Is This Article a Coincidence?
Weird... you were just thinking about an odd coincidence, and suddenly an article pops up on LinkedIn about coincidences.
Or maybe not (if so, please keep reading anyway...)
I know it is a New Age sort of thing to say, but I don't believe in coincidences. Case in point: last week, a friend of mine mentioned that he is taking classes at Unplug Meditation in Los Angeles. This morning I was researching a story that had nothing to do with my friend or meditation, and I came upon a YouTube video that featured Suze Yalof Schwartz, the founder of Unplug. That's her at the top of this page.
This sort of thing happens to me all the time.
Long ago, I stopped trying to figure out why this is and developed a better strategy. When a coincidence happens, I pay attention.
In other words, I slow down, let the events sink in, and consider....
- What's special - or unique - about this?
- Is this a sign that I'm interested, unnerved, or perplexed?
- Could this help me solve a problem that's been holding me up?
- Do I know someone who could benefit from this information
Sometimes what just happened isn't a coincidence at all. Why is everyone at your company suddenly talking about metrics? Maybe your CEO gave a speech about metrics, but you missed it.
Sometimes you are just noticing things you have long been ignoring. When I was young and my parents bought a Volkswagen, suddenly I saw VWs everywhere. (They had always been there, I just never noticed before.)
Professor David Spiegelhalter of Cambridge University collects anecdotes about coincidences, and he produced this summary of the various categories people select when submitting coincidences to him:
My perspective is that either my subconscious or the Universe - or a guy named Herb - is trying to tell me something important. Now if the Universe takes a break from its busy day to point out a detail to me, who am I to say, "I'm too busy writing this Important memo. Go bother someone else."
Full disclosure: my goal in writing this article was not to share a lesson with you. I'm intrigued by this subject, and would love to hear about your experiences with coincidences. If you share something below, don't be surprised if I feature your contribution in a future article.
?Bruce Kasanoff helps a wide range of entrepreneurs and executives shape their best ideas for social media.
Mental Health Counsellor and Yoga Teacher.
8 年There are no such things as coincidences. This is called synchronicity. Our eyes are projectors of reality, they don't just absorb information from the outside.
product, concept, communication, company
8 年so you are saying: things happen, and of the things that happen (that you can take notice of) you pay more, or less attention to. wow, look at all reactions about god, need, james bond. Is this "ghostwriting"? as in not existing?
Occupational Therapist, Acupuncturist and Massage Therapist. I am innovative in delivering Your Full Health !
8 年I use signs, "coincidences" as guideposts toward my personal energy investment every single day. I had the insight some time ago that if what I'm pursuing isn't probable ( helping people get well, feel well, be well) then I require some kind of otherworldly type of support. So I even go so far as praying,( requesting guidance) and consulting the Tarot or Angel cards. This has reall
Retired Airline Captain, A320, American Airlines
8 年Most people experience the world in small instances. We actually live in a world of large numbers of instances, hence, the law of large numbers. Weird things can happen, such as 10 snake eyes in a row when you do a large number of throws. Recent experience also influences how we interpret our world around us. As someone else has said, you or someone you know bought a VW and now you notice them all over the place.
Data Engineer at Intelligent Medical Objects
8 年Happens to me too often no to tell the tale, actually.