to us whether we react to them and use them.
interesting analogy .. it could also be argued that the universe attracts those things to us to create the coincidence.
There are a lot of things we simply cannot explain. 'Science' tries to just dismiss anything it can't explain. The very definition of 'science' is to try to explain things but when many scientists don't know they dismiss, rather than just admit that it's something we don't know but can certainly learn more with time and perspective. I see it all too often. We can't explain everything right now but we can work at it and in the future we may be able to.
some scientists can be dismissive while others view the topic as something of interest to explore ... our ability to discover is limitless
I have experienced enough coincidence to feel like there is a connection between coincidence and focused thought.
Whether I was at a prayer camp, or activist direct action, when people have collective focus in a single direction there seems to be more coincidence.
With that said, Steemit seems to be a hotbed of coincidence.
There is a very old saying in German language, "Hilf Dir selbst dann hilft Dir Gott." (means, make the first step and god will help you with the next steps towards your goals/dreams/wishes) Well, I have my very own view on god, but what I truly believe is that it needs a sharp focus, persistence and that I have to make the first step, so that coincidence can bring some surprises into my life. If the focus is sharp, resonance will then bring most useful information, sometimes support into one's life. But the focus seems to me of huge importance.
Coincidence and Science Fiction, yes, oh how I love Philip K. Dick's writings. He had quite some knowledge and insights ... long time ago I watched a documentary feature about him, very impressive.
I think the concept of coincidence seems not to exist in the Japanese culture - the way we might know it. I somehow believe that "joss" how destiny is called in Japanese culture and "wa" (Japanese for harmony) go hand in hand. This combination of "joss" and "wa" points may be in a right direction ... in a way ...