Synchronicity: The science of meaningful coincidences
When was the last time you thought about someone, only for them to call you moments later? Or had the precise amount of money you needed appear in your bank account, just in time? Or saw someone pulling out of the exact parking spot you wanted in a street where no parking had been available?
These moments can feel like cosmic winks—tiny reminders that life might be more interconnected than we think. Either that or the universe is running some elaborate prank show, and we’re all unwitting contestants. (Yes, I am a conspiracist!)
Carl Jung called this phenomenon synchronicity—meaningful coincidences that defy logical explanation. In fact, he even invented the word synchronicity. Presumably, before that, people just had to sit around awkwardly saying, “Wow, what are the odds?” or “That’s weird…”
So, if nothing else, we can thank Jung for giving us a fancy term to make our strange experiences sound profound rather than just spooky.
Unlike random chance, these events hold personal significance, often appearing when we need guidance, reassurance, or a nudge in the right direction (or a kick up the bum, if you’re particularly stubborn).
The Science behind the magic: Pattern recognition and the brain
Our brains are wired to find meaning in patterns. This is an evolutionary survival mechanism. For example, spotting a rustling bush might have indicated a potential predator, rather than just the wind, and kept our ancestors from a premature death.
In modern times, our brains still seek out connections, even when they aren’t immediately obvious. (This might also explain why your friend insists Mercury in retrograde is the reason her WiFi keeps dropping out.)
The Reticular Activating System (RAS), a network of neurons in the brainstem, acts as a filter for information. It highlights what’s relevant to us and ignores the rest. I’ve written about the RAS in many other posts. Here’s one.
It’s the reason that, after deciding to buy a red car, you suddenly see them everywhere. Your RAS selectively tunes into what’s important to you. It’s basically your brain’s personal assistant—minus the hefty salary and coffee addiction.
So, is synchronicity real, or are we just excellent pattern-matchers?
Perhaps both. Quantum physics suggests that at a fundamental level, everything is interconnected. The observer effect, where merely observing a particle changes its behaviour, hints that consciousness plays a more significant role in reality than we might realise. If that doesn’t make your brain do back flips, I don’t know what will.
When synchronicity gives you personal proof
Sceptical? I was too—until synchronicity kept showing up in my life in ways I couldn’t ignore.
Take, for example, the time I was contemplating a major career change but didn’t really know what I wanted. At the same time, I realised I needed a bigger car for carting my two Bearded Collies to dog obedience competitions.
But, having gone through a recent divorce, I had no way of magicking up the money for another vehicle, especially when magicking up money for some furniture would have been the top priority. Then, an unexpected opportunity arose that provided exactly what I needed at just the right time—a career change AND a new car!
I wrote about this uncanny turn of events in Unlocking Success: The Mind-Bending Approach.
Or how about the time I won a $1000 travel voucher—just before heading overseas for three months? Some might call it luck; I call it a perfectly timed cosmic alignment. Maybe that’s all luck really is? The universe was practically packing my suitcase for me.
But the most jaw-dropping, reality-bending, ‘did that seriously just happen?’ moment? That one was so bizarre, I half expected a glitch in the Matrix. I won’t spill the cosmic beans here—head over to my other website and see how high your eyebrows lift! Go read it here.
How to cultivate synchronicity in your own life
If synchronicity is a blend of science and the mysterious workings of the universe, how can we invite more of it into our lives?
1. Set an intention
What are you focusing on? Your RAS will filter the world based on what’s important to you. Get clear on what you want—whether it’s a new job, an opportunity, or guidance—and watch for signs.
But be specific. Saying “I want more money” and then finding a fifty-cent coin on the footpath probably isn’t the windfall you were hoping for. So how much do you want?
2. Pay attention to small synchronicities
Notice when you think of someone and they message you, or when a solution pops up just when you need it. Start with small things—like thinking about butterflies and then spotting one. The more you acknowledge synchronicities, the more they seem to happen. Or maybe you’re the butterfly whisperer.
3. Use NLP techniques to reinforce awareness
Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP) teaches us that our beliefs shape our reality. Focus on what you want, believe that meaningful coincidences will show up, and keep an open mind to patterns you might have previously dismissed. If all else fails, try saying “Universe, I’m open for business!” and see what happens.
4. Journal your experiences
Writing down synchronicities helps you spot patterns over time. That ‘random’ meeting, perfectly timed opportunity, or recurring symbol might have more significance than you initially thought.
Plus, it gives you something to look back on and marvel at—like a detective piecing together clues to an incalculable mystery. Sometimes you can connect the dots of synchronicities going back months or even years.
5. Suspend scepticism and experiment
I completely understand if you’re sceptical. But instead of dismissing synchronicity outright, why not treat it as an experiment? Open your eyes, look for meaningful patterns, and see what happens. Worst-case scenario? You become slightly more observant. Best-case scenario? You unlock a hidden superpower.
6. Put synchronicity to the test with the E-Squared experiment
If you really want to test synchronicity in action, Pam Grout’s #1 New York Times bestselling book E-Squared (affiliate link*) offers nine fun, science-based experiments to prove that our thoughts create our reality. Think of it as a DIY guide to manifesting synchronicity.
One of the exercises, the ‘Volkswagen Jetta Principle,’ challenges you to focus on a specific object—say, yellow butterflies or red feathers—and count how many times it appears over the next 48 hours. The results can be astonishing! (Or at the very least, a fun way to convince yourself that the universe is listening.)
E-Squared is a great way to bridge the gap between sceptics and believers, as it encourages a playful, open-minded approach to testing these ideas. And who doesn’t love a good science experiment—especially one that involves magic-level serendipity?
A dance between science and mystery
Whether you see synchronicity as your brain’s way of making sense of the world or as evidence of a deeper, unseen connection, one thing is clear—it makes life a lot more interesting. Paying attention to meaningful coincidences can offer reassurance, guidance, and even a few good laughs along the way.
So, the next time the universe sends you a nudge, will you notice it? Or, better yet, will you act on it?
What’s the wildest synchronicity you’ve ever experienced?
Let’s share some stories in the comments!
Returning to NZ after 3 years in England/Europe I wanted to catch up with my family. Staying in a small town with my sister, I decided to visit a local A &P show. I’d been thinking I must catch up with my brother who was recently married, while having a beer in the beer tent I get this strong urge to go outside. While standing there wondering why I get this boot in the butt, turning around there stood my bro and his new wife….
Wow Jo! That is a really powerful salute to synchronicity! It always amazes me when I experience it, and yet I also expect it! Your story just goes to show how thinking about something consistently and then paying attention to the ‘nudges’ from the universe produces magic! Amazing and far beyond mere ‘coincidence’. Thanks so much for sharing.
After months of putting off searching out a copy of Carl Jung’s book on the formulation of his ideas, Liber Novis, I had just purchased a laptop at Best Buy. Then I saw the shopping center had a Barnes & Nobles bookstore nearby. Knowing I didn’t need any more books, I knew it had a coffee shop. So on a whim, I drove to their parking lot, parked, and shut off the engine.
Checking my wallet, I saw I had no cash (I don’t like using my debit card for minor purchases), so I restarted my car and pulled back out. But something drew me, so I turned around and parked again and went inside. Not having anything in particular in mind, I thought for a moment and then asked if they had a copy of Jung’s book Liber Novis, and the clerk began checking the computer inventory. She then told me they had just received one (1) copy that morning, and it was on a pallet in the receiving room, and she went to unpack it when I requested that she do so.
After about 15 minutes, she finally came out with a book wrapped in cellophane, it was bound in red leather with gilding on the page edges, with a red ribbon page holder, as in nicely bound Bibles. I asked how much it was, and she said $45! I thought that’s a lot to pay for a book. Then realized I had had a synchronicity with Carl Jung himself, so even at that price, I must purchase this book as a memento of this synchronicity. I began reading it and got through the Introduction after several weeks.
He had required his book not be published until 60 years after his death, because what he wrote was so unsettling to how we imagine our psyche understands the world. I believe my purchase of his book is a proof of his ideas. I have since packed all my books and moved, and his book is still in a box awaiting my rediscovery of it. I believe Liber Novis will appear again when I’m not looking for it.
Wow! That’s a great example of synchronicity — and from the man who invented the word! And good on you for trusting your gut and turning around. I’ll have to add Liber Novis to my reading list. Thanks for sharing, Michael.