You Don't Know 1 Running Head: Wisdom Principles: You Don't Know Unless You Go
You Don't Know 1 Running Head: Wisdom Principles: You Don't Know Unless You Go
You Don't Know 1 Running Head: Wisdom Principles: You Don't Know Unless You Go
You dont know unless you go [A very generous student] Cali ornia !tate "niversity# $akers ield
"pon de'ating what to do a ter & inished my 'achelors degree# & was torn 'etween going to work or attempting a masters degree in either educational counseling or social work( )n one hand# & wanted to do social work# and on the other was*am a raid that a masters degree is 'eyond my reach( While & was agoni+ing over my choice# my spouse reminded me o a phrase we o ten use when we are trying to decide 'etween taking a di icult our,wheel drive road or adventure or playing it sa e and choosing a less arduous road( -hat saying is. /You dont know unless you go(0 !o that is how & ended up where & am today( ) ten# when contemplating a di icult decision# & am reminded and motivated 'y this simple phrase# and it o ten serves me well( &t may not 'e the most relevant /wisdom principal0 to social work practice 'ut it is one that & o ten ollow( )ver the course o the 1uarter & have garnered several more relevant 'its o wisdom that have 'een use ul in understanding social work practice( -he irst ew weeks in my practicum were chaotic# to say the least# and as & look 'ack on them# some o the entries in my /2ractice Wisdom 3og0 were and continue to 'e 1uite help ul( 2ractice 2rinciples: Never take responsibility for things you cannot control( -his particular line is something & have never really taken to heart until recently# although &m a raid & have 'een in more situations than & would like to recall where & was not in control( -his is o ten di icult to swallow( & like to 'e in control. everything nice and neat( & imagine everyone does( $ut & have learned that you cannot take responsi'ility or those things that are out o your control# or e4ample# some one elses actions( You can only do the 'est you can with what you have and know at the time(
You dont know Never argue. Well# & cant say that & never argue# 'ut & certainly have learned in my practicum not to argue with the client( & seem to have igured out rather 1uickly that it does a'solutely no good to argue( Arguing pushes your ideas on someone else and causes 'oth parties to 'e pertur'ed# to say the least# 'ecause o not understanding or allowing the client their own sel , determination( We have to recogni+e that there are circumstances that we may not 'e aware o that are pushing or pulling the client in one direction or the other( We have to recogni+e the client as the /e4pert0 in their situation(
The more you learn the more you find you dont know. -his is a'solutely true( &t appears that when you think you might have igured out how to go a'out something# the rules o the game either change# or your understanding has deepened and you need to start rom the 'eginning( 3earning is like the domino e ect( )nce you learn something it triggers the need to learn something else( -his principle underlies the relationship with the client as well( You should 'e aware so as not to make 1uick assessments o a clients situation( -here may 'e more to the clients situation than you know# and it takes time and patience to get the whole picture( !trengths 'ased on the a'ove principles: Never take responsibility for things you cannot control. As mentioned earlier# & have had many situations in my li e that have le t me helpless and without control( & think that & can use these eelings and knowledge to help me understand how a client eels in his or her situation( Never argue. $y nature & do not argue( -his is 'oth strength and a weakness( As a strength# not arguing allows me to put negative eelings aside and ena'les me to 'e more o'6ective. it allows me to weigh 'oth sides o a situation(
The more you learn, the more you find you dont know. As a strength# this principle works to my advantage in that & understand that & cant know everything and that there is always more to learn a'out any given su'6ect or situation( Weakness 'ased on principles: Never take responsibility for things you cannot control. -his is easier said then done( & see my weakness in this area as the struggle to try and not control events( -his can 'e rustrating# especially when & eel that & ought to 'e a'le to control a situation( -he logical side o me knows & cant control everything# 'ut the emotional side still struggles with wanting to control# and these sides are o ten at odds with each other( Never argue. 8ever arguing can 'e a weakness# and it o ten is or me( & can see where not arguing with a client is 'ene icial# 'ut not arguing in your personal li e can 'e a pro'lem( !ince & am not one to argue# & o ten ind & hold eelings in and settle or things when & really dont want to( & like to please everyone# and & know & cant always do this( &t has caused pro'lems in my li e( &n going to therapy# & learned some tools to help me with this# 'ut & still struggle with inding 'alance( The more you learn the more you find you dont know. -his principle sometimes comes 'ack to 'ite me( !ometimes you 6ust have to accept and work with what you know( Yes# there may 'e more to learn( -here always is# 'ut you cant remain immo'ile or not take action 'ecause you need to learn more( !ometimes you 6ust have to go out and try things and learn as you go( & sometimes lack con idence in mysel to recogni+e that & cant know everything( & have to trust that what & do know will get me through( & think &m 'eginning to reali+e this in my practicum(
You dont know Conclusion -here are many more /words o wisdom0 that & have 'een a'le to draw upon# however the ones a'ove seem the most relevant to me( & have certainly 'een a'le to identi y with these principles in my practicum( &t would seem that & had a rather rough start with my internship and not taking responsi'ility over things you have no control over certainly hit me like a load o 'ricks in my irst ew weeks( & 1uickly learned that & cannot do this( :very day & meet and talk with someone new# & am ama+ed at how uni1ue everyone and everyones situation is( & guess & never would have ound this out i & had not o ollowed the old saying# /you dont know unless you go(0