Functional Flow Newsletter June 2010: Mysterious Lives

We need to celebrate synchronicities. The brain is local. The mind is non local. Synchronicities remind us of this in many surprising ways. My life journey seems to be designed to show me this again and again.

Always the reminders fall in all four quadrants of our living consciousness and can be recognized when we search for areas of gratitude. I can tell you some of mine. You can also find your own, and I urge you to share them. The first two of the four quadrant doorways, the doorways of our communal space, from the social, I-You conversations (quadrant two), to the far reaches of Meaningful We space, (quadrant four), are palpable with inner synchronicities. For two people to fall "in love" together at exactly the right time and to create deep meaning in each other's lives is amazing in itself.

The quadrant one doorway, creativity, has provided me with many surprises, slowly manifesting across the years. Again and again I have watched the ideas and realizations gifted to me 20 years ago become first, local fads, and then later, global trends. Three days ago I showed a Korean friend with whom I was discussing writing a book, some unfinished books on my computer about Brain and Neuroscience, (written in early 90's), Four Quadrant Thinking, (early 80's), and Heart-Mind Connectivity, and ' The Art and Science of Coaching,' (mid 90's). He laughed at the dates and the contents. "These are the richest topics in coaching communities today," he said, and you were writing about them 15 years ago!" Hmm! Interesting synchronicity.

The most surprising area of synchronicity for all of us is quadrant 4, the physical area. This continues to be true for me. One woman who had heard many of the stories I tell in seminars told me she found so much synchronicity hard to believe. Me too!

She pointed out my story of finding a comfortable dry cave one minute before a fierce coastal storm as really incredulous. She also marvelled at the intervention of the highly skilled 'lasso artist,' mysteriously appearing with both huge talent and two ropes of long length on an isolated coast just before my almost certain death from an incoming tide where I was alone and completely trapped.

Yet, there have been many other such synchronicities. My life has been filled with them and I suggest you can also find them in your life as well.

Here is another example. It just happened to me yesterday. First part, which happened two weeks ago in Istanbul, 15 million people, is wonderful in itself. Planning to fly to China on a "less than well known" airline I learned I would be charged 750 dollars in overweight, (60 dollars per kilo,) for the flight. A friend just 'happened to know' someone in this airlines ticketing department in Istanbul, and pleaded my case as a person worthy of exemption. Through her efforts the exemption was granted. With strong gratitude I made the journey!

Now two days ago in Seoul Korea, a city of 8 million, I am just about to leave for the airport for Paris when I remember I am on the very same airline and will once again face the overweight issue. 750 dollars for twelve kilos is a lot, yet I must carry it on a two month trip. I am in a large seminar room alone, having just said goodbye to 60 people. I scold myself for having forgotten this airline challenge.

At this point I inwardly 'wished' to the universe of inward friends that I had another 'angel' to handle my luggage overweight. Clearly I sent an inner message from 'Seoul to Soul' because the result was not just one but two synchronicities. The first happened immediately. Just at that moment a woman came in the door wanting to give me her business card before I left. You guessed it! Of all people in Seoul Korea she had 'Airlines Consultant' written on her card. She knew the Seoul director of the lesser known airline, and in 5 minutes, when asked, arranged my passage with the extra kilos. As you must imagine I threw forth thoughts of great gratitude as I drove to the airport.

The next synchronicity happened at the airport. When explaining my kilo exemption to the ticketing girl at the wicket I pulled out and handed her the wrong business card, one from another woman. The situation was quickly sorted out and as someone called the Airline director to confirm my exemption she fingered this 'wrong' card and asked me about myself. I briefly told her that I was training Solution Focused Coaching in Seoul and that the woman from the second card had been in my course. "I know her well" said the young woman in faltering English. "I was just thinking about her just before you came to me. I honour her so much, she has changed my life. We are in a small health circle together. She has regained her health and now really helps me. And you are teaching her!"

One hour later, face flushed, she shook my hand just before I was about to board the plane. She had upgraded me to first class and I found myself in a wonderful, fully-furnished sleeping compartment for the long flight. Great gratitude!

Just another synchronicity? I seem have a life full of them! Perhaps you do too, and do not notice them. You may say to me that some people just have lucky lives. Maybe, maybe more, much more!

The brain is local. The mind is non local. Our lives are wonderfully mysterious! Synchronicity is a delicious 'shock therapy' reminder to stay awake to the deep mystery; to stay deeply grateful for the surprises that life sends to us, and to give back the amazing love that life gives to us.

Marilyn Atkinson, PhD
President, Erickson Coaching International

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