How do you comprehend COINCIDENCE?

Answer 1

Now, this is Déjà vu; NOT exactly a Coincidence! :-) :-)

Answer 2

The way you comprehend it is to first realize that it doesn't really matter if it is fate or destiny or chance or "being at the right place at the right time."

Then, take the phrase, "Vision is seeing what you are looking for," and contemplate that.

Then realize that potential coincidences happen all the time. You only notice a few of them. Why? Because, for one, life is just too complex to realize that the policeman who gave you a ticket is really related to you, or his wife actually grew up next to you. or on and on and on and on...

If you are looking for "coincidence," you will notice it more often. For instance, if you noticed that the aforementioned police officer's badge had a name that is your mother's maiden name, or even your grandmother's maiden name, you may ask him where he's from and then the "connections" start happening.

Conversely, if you're not aware or sensitive to the possibility for "connecting" or "coincidenting," you may not even notice one when it "hits you in the face." (For a hilarious treatment of this idea, read the farce "The Bald Soprano," by Eugene Ionesco.)

No doubt you've heard of "six degrees of separation." If you haven't, you should watch the film, with Will Smith, or read the play, by John Guare. The point is, we're all connected; we're all related; we all have way too much in common to think otherwise.

So, really, you could take any person -- ANY PERSON -- and find a whole mess of "coincidences" with that person. They may be so minor or far-fetched that you don't really care about them, but you can't discount them as non-coincidental.

They are just not the coincidences that you are looking for. (Remember back up there about "vision is seeing what you're looking for?)

One more thing that may be pertinent to your question: lovers will see coincidence because it helps them know that the other person is "the one for them." Haters, also, will see (or "invent" some would say) coincidences of past injury as a way of justifying their hatred.

I think people who naturally (or have to force themselves to) look for coincidence or irony or serendipity in their daily lives are generally happier people. Why? Because they are connecting.

Answer 3

Websters defines coincidence as: the occurrence of events that happen at the same time by accident but seem to have some connection. The "seem to have some connection" is simply our perception. Something happens twice (or more ) in rapid succession and we assume it happens frequently.

Human nature is to ascribe increased importance to events that occur in proximity to each other. It's the same reason many people play the lottery, are afraid to fly, bet on a number that has come up frequently on a roulette wheel, or continue to play a slot machine believing that they must win eventually.

All of these events are statistically independent (that means that they are equally likely the next time, regardless of how many times or how long ago it has occured in the past). Over the long term the probability of these events is relatively stable. However the intervals between the actual occurrence of the event change. This is because of the random nature of the event itself. If it occured at regular intervals, it probably wouldn't be random.

Human nature is to perceive that events that happen close together are related, and events that are happen far apart are unrelated. From this perception we get sayings like "accidents always happen in threes," and "lighting never strikes twice". This perception however is not based on fact, but merely illustrates how our minds work to process complex information.

If you are interested in how likely some common "coincidences" actually are, check out The Layman's Guide to Probability by Peter Webb at http://www.peterwebb.co.uk/probability.htm

Answer 4

Sometimes coincidence is just a roll of the dice, pure chance.

Other times coincidence is so amazingly - mind blowing that there HAS to be another explanation.....like FATE, KARMA, God's intervention or God's will. Some people swear that the Universe itself had some sort of power or will that made something amazing happen.

I have had some amazing coincidences happen in my life that I know for certain that are more powerful than pure coincidences.

Answer 5

Some I think are divinely orchestrated, but even if you don't believe in a higher power, with so many random things happening, coincidences are bound to happen sometimes. And some coincidences we make ourselves without realizing it. Ultimately, it seems one of those questions that's much more fun to ask than to answer. :)

Answer 6

These are occurrences that remind us that everything in life is connected (because life is only one thing). Maybe you could look for more information regarding the coincidences, or speak to someone involved in coincidental events in your life more in depth. There could be a connection that you've missed thus far.

Answer 7

Don't bother trying to comprehend it. Just don't believe in it for a moment.

There are no accidents.

Love and blessings Don

Answer 8

That's like someone having faith in fate! Things don't just happen. If you speak things out(into existence) and it comes to pass, then how is it a coincidence? Watch Your Words!! When things happen "coincidentally" after it is spoken into existence, that is just prophecy!!!

Answer 9

"Synchronicité" in french
it's coincidence

Answer 10

Situations, events, and clear-case scenarios of expected precedence or arrangements that have pertinence to your actual daily life but in reality those are which have no relationship/relevance to the factual world revolving around you.

Answer 11

when two things happen that seem to have a connection but really they dont. Also it can be something that happens at the same time or place