Synchronicity and feedback loops

Synchronicity: A Theory of Interactions, part 2

Do our actions have meaning?

I think so.

Using the many worlds interpretation of quantum mechanics, the “Objective meaning” of a choice can be thought of in terms of which “world” we end up in after we make the choice.

For example, Sensei's critique of my belt (in the last post) led to a timeline where I did take the time to learn the proper technique for tying my belt. It was also an expression of love and caring by my teacher. These outcomes both define objective meaning.

We also create subjective meaning through the filters of our mind and our perceptions. My subjective interpretation was that I was being shamed and judged, and I felt more guarded.

The importance of feedback loops

When my subjective meaning doesn't match objective meaning because of the something hidden from me (Sensei's care for my well-being), it can lead to suffering. If I'm feeling hurt because of something the teacher said, and I carry that around with me, I might say something back that is hurtful or disrespectful. There's more than once that I considered leaving the mat and walking out the door in the middle of class! Mis-perceptions can damage relationships.

I made a point of talking about these things with Sensei because I wanted to create a feedback loop. By talking about my shame, I also got a better sense about her reality. I saw more how she cared for me as a student, and this eased my tension.

Feedback loops allow meaning to flow. Feedback loops allow corrective information to act upon the system and adjust it towards a more integrated steady state, where the outcome more closely matches the intention.

Synchronicity as a feedback loop

I would consider both of the two interactions with Sensei described in the previous post as synchronicity. In both cases, the feelings I had in response to the interaction gave me information about the accuracy of my filters and perceptions.

Synchronicity can serve us by giving us feedback. It's not always clear what the meaning of the feedback is, so I'm not suggesting that you heed the advice of every person you talk to, as if the meaning of the synchronicity is immediately clear.

Rather, at each interaction, look inside and try to gauge how you feel.

What are the underlying ripples in your own experience that are activated?

Recognizing the ways you get rippled by life might allow you to consciously build new feedback loops, and experience fewer ripples in the future!

Every interaction can give us some useful feedback about the way we see the world and help us grow.

News

Sky is teaching for the semester! Community Chat schedule is changing.

Welcome to a Leap to Wholeness

We are starting a new series of social media posts around my second book, Leap to Wholeness, How the World is Programmed to Help Us Grow, Heal, and Adapt. One of the big themes in the book is identifying the filters that color the way we look at the world and ourselves. When we can identify a filter or belief we have, without trying to change it, we naturally start to see it better and it's easier to see beyond it. I offer this as a way of healing our old patterns of behavior.