6oic THE CONTRIBUTION OF SYNCHRONICITY TOWARDS PERSONAL LEADERSHIP By Elizma van der Smit RESEARCH ESSAY Submitted in partial fulfillment of the degree MAGISTER PHILOSOPHIAE In PERSONAL AND PROFESSIOAL LEADERSHIP in the FACULTY OF EDUCATION AND NURSING at the RAND AFRIKAANS UNIVERSITY Supervisor: Prof DPJ Smith December 2003 UNIVERSITY OF JOHANNESBURG UNIVERSITEIT VAN JOHANNESBURG AUCKLAND PARK KINGSWAY CAMPUS / KAMPUS POSBUS 524 BOX 524 AUCKLAND PARK 2006 Tel: 011 559-2165 MY OPI GE( AND MO PRC LND cOI PER - - \\ ,/,7' . .. ,...; .. \/ ._._ ) . MY ,,.,: A ,, , ,,,_-_.-/).. .// 'LA. A.1 ,,-:). ,.....,, .; ENC This item must be returned on or before the last date stamped. A renewal for a further period may be granted provided the book is not in demand. Fines are charged on overdue items. AS PROMISED, THIS ONE IS FOR YOU GEO! SYNOPSIS All of us have experienced some kind of synchronicity before. An example of this phenomenon would be thinking of a friend and receiving a phone call from that friend at that time. The people you meet or simply run into on the street; the shirt that someone you walk by is wearing; the license plate or bumper sticker of the car in front of you — all could be examples of synchronicity. It can range from minor incidents to those that have a profound impact on our lives. The problem is that many of us do not understand the concept of synchronicity and how to utilize it in our journey to personal leadership. Not everybody is comfortable with the idea that the universe is giving us guidance. Often people have misconceptions regarding the synchronicity phenomenon and therefore dismiss it as mere chance while other believes that it is dark and evil. The general aim of the study was to get a better understanding of the concept of synchronicity and the importance thereof the people's lives. Ways of enhancing people's awareness of synchronicity was to be explored to assist them in their journey to purpose and meaning. Specific aims were set in order to achieve the general aim, namely to answer the following questions: "What is synchronicity?" and " What is the contribution of synchronicity towards personal leadership?" as well as "How can people enhance their awareness of synchronicity?" The research strategy of this study is characterized as explorative, descriptive and hermeneutic. The research methods used included word and concept analysis and literature study. On the question of "What is synchronicity?" it was found in chapter two that synchronicities are forces that come together in time and space, providing just what is needed. The occurrence strikes the participants as special, unexpected, or unexplainable by normal cause-and-effect rationales. The effect of synchronicity on the psyche is to trigger awareness that maybe a greater — or even divine — purpose is at work. It was discovered that the theory on synchronicity was the brainchild of C.G. Jung and that different types of synchronicity can be identified. The explanation of the background of the theory as well as the different types was found to enhance awareness and understanding of the concept of synchronicity. The question of "what is the contribution of synchronicity towards personal leadership?" was answered in chapter three. It was found that personal leadership is a value-based, principle-centered, inside-out approach to gaining control of one's life and living a happy and fulfilled life. It is based on the knowledge of who one is, where one currently is, and where one is going. A personal leader needs to develop in a balanced and holistic manner. Therefore all the individual's dimensions such as the spiritual, physical, mental and social/emotional dimensions should be improved. It was discovered that synchronicity has a definite contribution towards personal leadership, specifically towards the spiritual, physical, social/emotional and mental dimensions. Synchronicity can assist people in their search for meaning, with accepting the responsibility of taking good care of the physical body, it can help one make better choices and heighten awareness of one's own feelings and emotions as well as that of other people. The last question of "how can people enhance their awareness of synchronicity?" was also answered in chapter three. It was found that certain practical guidelines could be given on how people can enhance their awareness and use of synchronicity in their personal lives. These guidelines include mainly the cultivation of an open, receptive and nonjudgmental attitude as well as an active interest in synchronicities. In doing this, one would be able to tap into the vast knowledge of the universe. This study proves that every individual in his quest to become a personal leader should become aware of the various possibilities for moving forward in their lives. By being open to the possibility of guidance from the universe, we can experience synchronicities that enhance our self-awareness and the decisions we make in life. In this way, body and consciousness, individual and society, mind and matter may come to achieve their unlimited potential. OPSOMMING Almal van ons het al een of ander "synchronicity" ervaar. 'n Voorbeeld is wanneer jy aan 'n vriend dink en terselftertyd 'n oproep van horn of haar ontvang. Die mense wat jy ontmoet of op straat teekom; die hemp wat iemand mag dra; die nommerplaat of buffer plakker op die kar voor jou — kan alles voorbeelde van "synchronicity" wees. Dit kan strek van klein insidente tot gebeure wat 'n geweldige invloed op ons lewens kan he. Die probleem is dat van ons nie die konsep van "synchronicity" heeltemal verstaan nie en ook nie weet hoe om dit te gebruik in ons reis na persoonlike leierskap nie. Nie almal is gemaklik met die idee dat die heelal vir ons rigting gee nie. Daarby het mense dikwels sekere wanpersepsies aangaande "synchronicity" en kan hulle dit daarom afmaak as iets wat "sleg" of bloot toevallig is. Die algemene doel van die studie was om 'n groter begrip van die konsep van "synchronicity" en die belangrikheid daarvan vir mense se lewens, te bewerkstellig. Ondersoek is ingestel na die wyse waarop mense se bewustheid aangaande "synchronicity" verhoog kan word, om sodoende te help in hul reis na sin en betekenis. Spesifieke doelwitte is gestel om die algemene doelwit te bereik, naamlik om die volgende vrae te beantwoord: "Wat is synchronicity" en "Wat is die bydrae van synchronicity vir persoonlike leierskap?" asook "Hoe kan mense hul bewustheid van synchronicity verhoog?" Die navorsingstrategie in hierdie studie was ondersoekend, beskrywend en hermeneuties. Die navorsingsmetodes wat gebruik is sluit in woord- en konsepanalise asook 'n literatuurstudie. Met betrekking tot die vraag: "Wat is synchronicity?" is in hoofstuk twee gevind dat "synchronicities" kragte is wat saamsmelt in tyd en ruimte om, dit wat nodig is, te voorsien. Die gebeurtenis kom voor as spesiaal, onverwags of overklaarbaar deur normale oorsaak-gevolg benaderings. Die effek van synchronicity op die psige is 'n bewusmaking dat daar moontlik iets groters — miskien goddelik — werksaam is. Daar is ontdek dat die teorie van "synchronicity" deur C.G. Jung ontwikkel is en dat sekere tipes "synchronicity" geidentifiseer kan word. Die agtergrond van die teorie sowel as die verskillende tipes van "synchronicity" is verduidelik om die bewustheid en begrip van "synchronicity" te verhoog. Die vraag: "wat is die bydrae van synchronicity vir persoonlike leierskap?" is in hoofstuk drie beantwoord. Daar is gevind dat pesoonlike leierskap 'n waarde-gebaseerde, beginsel-gesentreerde, "inside-out" benadering is tot die beheer van 'n persoon se lewe asook om 'n gelukkige, vervulde lewe te lei. Dit is gegrond op die kennis van wie jy is, waar jy huidiglik is en waarheen jy oppad is. 'n Persoonlike leier moet op 'n holistiese en gebalanseerde wyse ontwikkel en daarom moet at die dimensies, naamlik die spirituele, fisieke, sosiaal/emosionele en verstandelike dimensies, bevorder word. Daar is ontdek dat "synchronicity" 'n definitiewe bydrae tot persoonlike leierskap kan lewer, veral ten opsigte van die spirituele, fisieke, sosiaal/emosionele en verstandelike dimensies. "Synchronicity" kan mense help in hul soeke na sin, die versorging van die fisieke liggaam, om beter keuses te maak en om ons bewustheid van ons eie gevoelens en emosies, asook die van ander, te verhoog. Die laaste vraag van "Hoe kan mense hul bewustheid van synchronicity verhoog?" is ook in hoofstuk drie beantwoord. Sekere praktiese riglyne is geldentifieseer vir die ontwikkeling van 'n groter bewustheid en beter gebruik van "synchronicity" in mense se lewens. Dit sluit in die kweek van 'n oop en ontvanklike houding sowel as 'n aktiewe belangstelling in "synchronicity". Sodoende kan daar van die heelal se ongelooflike bron van kennis gebruik gemaak word. Hierdie studie bewys dat elkeen in sy reis na persoonlike leierskap, bewus moet word van die verskillende groei-moontlikhede. Deur oop te wees vir die moontlikheid van leiding deur die heelal, maak dit moontlik om "synchronicity" te ervaar en om bewustheid van die self en besluitneming te verbeter. Op hierdie wyse kan die liggaam en bewustheid, individu en gemeenskap, verstand en materie dit vir ons moontlik maak om ons potensiaal te bereik. TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE CHAPTER ONE: GENERAL INTRODUCTION 1.1 CONTEXT 1 1.2 RESEARCH PROBLEM 3 1.3 AIM OF STUDY 5 1.4 MOTIVATION OF THE STUDY 5 1.5 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 6 1.5.1 Research strategy 6 1.5.2 Research methods 7 1.5.2.1 Word analysis 7 1.5.2.2 Concept analysis