If you follow me on Twitter, you've probably seen this in my bio and possibly wondered what it meant. You're in luck because today is the day I break it down.
#TINACBNIEAC stands for This Is Not A Coincidence Because Nothing Is Ever A Coincidence.
It's an expression from the webnovel, Unsong, by Scott Alexander. The book's premise is an alternate modern history based on Jewish Kabbalah, with a good helping of Biblically inspired shenanigans and lots of wordplay. I can't quite remember how I stumbled upon the book myself but then again, #TINACBNIEAC and as a Christian and a fan of all things paranormal or supernatural, it was right up my alley.
The concept that there is some unseen synergy in the world is however not unique to the Unsong universe. When people talk about manifesting and the law of attraction, this is in essence what they’re referring to. Everything happens for a reason and life has a purpose etc etc. Even “all things work together for good for those who trust in Him”. Same sentiment, different words.
Humans, it would seem, have a deep need to believe that things will always work out in the end, despite possible evidence to the contrary. The bad guy always gets it and Karma is a bitch are some of the fundamental beliefs of human society, for if there is no comeuppance for evildoers, what is the incentive to do good? Altruism for altruism’s sake is not an easy practice as humans are fundamentally selfish and will always look out for number one.
Morality is just one lens through which to look at #TINACBNIEAC though. What about purpose and the meaning of life? What about Luck? It is sometimes said that Luck is preparation meeting planning, and I agree for the most part. However, how does one explain the synergistic way in which some people flow through life? In the comics of the DC Vertigo multiverse, John Constantine has a power called Synchronicity Wave Travelling. This essentially means that should John will a thing hard enough, it will come to pass. This explains how he is able to always find the only, often extremely obscure, solution to problems.
Whether you want to think of this as “Lines falling in pleasant places” re: Christian ideology, or #TINACBNIEAC re: Kabbalah, sometimes, things really do work out and it seems like you’re vibrating at just the right frequency. The best I can tell you to do is enjoy it; I have found that most of us are not John Constantine and the moment of serendipity doesn’t often last very long.
When things are going well, enjoy it and if possible, plan for when the tide turns. If you’re reading this at a time this newsletter is particularly relevant to you, please do
and
, after all #TINACBNIEAC. Until next time, Peace and Serendipity Surfing.