How to Read “Everything is a matter of connection”
Nanigoto mo en
Meaning of “Everything is a matter of connection”
“Everything is a matter of connection” means that all events and encounters in our lives are not coincidences but are linked by connections. Meetings with people, job opportunities, and unexpected events may seem random at first glance.
However, this proverb teaches that they are actually inevitable, tied together by invisible threads.
This saying is used when we encounter unexpected meetings or events. Rather than dismissing them as mere coincidences, we should value them as meaningful connections.
It’s also used when things don’t go as planned. We can view these situations positively, believing they too are connections with some deeper meaning.
In modern times, we tend to value efficiency and rationality. We often view things that don’t go according to plan or unexpected developments negatively.
However, this proverb teaches us that everything in life has meaning. It reminds us to maintain the mental space to accept what comes our way.
Origin and Etymology
The exact first appearance of “Everything is a matter of connection” in literature is unclear. However, it likely emerged from the concept of “engi” (causation) that lies at the foundation of Japanese spirituality.
The concept of “en” (connection) originally comes from the Buddhist teaching of “innen” (cause and condition). Buddhism teaches that all things arise from the combination of causes (in) and conditions (en).
According to this view, nothing in this world happens by chance. Every event has a reason.
When this philosophy reached Japan, a culture developed of viewing encounters between people and various daily events through the lens of “en.” As expressed in the proverb “Even a chance encounter is a connection from past lives,” even brief encounters like passing someone on the street were believed to result from deep karmic ties from previous existences.
The expression “Everything is a matter of connection” expands this philosophy of “en” even further. It shows an attitude of accepting not just encounters with people, but all events as connections.
Good things and bad things alike all happen through meaningful connections. This saying captures a uniquely Japanese view of destiny.
Usage Examples
- I didn’t get into that company, but everything is a matter of connection, so I’ll look for the next path
- Meeting an old friend in such a distant place—everything is a matter of connection!
Universal Wisdom
The reason “Everything is a matter of connection” has been passed down for so long lies in its answer to a fundamental human question. That question is: “Why did this happen?”
Many inexplicable events occur in life. Why did we meet that person? Why did that opportunity arrive at that timing? Why did our plans take an unexpected direction?
Humans have sought answers to these questions since ancient times.
If we simply dismiss things as “coincidence,” no meaning emerges. But when we view them through the concept of “connection,” every event gains a story.
This power to create narrative has been the mental support humans need to overcome difficulties and move forward.
Looking deeper, this proverb also satisfies humanity’s “thirst for meaning.” We cannot live in a meaningless world. Humans have a nature that seeks to find meaning in even the smallest events.
The phrase “Everything is a matter of connection” aligns with this nature. It gives value to every moment of life.
At the same time, this proverb teaches humility. It warns against the arrogance of thinking we can control everything by our own power. It encourages a humble attitude of placing ourselves within a larger flow.
When AI Hears This
When we view human relationships as information networks, a surprising structure emerges. Your close friends are actually people who hold similar information to you.
They go to the same places, meet the same people, and share the same topics. In other words, your close friend group forms an informationally closed circle.
On the other hand, people you happen to know or acquaintances you see once a year live in completely different worlds from you. They have different workplaces, different communities, and different information sources.
Granovetter’s research showed that about 80% of people who successfully changed jobs got their information from “acquaintances they rarely see.” Not from close friends they saw every day.
When you draw this as a network diagram, the reason becomes clear. Groups connected by strong ties form dense clusters. But weak ties become bridges connecting different clusters.
These bridges are the only pathways through which new information flows. Chance connections change lives because they are doors to informationally distant worlds.
The phrase “Everything is a matter of connection” points to a strategy that’s correct even from a probability perspective. Because life’s turning points are unpredictable, maintaining as many diverse weak ties as possible maximizes the total amount of opportunities.
Relationships that amount to brief conversations might actually be your most valuable network assets.
Lessons for Today
What “Everything is a matter of connection” teaches modern people is the capacity to accept life and maintain an open attitude toward possibilities.
In modern society, there’s a strong tendency to try to plan and control everything. However, many of the truly valuable things in life come from unexpected places.
Unexpected encounters, changes in plans, chance opportunities—rather than rejecting these as obstacles, the flexibility to accept them as “connections” enriches your life.
This proverb also changes how we view failure and setbacks. When you don’t get the result you wanted, you can see it not as mere failure but as a connection guiding you to a different path.
This perspective opens up new possibilities. When one door closes, it might be a connection meant to open another door.
What matters is not taking lightly the events and encounters before you. The person you passed today, the book you picked up, the information you happened to see—all of these hold the potential to become connections that shape your life.
If you think everything is a matter of connection, all of daily life gains meaning. Your life should become richer and more interesting.
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