Post #5

While reading the article “Coincidence, Happenstance, Serendipity, Fate, or the Hand of God: Case Studies in Synchronicity,” I was very conflicted by what I had been reading, and even now am confused about how exactly I feel about the article and the idea of synchronicity.  According to the article “many counselors are aware that unknowable instances of coincidence, happenstance, and chance factors can play a significant role in career opportunities” (Guindon & Hanna, 2002, p. 195). I very much agree with this statement because there are many things that happen in life that cannot be explained and that we just sum up to luck or chance. However, with that being said, I do not feel as if people should just wait around for some sort of “sign” that they are on the right path.

When reading Dan’s case study, I was completely floored by the fact that Dan resigned from his job and had no real plan of how he was going to support his family. It almost seemed as if he was waiting for some wonderful opportunity to fall in his lap. Although this wonderful opportunity did later come to him when he was able to run his own small-town press, I think that it is completely ridiculous to think that things like this often happen to people. Although this is something very lucky that happened to Dan, it would be detrimental to think that this could be a common occurrence for everyone.

Although I believe that it is important to have hope and faith that things will turn out for the better, I think that it’s unrealistic to leave your fate to chance. To me, this idea of synchronicity may be an excuse for people to sit back and wait for something important to happen.  Although my view may seem negative or harsh, I think it may be harmful to put too much focus and attention and things that may happen just as a coincidence.

All three of the individuals in the article received career counseling and according to the authors “the use of fantasy exercises, meditation, and dreams assisted these clients in reaching the transcendental ‘aha’ experience after which meaningful coincidences occurred” (Guindon & Hanna, 2002, p. 205). Overall, I do not believe that dreams and other “signs” are realistic in making career decisions. Although these types of things can give clients hope that they are headed in the right career direction, it may not be realistic to think that clients will experience an ‘aha’ moment. I believe that there are other more reliable ways for a client to receive career counseling than waiting for a “sign” that may never come.

Reference

Guindon, M.H. & Hanna F.J. (2002). Coincidence, happenstance, serendipity, fate, or the hand of God: Case studies in synchronicity. The Career Development Quarterly, 50(3), 195-208.