Chapter 1: The Phenomenon of Apophenia

Imagine you've just been laid off from your job. As you exit the office or log off your work computer, a question immediately arises: why did this happen? You instinctively start to seek an explanation for your situation. It feels unfair—perhaps legally, it truly is. Yet, on a personal level, it feels like a profound injustice.

Why has this occurred to me?

After a night filled with wine and sorrow, you wake up and decide to treat yourself to a filling breakfast to alleviate that hangover. You prepare eggs, bacon, and toast. As you place the bread onto your plate, you do a double-take—could that be…?

JESUS' FACE ON MY TOAST?!

You drop to your knees, snapping a photo for Instagram and creating a TikTok video. Is this a divine message? A sign from the universe that everything will be alright? After losing your job, could the appearance of Christ on your sourdough bread be a miracle?

…except, in all likelihood, it isn't.

You've just encountered Apophenia (Ap-oh-Phe-nia), defined as "the inclination to perceive meaningful connections or patterns in unrelated or random phenomena."

Consider this: if you had grown up in a culture that was completely unaware of Jesus or the common depictions of him, what would you see on that piece of toast? Nothing at all.

While there is a scientific explanation for these experiences, that doesn't inherently diminish their significance to you. Nevertheless, such phenomena can lead to unhealthy decision-making in the future.

What if you begin to see "signs" daily, yet job offers remain elusive? You might start to doubt your career path. Perhaps you're not meant to be a teacher? After all, you did notice that billboard for a rodeo right after hitting all three green lights—could you be destined to be a bull rider?

Apophenia can turn into a perilous tool that digs us deeper into a self-destructive mindset. The real issue isn't noticing connections; it's when those patterns vanish. When the signs fade, we may feel we've lost favor with a higher power.

We begin to think it’s our fault.

But what truly happened? People lose jobs regularly, and unfortunate events occur all the time. In Western culture, we often struggle to cope with such misfortunes, as we are excessively focused on happiness. When tragedy strikes, we need to rationalize it to feel at ease.

The truth is, we already know the reasons.

Companies overestimate their projections and overspend. Individuals drive under the influence, knowing they shouldn't. Diseases invade our bodies without our consent. You didn’t lose your job due to cosmic disfavor; you lost it because companies are reliant on their products and management. If consumer demand wanes or executives act selfishly, adjustments must be made, often at the expense of employees. This is just one example; I encourage you to recognize the natural trends that contribute to hardship.

Apophenia isn't there to provide answers or dictate your choices. Rather, it can be a whimsical experience. Spotting a shape in the clouds or seeing a face on a cracker can be simply amusing—unexpected connections that bring a smile.

Finding joy and comfort in small things is healthy and beneficial. However, when we anchor our hope to these fleeting images, we risk losing that hope when they inevitably fade. Regardless of whose face appears on your bread, it will eventually spoil.

Don't allow yourself to spoil with it.

Embrace Apophenia, and remember to update that resume.

The first video titled "Why It Feels Like Things Happen For A Reason" delves into our psychological inclination to find meaning in events, especially during tough times.

Another insightful video, "Why humans believe 'everything happens for a reason' | Clay Routledge," explores the fundamental reasons behind our beliefs in serendipity and fate.