Synchronicity
No one wants to hear that
You should really talk about yourself more. Share what’s top of mind, what’s happening in your life, recent discoveries, a good book. Hell, a bad book.
Because something magical happens when you do. When you open yourself to other people in the world around you, connections are made that would otherwise have been left dormant, undiscovered. Opportunities unrealized.
There is a fantastic term for this type of occurrence.
Synchronicity:
the coincidental occurrence of events and especially psychic events (such as similar thoughts in widely separated persons or a mental image of an unexpected event before it happens) that seem related but are not explained by conventional mechanisms of causality —used especially in the psychology of Carl Gustav Jung1
Also, a great album by The Police.
I’ve experienced a few delightful moments of synchronicity that have really solidified the importance of being an open, vulnerable person in my everyday life. And saying nothing at all would have led to…. exactly nothing.
Synchronicity I
I had just wrapped up a sauna and cold plunge session and was on my way out the door. The owner was there with a few other members that I didn’t know, and asked how I was doing, knowing I was just about to wrap up school. He halted the conversation that the group was having to ask me. Definitely a little put on the spot, but a generic “I’m great!” is so not me, and also not truthful. A thesis is a lot, and faking feeling just dandy was not on the menu. So I shared I was just about ready to hand in my thesis, deeply exciting for me after a ton of work and stress that I had been encouraging to melt away in the sauna.
One of the members, let’s call him Patrick, asked about it.
I told him one of the concepts that was part of my study was perfectionism. His eyes lit up and he said I must know a lot about it now, and he had recently taken an interest in perfectionism. I told him I’d be happy to send him a few great articles to get him started.
He, as a Gemini, agreed and mentioned he appreciates follow through.
I replied that I, as a Taurus, am stubborn as fuck and follow through on my commitments.
Fast forward 2 weeks.
Patrick and I get chatting at the Member’s night at our sauna club. He shares what he’s learning from the articles I sent him, and pulls out a printed article for me that he thought I would be interested in. I find out he works in mental health, within an organization I deeply admire. He offers to add me to their speaker invites, which come in every Friday to feature an expert in a particular psych topic.
Patrick and I are now emailing back and forth, sharing insights and articles. And I’ve ended up on the insiders list for talks I wouldn’t have access to otherwise.
Synchronicity II
I posted on LinkedIn about losing my job, but finishing my thesis, and what I wanted to do next. I got invited by a LinkedIn connection (not even a former or current colleague) to a networking dinner. I was not going to be in town, so I couldn’t go.
I was rather disappointed at the time because I’ve never been invited to a networking event before, never mind an exclusive, invite-only one with other professionals focused on the human experience at work. Tantalizing.
I sent my acquaintance my regrets, I would be in British Columbia at the time of the dinner. I was really excited, and just delighted that he thought of me to invite to such an event.
He shared he was heading to BC at the end of May. His first visit to the West Coast, as his company would be hosting another dinner there.
You bet I shared I would be in BC until the end of May, and I straight up invited myself to that dinner.
And now, I’m going to a 100 person, invite only, dinner of professionals that is now also a product launch. In a fancy BC restaurant on the marina.
The lesson? Talk about yourself. Connections and opportunities are forged this way.
The most thrilling piece? I have no idea where these stories go from here. There is so much to still be explored in these budding relationships. My vulnerability didn’t open the doors itself. That vulnerability let others know they could open that door, and invite me to cross the threshold.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/synchronicity