The dictionary definitions of synchronicity and coincidence are the same: the occurrence of events which are significantly related but have no discernible causal connection.
So what’s the difference? The difference comes from your viewpoint. If you believe in taking things at face value, in just accepting that what’s in front of you is all that there is; then you believe in coincidence. If you believe that there is more to our lives than what we see and think; then you believe in synchronicity.
There were four women in my ‘A Conversation on Death & Dying’ class. Two of them were friends
and had come together, the rest of us were all meeting for the first time. One of the friends
confessed that she had just been diagnosed as bi-polar and was scared. On one hand now that there was a diagnosis, she could get help. On the other hand the diagnosis itself is scary. Then her
friend said that she was bi-polar and had been in treatment for years. Even though they were
long time friends and had been dealing with their mental health for years, neither of them had confided in the other. Then the third woman said that her husband was bi-polar. The fourth woman said that her adult child had moved back home after being diagnosed as bi-polar. My father was bi-polar.
The occasion of all of us coming together in this place and in this time, moved us deeply. Each of us brought a different perspective to dealing with being bi-polar and we were able to help the new comer to know that she wasn’t alone. When the class ended, what had started as a group of lonely fearful people had evolved into new friends hugging and sharing contact info.
Coincidence would dictate that these things just happen. That there is no rhyme or reason things just happen. Synchronicity would say that there is more to life than that, and that there is a reason that we were brought together.
Dead people say: There is so much out there that you don’t know. There is so much out there that we don’t know! But we do know this; nothing happens in a vacuum, all life is interconnected. When you can open your mind to this, it will change your heart.
You all were brought together for a higher purpose. It’s great that you all were able to be there for the newly diagnosed woman and for each other in general. I hope the friendship continues.
I do not believe in coincidence and have not most of my adult life. You ladies were there not by coincidence. We are not islands in this world for sure. Thank you for sharing.
I believe someone higher up planned that you all met to be there for each other. Hopefully your friendship will bond and you can help each other.
I am totally on the synchronicity side of the thought process. I have always believed there is a reason for everything. Some reasons are obvious and some are not. Some we can figure out with time and some we may not know until we reach heaven. I love your last statement ‘nothing happens in a vacuum, all life is interconnected.’ Thanks for sharing.