Blog 6

Complexity, Chaos, and Nonlinear

Dynamics: A New Perspective on

Career Development Theory

            While reading through this article, I realize how each previous article seems to lead into the next one.  Bloch pointed out that people tend to think of their own careers as being unreasonable.  I was unclear as to what this means exactly.  I know we discussed the idea of synchronicity and coincidence previously.  “People seem to keep the real stories of their careers secret.  They keep to themselves the strange links between events, links they describe as just luck” (Bloch 2005).  I assume that this is talking about the idea of fate and falling into a certain career because of some certain event or situation that takes place in an individual’s life.  These secret stories are supposed to reveal the truth about what though? 

When describing what spirituality meant, I agreed that it invokes a sense of connection to something beyond us entirely, and how it is a search for some kind of meaning or purpose in life.  The idea of career and spirituality being intertwined has definitely grown upon me as being significantly important after reading through some of these articles.  Every past experience or relationship we have in our lives have had some important impact on our career path and decisions we make in the present.  “The world is totally connected: that is to say there are no events anywhere in the universe which are not tied to every other event in the universe” (Bloch 2005).  This makes sense to me, but I feel that if an individual has no spiritual connection to something, they will show a strong opposition to this idea.  Through phase transitions, which might include getting fired from a job, or obtaining a promotion, we can learn and explore different career options.  

            The idea of finding satisfaction and flow in a career is the ultimate goal.  I remember learning about flow in a positive psychology course I took in undergrad.  It can apply to anything you do, which especially pertains to finding joy in your occupation.  Individuals that can view their career as being something more than just a job allows them to feel a sense of value and worth in the world.  In the case of Marion, I feel like I can relate in terms of wanting more.  I feel like that is a large problem in society today.  It is the feeling of never having enough and wanting more and more; the idea of never being satisfied.  The seven connectors between spirit and work were very influencing.  I think it is very difficult to incorporate all of these connectors into one’s career, but if it is possible, an individual can feel truly accomplished and meaningful. 

Bloch, D.P. (2005). Complexity, chaos, and nonlinear dynamics: A new perspective on career development theory. The Career Development Quarterly, 53(3), 194-207.