Hello wonderful people,
Happy spring, and welcome back to my little Good Life Newsletter, with quotes, links, and questions that might promote human flourishing … and some news from our creative educational ventures.
This is issue #45 on Humility + Attention = Synchronicity.
Inspired and en-couraged by members of the first creative innovation workshop 🧙♂️
💎 5 Quotes on Humility and Synchronicity
“An insight is an unexpected shift in the way we think about things . . . it comes without warning. It’s not something that we think is going to happen and that’s why it’s unexpected. It feels like a gift and in fact it is.”
―Gary Klein, writer and decision-making expert
“The key to wise decision-making, we believe, is knowing when to trust your intuition, and knowing when to be wary of it and do the hard work of thinking things through.”
―Christopher Chabris and Daniel Simons, psychologists
“The intuitive mind is a sacred gift and the rational mind a faithful servant. We have created a society that honors the servant and has forgotten the gift.”
―Albert Einstein
“Humility is a form of spiritual modesty that is triggered by an understanding of our place in the order of things. We can practice it by taking a step back from our own desires and fears, and by looking outward at the larger world of which we are a part. It has to do with changing our perspective and realizing our own limited significance in that bigger picture. It means stepping out of our bubble and understanding ourselves as members of a community, a particular historical moment, or even a profoundly flawed species. Humility is also intimately related to gratitude—to appreciating what we have rather than focusing on what we lack. Finally, as Socrates knew well, it has to do with recognizing just how much we don’t know and acknowledging our blind spots.”
―Anna Katharina Schaffner, writer and professor of cultural history
“Tell me what you pay attention to, and I will tell you who you are.”
―Jose Ortega y Gasset, Spanish philosopher
🔗 3 Phases of Synchronicity Practice : R.E.M.
In 2021, I found a 2020 Current Psychology paper titled “Engaging with Life: Synchronicity Experiences as a Pathway to Meaning and Personal Growth” that offered a helpful framework for practicing synchronicity: Receptivity, Exceptional Encounters, and Meaning Making (R.E.M.).
Today, I’m thinking how each of these factors might connect with the timeless truth of HUMILITY.
[R] RECEPTIVITY : We can learn to train our attention to the possibility of unexpected treasures. We can humble ourselves to the wisdom of the more-than-human world beyond our rational minds. We can train our awareness and attention to pay attention to what we’re paying attention to. Humility in time = patience. Humility in space = attentiveness.
Paying attention helps us write better. And writing helps us pay attention.
And believe in yourself. Experiencing a serendipitous flow of information is at least in part a placebo effect or self-fulfilling prophecy. When we believe we are good at experiencing synchronicity, we allow ourselves more receptivity, exceptional encounters, and meaning making.
[E] EXCEPTIONAL ENCOUNTERS somehow to link our external experiences with our internal subjectivity. Might we become “super-encounterers”?
“The super-encounterers loved to spend an afternoon hunting through, say, a Victorian journal on cattle breeding, in part, because they counted on finding treasures in the oddest places. In fact, they were so addicted to prospecting that they would find information for friends and colleagues”
Might we generate “serendipitous information systems” to expand our circumference of luck?
✍️ How can I increase my chances of discovery? Who might I call? What different routes might I take to work?
✍️ Am I capable of using social media as a source of serendipitous luck? Can I keep my attention open in an engaged and curious way? Or do I zone out?
✍️ How can I be patient and humble in the unfolding of my emerging life path?
[M] MEANING MAKING is the process of connecting these exceptional experiences to the trajectory and direction (or possible directions) of our life. When we make meaning, we are finding our way through the world. 🌈 🌈
Take notes and pretend you’re a curious detective. Ask questions to explore what your experiences could mean. Frame your experience with radical curiosity, and keep a synchronicity journal or an aha! journal. Track your leads and open up pointed streaks of synchronicity that reveal new possibilities.
✍️ Aha! : [ enter moment of surprise ]
✍️ Where have I noticed my inner reality bleeding into my outer experiences?
📚 For Further Syntopical Reading: 1+1 = 3
At any given time, I’m reading 3-10 books at once. Apparently there’s a name for the kind of reading I love : syntopical reading — which Mortimer Adler, in 1940, describes as reading more than one book at once, and knowing which books to read next.
We’re on week 5 of 10 in our inquiry of how the timeless art of self-improvement connects with the modern psychology of creativity. The readings here reflect that, and share more on synchronicity and serendipity:
📚 Chapter 5 on “Be Humble” in the The Art of Self-Improvement : Ten Timeless Truths by Anna Katharina Schaffner (2021) offers a great overview of the practical benefits of humility, especially for leaders. She also does good work to expose our human hubris. Instead of just asking What Would Jesus Do, we might also ask: What Would Songbirds Do? (Or Cats? or Dogs? or Owls?).
📚 Chapter 5 on “Intuition” in Wired To Create : Unraveling the Mysteries of the Creative Mind by Scott Barry Kaufman (2016) provides some nice emerging neuroscience of intuition and insight. He doesn’t explicitly mention “synchronicity” here, but the importance of toggling between external observation and internal reflection maps nicely on the R.E.M. model of synchronicity above.
📄 “Synchronicities: A Sure Sign You’re on the Right Path” in Psychology Today by Gregg Levoy, 2017.
📄 “How to Cultivate the Art of Serendipity,” in the New York Times, by Pagan Kennedy, 2016.
📄 “Make Serendipity Work for You” in the Harvard Business Review by Mark de Rond, Adrian Moorhouse, and Matt Rogan, 2011.
🤓 Synchronicity and ChatGPT?
3.24.2024
Dear ChatGPT:
Synchronicity according to Jung? The inner and the outer?
Synchronicity is a concept developed by Swiss psychiatrist Carl Gustav Jung, which refers to the occurrence of meaningful coincidences that seem to have no causal relationship. According to Jung, synchronicity is an acausal connecting principle that links events that share a common meaning or significance, even though they might not be causally connected in a conventional sense.
In Jung's view, synchronicity involves a connection between the inner world (our subjective experience and psychological processes) and the outer world (the objective, physical reality). The inner world is associated with the individual's psyche, while the outer world consists of external events and experiences.
Jung believed that the collective unconscious, a universal and deep layer of the human psyche containing archetypes and shared symbols, could manifest synchronistic events. These events could help an individual in their process of self-discovery, growth, and individuation.
Synchronistic events often seem highly improbable or defy logical explanation. They may appear as meaningful coincidences that involve striking parallels between an individual's thoughts, dreams, or emotional states and external events. For example, someone might be thinking about an old friend they haven't seen in years, and then unexpectedly bump into that person on the street.
Jung saw synchronicity as a way for the unconscious to communicate with the conscious mind, often revealing insights or helping to guide a person's personal development. The concept of synchronicity suggests that there is an underlying order or interconnectedness in the universe that transcends our conventional understanding of cause and effect.
Can individuals train to notice more of these synchronicities?
Yes, individuals can train themselves to notice more synchronicities in their lives. Developing a greater awareness of synchronistic events may help people better understand their inner selves, gain insights into their lives, and foster personal growth. Here are some steps one can take to become more attuned to synchronistic events:
Cultivate mindfulness: Practicing mindfulness and being fully present in the moment can help you become more aware of the subtle connections and patterns in your life. Techniques like meditation, deep breathing, or mindfulness exercises can be helpful in developing a greater sense of awareness.
Keep a journal: Recording your thoughts, feelings, dreams, and daily events in a journal can help you identify patterns and make connections between your inner experiences and external events. Over time, you may start to notice synchronistic occurrences that you might have previously overlooked.
Develop your intuition: Intuition plays a crucial role in recognizing synchronicities. By trusting your instincts and following your gut feelings, you can become more attuned to the meaningful coincidences in your life.
Reflect on your experiences: Take the time to ponder and analyze the synchronistic events that you encounter. Reflect on their significance and how they may be related to your personal journey or current life circumstances.
Stay open-minded: Be receptive to the idea that there may be meaningful connections between seemingly unrelated events. An open-minded attitude allows you to entertain the possibility of synchronicities and explore their significance without being limited by preconceived notions.
Share your experiences: Discussing synchronicities with others can help validate your experiences and provide different perspectives on their meaning. Sharing with like-minded individuals or joining groups that focus on topics like synchronicity, spirituality, or personal growth can be beneficial.
Remember, the more you pay attention to synchronicities and explore their significance, the more likely you are to notice them in your life. As you cultivate this awareness, it can lead to a deeper understanding of yourself and the interconnectedness of the world around you.
How could I use ChatGPT to help me train to notice more of these synchronicities?
Using ChatGPT to help train yourself to notice more synchronicities involves using the AI to assist you in various aspects of the process. Here are some ways you can utilize ChatGPT in your journey:
Mindfulness practices: Ask ChatGPT to provide guidance on mindfulness exercises, meditation techniques, or other practices that help cultivate present-moment awareness. You can also ask for tips on how to integrate mindfulness into your daily routine.
Journaling prompts: Request ChatGPT to provide journaling prompts or questions that encourage self-reflection and exploration of your thoughts, emotions, and experiences. These prompts can help you uncover patterns and connections between your inner world and external events.
Dream analysis: Share your dreams with ChatGPT and ask for interpretations or insights. Analyzing your dreams may reveal synchronistic events or themes that you might not have consciously noticed.
Intuition development: Ask ChatGPT for advice on how to develop and trust your intuition. You can discuss ways to recognize intuitive feelings, distinguish them from emotional reactions, and practice making decisions based on your gut feelings.
Exploration of synchronicities: Share your experiences of synchronistic events with ChatGPT, and ask for its perspective on their possible meanings or significance. Engaging in a dialogue about your experiences can help you better understand and appreciate the interconnectedness of events in your life.
Recommendations for further learning: Request ChatGPT to suggest books, articles, or other resources that can help you learn more about synchronicity, Jungian psychology, and related topics. Expanding your knowledge can deepen your understanding of synchronicities and help you notice them more frequently.
Remember that ChatGPT is an AI assistant and should not be considered a substitute for professional guidance or personal introspection. Use it as a tool to supplement your journey of self-discovery and to enhance your ability to notice synchronicities.
✌ Thank You
I hope this email was fun and en-couraging.
Until next time, yours in the thrill of humble discovery,
Sean
🏛 Good News and Upcoming Workshops
🎉 We’re three months into our first custom team-building workshop for leadership development!
Based on frameworks and practices from positive psychology, Buddhist philosophy, the arts of self-improvement and emergent learning for wisdom, we’re crafting situation-specific workshops for creative leadership, resilience and innovation. It’s been awesome to see how our group-focused methodology works in organizational contexts. We’re still building capacity for these kind of partnerships, but if you’re a curious life-long learner on a team that might benefit, let me know.
🧝♂️ Want to join the wait-list for the Wisdom Workshop in Writing the Good Life?
Are you a life-long learner who wants to cultivate mindful attention, inner peace, inner freedom , or loving kindness? Are you looking for practical ways to connect with yourself and others, or to better design work and play so that you can flourish in a life that you love? We’d love to have you . Capped at 8 people. Start date/times to be determined. Information and testimonials. Or respond to this email to set up a call.
🧙♂️ Want to join the wait-list for the Art of Living Beautifully?
If you want to nourish a creative lifestyle, deepen your aesthetic attention, or kick start a worthy pursuit in artistic becoming, we’d love to have you. Capped at 8 people. Start date/times to be determined. Information and a testimonial worth sharing: “this group has turned something that was a source of depression into a source of joy.” Or respond to this email to set up a call if you have any questions per your situation.
🎙 Sean Waters Upcoming Live Events
🎵 Saturday, March 25 : Sean Waters and Friends at the Forge Publick House in Fort Collins, Colorado | 21+ | 8-10pm MST
🧰 Thursday, April 6: I’m leading a session at the Stoa! Not-Self Authorship: Writing the Good Life w/ Sean Waters. April 6th @ 6:00 PM ET. Free. RSVP here.
🎵 Saturday, April 22 : Sean Waters and Friends at the Forge Publick House in Fort Collins, Colorado | 21+ | 8-10pm MST
🎵 Friday, April 28 : Sean Waters and Friends at Wolverine Farm as a part of FoCoMX 2023 : Fort Collins, Colorado | All Ages | 9:30-10:30 pm MST / Tickets.
👨🎤 New music coming out this spring, follow along on Spotify or Apple Music.
🏛 Brought to you by the Wisdom Workshop. Thank you for being here.
I acknowledge that the land where I write these words was the traditional and ancestral homelands of the Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Ute Nations and peoples. This was also a site of trade, gathering, and healing for numerous other Native tribes. I recognize the Indigenous peoples as original stewards of this land and all the relatives within it.