Are certain events and circumstances in your life signs from the universe or coincidence? When you desperately want a sign your mind can play all sorts of tricks on you.
A coincidence is a remarkable series of events or circumstances in your life that has no direct (explainable) connection between each other yet it is meaningful to you.
When some sort of coincidence happens in your life you usually think “what are the chances of that happening”. This is because coincidences break statistical significance.
The chances of events and circumstances lining up so perfectly for something to happen in a certain way is too far off the charts for any scientific or rational explanation.
The probability of a certain set of circumstances coming together in a meaningful (or tragic) way is so low that it simply cannot be considered mere coincidence.
– V.C. King
In our everyday language, the term coincidence is generally used for random events that we generally consider accidental.
This leads us to the big question which is this: do we live in a universe where there are random events or do we live in a universe where there are no accidents; where everything happens by design and where there are no accidents.
This is largely a matter of belief but science is increasingly leaning towards the fact that there are no random events in the universe. Everything affects everything else and everything is perfectly synchronized.
Scientists are slowly waking up to an inconvenient truth – the universe looks suspiciously like a fix. The issue concerns the very laws of nature themselves. For 40 years, physicists and cosmologists have been quietly collecting examples of all too convenient “coincidences” and special features in the underlying laws of the universe that seem to be necessary in order for life, and hence conscious beings, to exist.
– Paul Davies
Does this mean that everything in your life is meaningful? What about the 99% of events and circumstances that are just everyday random occurrences?
In his book the Way of The Peaceful Warrior, Dan Millman highlights the fact that “there are no ordinary moments”. It all boils down to your perception and your presence in the moment.
These ideas are echoed in Eckhart Tolle’s A New Earth where he explores the significance of consciousness and awareness to awaken to what is really going on in your life and in life as a whole.
Are Coincidences Really Coincidences?
Are coincidences really coincidences or does it have meaning, relevance and significance? What are random and meaningless events and what are true coincidences that have meaning?
Are some events just accidental or serendipitous?
The distinguished psychiatrist Carl Jung developed a concept called synchronicity to explain this phenomena of meaningful coincidences.
Synchronicities are meaningful (to you) coincidences that occur in your life when improbable events happen at the perfect time (synchronized). Statistically, it is impossible yet it happens perfectly.
In mathematics, we use the term coincide when things match perfectly yet in life we have come to use the term for things that are deemed accidental or haphazard.
If you believe that you live in a perfect universe where there are no accidents then there are no “coincidences” – only synchronicities.
Looking back at your own life you can see how some of the “worst” things that happened to you were in fact your greatest blessings. What appeared to be an accident at the time was actually concealing something much bigger.
Coincidence is God’s way of remaining anonymous.
– Albert Einstein
The problem with synchronicity is when the mind gets too involved. When you start seeing things that are not really there or you start interpreting things in a way to inform your own bias.
How To Distinguish Signs From The Universe and Coincidences
To distinguish if events are signs from the universe or a coincidence we need to understand what scientists call apophenia.
This often occurs when scientists do experiments and “want” to see certain things. This perceptual bias causes them to see things in a way that leads to a result that they are looking for.
They see patterns and make connections between random and unrelated things in order to satisfy what they want to see.
Many critics see synchronicity as a form of apophenia. They see it as a way of finding false patterns in meaningless events. When you experience synchronicities however, it tends to be undeniable as a deeply personal experience.
Synchronicities are signs from the universe. It happens when you are “tuned in” and connected to a higher part of your being and you perceive life beyond the mere physical and mundane.
So, how do you know then if something is a sign from the universe or just a figment of your imagination – or worse still, an apophenia.
How To Distinguish Signs From The Universe or Coincidences
If some events and circumstances are meaningful synchronicities and others are mere everyday events with no real meaning, how do you know?
How do you know if it is a synchronicity or something that you made up or something that you are desperate to see a sign for?
Here are 7 tips to help you distinguish between signs from the universe or a coincidence; a mere haphazard event with no real meaning:
1. Is it meaningful to you?
Random events and circumstances are considered synchronicity because it has meaning to you. It relates to your life, to your intentions and most often it offers instant insights or answers to questions you had on your mind.
The awareness of a synchronicity often reveals its meaning in and of itself. It is meaningful to you because you understand what it conveys.
Sometimes strange synchronicities happen and the meaning is not immediately evident yet you know that it has significance to you.
In this case, you can ask your higher self, what does this mean?
2. Is it joyful?
Synchronicities are almost always a joyful experience. Sometimes it is joyful in the moment as you recognize the magical moment unfolding.
Sometimes the joy only comes after the fact as you join the dots and “see” more clearly.
If the experience is painful or causes you stress or anxiety then it is most likely not a synchronicity.
3. Intuition and higher consciousness
Your higher self recognizes synchronicities and you and only you will know but you will only know if you are living in a higher state of consciousness.
Raising your vibration and living a more conscious life will help you “tune in” to synchronicities. Most people fail to see the most obvious signs in their lives simply because they are not aware.
Having some sort of spiritual practice in your life is important to help you see beyond the mere physical animalistic routines of daily life.
Meditation, prayer or time for quiet reflection helps you to settle down the chatter in your mind and helps you to make conscious contact with your higher Self.
It is your higher Self that allows you to recognize synchronicities in your life.
4. Have clear intentions in your life
If you have clear intentions about what you want to attract and manifest in your life you start connecting to the universe in a more deliberate way.
When you have clear intentions the universe will start assisting you through the law of attraction. Synchronicities will show up and start guiding you.
Synchronicities will start to leave breadcrumbs for you to follow, help you make important decisions and assist you in every way possible to manifest your intentions.
With vague or no intentions, synchronicities will have no meaning. Do not be afraid to ask the universe for signs and for guidance.
5. Have an open mind that is attached to nothing
Synchronicities almost always show up unexpectedly. If you are looking for a sign around every corner and in every person you meet then you will start to fabricate your own signs and attach meaning to everything.
This is not synchronicity.
When a synchronistic event happens it almost always takes you by surprise.
There is almost always that instant recognition that it is a synchronicity. Louise Hay calles this instant recognition an “inner ding” – which refers to that ahh-ha moment where you almost hear a “ding ding” announcement in your head.
To truly allow synchronicities to occur in your life you have to have a mind that is open to everything and attached to nothing.
If you are attached to seeing certain signs you will make stuff up. If you are not open minded then a synchronicity can hit you with a 10 ton truck and you still will see it as a random event.
6. Awareness, Mindfulness and Living In The Moment
A big challenge in our modern world is to practice mindfulness and living in the moment. We are so conditioned to live for some future “place” where X, Y and Z are fixed or finished or better.
When your mind is fixated on some artificial future you miss the magic of life. Life is what happens here and now.
When you are fully present and practice mindfulness then you are not only open to synchronicities but you are able to see them and truly understand them.
7. Trust
Trusting in something bigger than yourself is the foundation of spirituality. Without this trust in something or someone Higher we fail to see and significant meaning in life.
When you trust in God then you also trust that you are guided; that someone is looking out for you and that someone has your back.
When you truly trust then you can let go and let God. When you can surrender then you are open and receptive to guidance.
Trust that you have Divine guidance available to you at all times.
What Does It Mean To See Synchronicities?
Synchronicities are some of the best ways to distinguish between signs from the universe or coincidence.
Synchronicities are mostly there to help guide us through life. These signs are not superficial signposts to direct us to a comfortable path of least resistance.
Instead, these are signs that will guide you along your soul’s journey. This is often very different to the life you have planned for yourself.
Ultimately you are a spiritual being having a human experience. Your human experience is one that is designed to fulfill the purpose of your soul – not the other way round (which is how most people live their lives).
The coincidences or little miracles that happen every day of your life are hints that the universe has much bigger plans for you than you ever dreamed of for yourself.
– Deepak Chopra
Synchronicities often also occur through the law of attraction. When you are vibrationally aligned to something, synchronicity will guide you and place what you are in vibration with along your life path.
Carl Jung also defined synchronicity as something that happens through intuition. This explains why we often have hunches or are able to predict certain events before they happen.
This so-called psychic ability is not some new-age gift that some people are born with but rather an intuitive faculty of the subconscious mind that can be developed.
Are Coincidences Signs From God?
These coincidences or synchronicities can show up in our lives in many different ways. They are signs from God or the universe and are there to help guide and direct your life towards your highest ideals.
We are only just beginning to peer into the vastness of the world we can not see. Quantum physics has laid the groundwork for understanding how the invisible world creates the visible world.
Just because we can not see or calculate the link between synchronistic events does not mean there is none.
There is an invisible string that connects everything and in a perfectly orchestrated universe there are no random events.
Synchronicities usually show up as signs. Here are some of the most common signs:
- You think of something and shortly after thinking about it, it shows up.
- You dream of someone or something and the next day you run into them or it.
- You see numbers repeat over and over again (such as 11 11 or 333 etc.)
- You are in the right place at the right time
- You see certain symbols repeat everywhere – like a love heart or a spiral etc.
- You hear a certain message repeat everywhere (TV, conversations, newspaper etc).
One thing to guard against are superstitions. These are usually pre-assigned meanings to certain symbols.
Ultimately the meaning and the message of any synchronicity is personal and unique to you.
When you start mixing superstition with synchronicity you concoct a dangerous soup that can lead you down a path of anxiety and even paranoia.
Signs From The Universe Or Coincidence – Conclusion
Synchronicities are powerful signs from the universe that can help guide and direct your life. One big distinction between signs from the universe or coincidence is when the ego gets involved.
When you are looking for signs to satisfy your ego’s demand to be right or to justify a certain course of action then you get involved in apophenia.
When you remain connected to the Divine, She will speak to you — in patterns and connections, signs and synchronicities, and all sorts of gifts. When magic rises to the surface of your awareness, and your life, you know you’re blessed. It makes life a wild adventure. It’s also a source of incredible strength, coming to you when you most need it.
– Phyllis Curott
When you live from your highest Self, you have clear intentions in your life and truly surrender then you become open to authentic guidance.
A sign from the universe will almost always surprise you. It will almost always “come out of nowhere” and you will almost always have an instant recognition of what it is.
Synchronicity and Divine guidance is available to everyone but you can not come from an ego driven perspective if you want to fully capitalize on this wonderful resource.
Maintain a sense of spirituality. Seek joy and love in everything you do and be open and receptive to Divine guidance.
