Posted by 
The truth about ageing and synchronicity is that as you age coincidences may appear more prominent and meaningful. That’s what synchronicity is: Meaningful coincidences. To be more accurate, it’s the occurrence of meaningful events together but there appears to be no cause. It is a concept developed by Carl Jung.
Let me give you a couple of (personal) examples. My dad taught me to swim when I was about 6 or 7. On the day we were going to have our first lesson, I read stories in two or three comics (I mean comics like The Beano or The Dandy) about characters going swimming.
Just recently – and don’t ask why I did this – I showed someone a Youtube video of Leroy Anderson’s the typewriter. Not the most prominently played piece of music on the radio. Very shortly after, I went out and what came on my care radio? You guessed it. If your interested, here’s the Youtube clip:
So, the question is whether my examples are anything more that just coincidences, random occurrences. Jung would probably have said yes.
I would dearly love to believe that there is something more meaningful than a random occurrence about my examples. But my mind is very much one that is rational and empirical. And I believe our world is rational, empirical, physical and governed by the laws of cause and effect.
I can see that two or more events may be meaningfully connected – my music example is a good example. But that is it. the two events have meaning for me but no more. Had I gone out ten minutes later I would have missed the radio broadcast.
Jung would say the events are linked by meaning or acausally connected. But it seems to me that what this boils down to is that events are acausally caused – which is nonsense. It may be that our minds just find meaning where we want to.
However, I like to keep an open mind. Perhaps there is some, as yet undiscovered organising principle in the universe. There may be no empirical evidence for this, but todays supernatural is tomorrow’s science staple.
You may have noticed that as you age, coincidences seem to appear more often, almost as though they are more significant? I have to admit, I am very aware of this – see my music example above.
Perhaps you experience moments where two or more unrelated events seem to come together, and you wonder if there’s something deeper at play.
So, this feeling is what Carl Jung called synchronicity. Ageing and synchronicity, perhaps you’ll find, are more connected than they first seem. You can let me know in the comments
Synchronicity: A Concept Developed by Jung
Carl Jung, the famous Swiss psychologist, developed the theory of synchronicity. He described it as the occurrence of events that are meaningfully connected but have no apparent causal relationship.
Imagine having a conversation about a rare topic and then coming across that exact subject in a random book or on the radio shortly after. The events feel linked by some underlying meaning, even if there is no clear cause-and-effect relationship.
Jung believed that these meaningful coincidences bridged the gap between the inner and outer world.
As you grow older, the concept of synchronicity might become more noticeable in your life. Ageing brings with it time for reflection, and perhaps a heightened awareness of patterns and connections in the world around you.
But why does synchronicity appear to become more prominent as we age?
Why Synchronicity Might Appear More Often with Age
One reason ageing and synchronicity seem so closely linked is that, as you age, you naturally spend more time reflecting on your experiences.
This process of life review can cause you to notice patterns that may have escaped you when you were younger and more preoccupied with daily tasks. It’s also possible that, with age, you become more open to considering the deeper meanings behind events.
There’s also the fact that cognitive biases play a role. The human brain is wired to find meaning and patterns, and as we age, we may become more inclined to do so.
In some ways life seems to slow down – in others it seems to speed up – and you have more time to think about the connections between different events.
What might have seemed like a random occurrence when you were younger now feels more significant, simply because you have the space and time to contemplate its meaning.
This is not just about physical changes in pace; it’s also psychological. When we grow older, the mind gravitates towards existential questions – the why of life. And with this, synchronicity may offer a comforting narrative, a way to make sense of life’s randomness.
Psychological and Philosophical Implications of Synchronicity for Ageing
As you age, you may find yourself searching for meaning in life more than you did in your youth. Synchronicity offers a kind of reassurance that there is meaning to be found, even in seemingly random events.
Whether or not you believe in the mystical side of synchronicity, there’s no denying that it can provide comfort in a world that sometimes feels chaotic.
For older individuals, facing the reality of ageing and mortality can make the idea of synchronicity even more appealing. It offers a way to think about life that goes beyond the physical, suggesting that there may be a deeper order to things – something that can be particularly comforting when dealing with the uncertainties of old age.
Synchronicity may also help you cope with the unpredictability of ageing by providing moments of meaning, however fleeting. It’s a gentle antidote to the purely rational, scientific mindset that many of us carry, offering a space for mystery in an otherwise empirical world.
Ageing and Synchronicity Are There Any Benefits?
You might wonder, beyond the curiosity and wonder, whether there’s any tangible benefit to noticing synchronicities as you age. The answer is yes.
For one, recognising these patterns can add emotional and psychological richness to your life. It encourages mindfulness – paying attention to the world around you and reflecting on your experiences more deeply.
Synchronicity can also be a valuable tool in life reflection, particularly for those in later stages of life. By thinking about the connections between different moments, you may gain a better understanding of the narrative of your life, perhaps discovering meaning in places you hadn’t previously considered.
Moreover, synchronicity can help reduce fear and anxiety about the future. If you feel that events are linked in a meaningful way, you might find comfort in the idea that there is some order to the universe, even if you can’t fully understand it.
Scepticism and Rationality: The Other Side of the Coin
Of course, as you age, you may also become more sceptical. A lifetime of experience might lead you to view synchronicity through a more rational lens.
You understand that the brain is programmed to find patterns, and it’s likely that many coincidences are just that – coincidences. Cognitive bias might be at play, and your mind might simply be finding meaning where none exists.
There’s also the argument for randomness. In a world governed by the laws of cause and effect, it’s easy to explain synchronicities as random events that happen to coincide.
Perhaps there’s no deeper meaning, and you just happened to hear The Typewriter on the radio after showing it to a friend because you live in a world where billions of events occur each day. This view is perfectly valid, and you can appreciate synchronicities while maintaining a rational perspective.
Synchronicity and the Ageing Mind: A Neuroscience Perspective
Ageing and synchronicity are very much connected with changes in the brain that may affect how you perceive time and meaning. Studies show that memory and cognitive patterns shift with age, and this might lead you to notice more coincidences.
The brain’s natural pattern-recognition abilities could be heightened as you review your life and reflect on past events.
Dopamine, the brain chemical linked to reward and recognition, might play a role here too. As you age, these chemical processes might make the feeling of a synchronicity more pronounced, reinforcing the sense that there is meaning in these seemingly random events.
Ageing and Synchronicity: Purpose in Later Years
In your later years, synchronicity might even become a guide for decision-making. If you notice meaningful coincidences pointing you in a particular direction, you may use them to navigate life’s choices, whether in retirement, personal relationships, or personal growth.
Moreover, recognising synchronicities can deepen your sense of connection to the world around you. Whether you interpret them as spiritual signs or simply moments of meaningful coincidence, they can help foster a sense of belonging and purpose, particularly as you reflect on your life’s journey.
The Future of Synchronicity and Science
Could there be a scientific explanation for synchronicity? Perhaps.
Many phenomena once considered supernatural eventually found rational explanations. As science delves deeper into areas like quantum physics and consciousness studies, it’s possible that synchronicity could one day be explained in empirical terms.
Even if you remain sceptical, keeping an open mind as you age can be beneficial. After all, today’s mystery could be tomorrow’s scientific breakthrough.
Conclusion: Ageing with an Eye for Synchronicity
As you age, noticing synchronicity can add depth and meaning to your life. Whether you see it as a cosmic sign or just a happy coincidence, there’s value in remaining open to the possibilities. Balance your rational thinking with a little wonder – because, as you grow older, there’s a certain joy in letting synchronicity surprise you.
What’s your view? Leave a comment.