What if coincidences aren’t random after all?

What if life’s little surprises are trying to tell you something?

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Hey there,

I hope your week has been going as planned.

Or maybe not?

Have you ever experienced a string of coincidences that seemed too perfect to be merely random?

You thought about someone, and they suddenly call you?
You stumbled upon exactly what you needed at the perfect time?
Or just as you were about to give up, something miraculous happened?

Most people shrug these off as “just coincidences.”

But what if they aren’t random at all?

Most of us are taught that life is chaotic and disconnected. Science tells us the universe is governed by chance, and we assume coincidences are just statistical flukes.

You run into an old friend while traveling? “Pure luck.”
You find the right book at the right moment? “Just probability.”
You find the right job opportunity right when you need it? “Coincidence, nothing more.”

But if life is so random, why do some coincidences feel so personal and meaningful?

In Daoism, life isn’t a series of random events. It’s a constantly shifting flow. The dao is the natural order of the universe, an invisible current that connects everything.

According to Daoist wisdom, when you’re in harmony with the dao, life unfolds effortlessly.

You meet the right people at the right time.
Answers appear when you need them.
Opportunities arise naturally.

And this isn’t luck. It’s alignment.

Coincidences, from a Daoist perspective, aren’t meaningless. They’re signs you are moving with the current instead of against it.

And if you think this perspective doesn’t fit in today’s world, think again. Because modern psychology actually backs up this ancient wisdom. The famous psychiatrist Carl Jung introduced a concept that sounds a lot like Daoism: synchronicity.

And I partnered up with Rowan Davis to share his expertise on Jungian psychology with you. Take a look at what he has to say:

Carl Jung called synchronicity the “acausal connecting principle.”

Simply: it’s not due to cause and effect.

The idea came to him while he was dealing with a very stubborn patient. They showed up, tried to listen, but ultimately couldn’t get past their strict rationalised idea of the world. While Jung was talking about dreams, myth, and how the imagery relates to them on an unconscious level – they just couldn’t get past how unscientific it all sounded.

At the moment the patient was describing a dream featuring an Egyptian dung beetle, something *smacked* the window behind Jung.

The psychologist opened it to find a beetle of remarkably similar appearance and genus to what the dreamer dreamt.

This event was enough to convince the patient that there are things in this world that can’t be explained logically, or can be understood completely.

The treatment was able to advance.

Synchronicity isn’t just luck.

What I’ve learned studying Jungian psychology, and through experience with these events (that could also be called miracles or grace), is that they happen when we’re in earnest need of them, and have taken the courage to show up and work towards some kind of spiritual development. Maybe it’s taking the risk of starting a business, approaching a girl despite fear of rejection, or even taking a daoist approach and trusting the universe.

The bottom line is that the universe, god, the unconscious, or whatever you want to call it, is responding to our pursuit of it

“What you seek is seeking you” – Rumi.

In this case, an event so unlikely happened, so that a man who didn’t believe in anything beyond data, was able to continue in possibly life saving therapy.

Jung believed these moments weren’t accidents.

Like Daoism, his theory also suggests that the universe is a self-regulating organism. And that synchronistic moments occur when there is a need for balance or growth.

Usually we dismiss coincidences as chance, as random noise. We feel like we must force everything to happen in life. We ignore signs that could help us. And life feels disconnected.

So, what if coincidences really aren’t random at all... but messages we’re meant to notice?

When you start seeing the connections, it’s easier to trust how things unfold.

You start noticing patterns.
You feel more in sync with opportunities.
And life starts to feel smoother, less stressful, and more guided. Maybe even a little magical.

Imagine life as a river. You can struggle against the current, or you can flow with it. When we notice meaningful coincidences, it’s like the river showing us the way. And the more we recognize synchronicities, the more they seem to happen.

It’s... as if the universe responds when we start paying attention.

But it’s not magic—it’s awareness.

Synchronicity isn’t about everything being predetermined. And it’s not just spotting patterns that don’t exist. It’s about awareness. And recognizing that sometimes, things align for a reason.

Daoism teaches that we are all connected and part of the greater whole. And Jung also saw synchronicity as a bridge between our minds and the world around us, showing how our inner thoughts and outer experiences are deeply connected.

So, the next time you experience a strange, meaningful “coincidence”, why not try another approach?

Don’t ignore it.

Pause and ask: What is life trying to show me?

Maybe it’s a nudge to follow a new path.
Maybe it’s reassurance that you’re exactly where you need to be.

Either way, the universe is speaking.

The question is: Are you listening?

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Weekly Reflection

What's one recent coincidence in my life that might not have been so random after all?

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🍵 Thank you for reading!

Thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts with you! I hope they bring you a moment of reflection and a touch of peace.

Until next time, trust the coincidence.

– Zhenya

P.S. If you're new here, it's nice to meet you! I invite you to check out the past editions to get a sense of what my Teacup is all about.

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🌊 Where can you flow next?

The Way of the Dao: This course is a structured, easy-to-follow introduction to Daoism. It's designed to help you apply its wisdom in a practical way.

My Daoist Mentorship: This is a highly personalized, one-on-one written mentorship. Designed for those who want to step onto a timeless path of self-mastery, inner balance, and effortless flow.

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There are many topics in this world that are important but hard to explain. I think psychology and philosophy are two of them. I've seen how Rowan breaks down complex ideas from these areas and makes them easy to understand and relatable. So, make sure to check out his work. You won't regret it.