Week 6

Unfortunately I was not in class this past week so I cannot speak to the discussions that were made in class. However, in regard to the Bloch (2005) article, it seems as though the central idea is that feelings of spirituality in the work environment are most conducive to work satisfaction and productivity (p. 202). When I first read this, I was slightly skeptical, until I continued to read further about what spirituality meant to the author. A sense of interconnectedness is crucial in the work environment, as well as a sense of purpose and personal meaning.

The case of Marion was useful in illustrating the importance of spirituality as she battled the decision to leave the field she was in. I think many of us encounter situations such as these, where we are forced to reconsider our chosen paths. I know many of us contemplate this even in graduate school as we endure grueling course loads and work schedules. Sometimes, feelings of apathy and burnout develop. When this occurs, I always try to reframe my thought process and realize that these feelings are related to being tired of school, not psychology. I think Marion went through a similar process in which she realized she was not utilizing her potential, and her work setting was not allowing her to showcase her skill set as she might like.

Many of the articles we have read allude to similar ideas, primarily emphasizing the importance of experiencing value and a sense of interconnectedness with a career. This always makes me wonder how people employ certain positions, such as those within cigarette companies for example. How do they derive personal satisfaction from their work experiences? Naturally, all of the cases in the various articles we have read have been under the context of fairly mainstream careers. I would be curious to know how individuals derive meaning and value from careers that do not consist of helping others, or rather, careers that do not positively contribute to the world.

I enjoyed the concept Bloch (2005) suggested on page 198. She said “humans look for patterns, often yearn for certainty” and later mentioned the unexplained trajectories of careers. I feel many of us experience some sort of ambiguity about the future, where we are going, and what opportunities we will encounter. The future is relatively uncertain. I certainly feel this pressure as I’m on the hunt for a spring clinical internship!

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