Carl Jung introduced the concept of synchronicity – meaningful coincidences and events. He theorized all people, animals, plants and inanimate objects were linked through a collective unconscious – which shows itself in synchronicities. They reflect an inner state that links to an outer event that is meaningful to the participant.
He defined three types:
(1) Coincidence between mental content and an outer event (I was just thinking of —- and s/he called)
(2) A dream or vision of an event taking place at a distance – which is later verified
(3) A dream, vision or premonition about a future event – which then happens
Current definitions expand this to meaningful coincidences – such as:
* standing in line beside a stranger who can answer your question
* walking out of your house the same time a friend drives by who stops to say something you need to hear
* randomly opening a book and landing on a page with a “message” for you (I do this a lot intentionally)
REFLECT:
Do you recognize the synchronicities – meaningful coincidences in your life?
If so, which of these is / are most common for you?
For me, synchronicities are common, but nonetheless wondrous. They provide guidance and meaning for me, and I am grateful. ALL of my major careers began with a synchronicity. ALL of my homes came to me through synchronicities. Nearly ALL of the resources I use for these blogs appear via synchronicities and guidances.
Stories about synchronicities are FUN – like an affirmation of Spirit – and I enjoy learning about them.
Recently, I went for an eye exam. Striking up a conversation with my “tech”, Julia, I asked how long she had been doing this and how she got into it. And she told me a synchronicity story! She had never considered the field, but one day at lunch, her friend announced she had quit her job that morning, and urged Julia to apply. Julia applied, got the job, and LOVES what she does. That was 14 years ago. Today, Julia is one of only 1500 people in the US to have earned her high level certification. Synchronicity at its best!
Elliot Aranson’s synchronicity story is both interesting and meaningful – on a global scale. Beaten up at 9 because of his Jewish heritage, he wondered why he was hated, and if he wasn’t hated so much, would other Jews be accepted more? He had no idea these were social psychology questions. He moved on with his life and majored in economics in college.
While having coffee with a girl that interested him, she said she had to leave for class. To extend their time together, he offered to walk her to class, which he learned was in a large lecture hall. He decided to try to slip in, sit in the back with his girl, and hold her hand during class, which he did.
The lecturer was Abraham Maslow, creator of the theory of the Hierarchy of Needs. And that day, he was lecturing on the psychology of prejudice. Aranson became so involved he dropped his girl’s hand to take notes. Realizing there was an entire science devoted to exploring the kinds of questions that had intrigued him as a bullied child, he immediately changed majors to work with Maslow.
I wonder if he knew he had found his life’s purpose – through synchronicity?
An award winner for research in behavioral science, Aronson has been cited as the scientist who “fundamentally changed the way we look at everyday life”.
He is the only person to have won all three of the major awards from the American Psychological Association: for writing, teaching and research.
He invented the Jigsaw classroom, a cooperative teaching approach to facilitate learning while reducing interethnic hostility and prejudice.
He carried out experiments on the theory of cognitive dissonance.
He wrote the textbook, The Social Animal, stating his First Law: People who do crazy things are not necessarily crazy – asserting the importance of situational factors in bizarre behavior.
APPLY:
Look for synchronicities in your life.
Talk about them with others.
Ask others about synchronicities in their lives.
