Post 5

     This week’s article on Coincidence, Happenstance, and Serendipity was such an interesting read.  After reading some of the blogs this week, I noticed the “buy in” to this concept is minimal.  However, I have some faith in this concept of synchronicity.   I often say “it was meant to be” to myself or others when circumstances of coincidence occur.  I often think about the idea of synchronicity when focusing on my social or personal relationships, but not so much with my career development.  I wonder if there is less focus for myself on the career component because I have been with the same agency for 17 years.  Maybe I have overlooked serendipitous acts due to my comfort or sustainability with my career.  I can say that I like my job, but there is always room for growth.  

     When talking about this concept in a counseling session, it’s important for the counselor to uncover these serendipitous acts with the client.  Have the client explore what these thoughts, dreams or experiences mean to the client.  Encourage the client to keep a journal of these unique experiences in order to pick out themes and patterns of behaviors.  By having a good visual of these experiences can help bring some understanding to the meaning behind these actions.

     When thinking about career and this article, a part of the text that I read in the first few weeks of class, discussed that the career you daydream about might be the career that brings us the most satisfaction or satisfactoriness.  I daydream often about rehabbing homes and offering these homes to lower socioeconomic status families in York.  I have this desire to rehab my town and to give people a home at the same time.  I am kind of doing this now with helping to rehabilitate children and families and I work in a group home that is offered to these children to live in for a period of time.  There is just this desire to actually restore homes to help restore a family.  The more I think about this concept the more motivation I have to investigate opportunities for growth in this area of combining therapy and home restoration.  Maybe, serendipity will step in and guide me with some of my thoughts.  I believe that there is a reason for everything.  When we focus on ideas or concepts, I believe that the universe will produce those things for us. 

Guidon, M.H. & Hanna, F.J. (2002). Coincidence, Happenstance, Serendipity, Fate, or the Hand of God: Case Studies in Synchronicity. The Career Development Quarterly, 50, p. 195-208.