Shaping Our Future

We certainly live in a changing and sometimes unsettled world. As I consider the problems facing the world today, I begin to consider the question, “Where are we going?” In terms of our economy, our world order, our social structures…no one emerges as expert enough to give an answer worth relying on for very long. Yet, these are the questions that we seem to be faced with on a daily basis with satisfactory answers becoming more and more elusive. The world is changing, shifting, becoming more unpredictable. Perhaps making predictions about the world and the human condition is too complex of a task for anyone.

The Lebanese author, philosopher, and artist Kahlil Gibran once wrote,

“Knowledge of the self is the mother of all knowledge. So it is incumbent on me to know myself, to know it completely, to know its minutiae, its characteristics, its subtleties, and its very atoms.”

In a world that seems to be, at times, un-knowable, perhaps the better use of one’s mental space is to consider ourselves. Perhaps this is the knowledge we really are seeking. Could it be that self-knowledge is that seed that grows into wisdom for life that prepares us to navigate change in a meaningful way? In a time of uncertainty, furthering the knowledge of self provides a method of evaluation that enables us to recognize opportunities for meaningful change. Whether we acknowledge it or not, we must change! Change is simply part of living, growing, and even dying.

As counselors, our work is focused on helping individuals and families change. The counseling profession has undergone some meaningful and somewhat dramatic change over time. Since the days of Frank Parsons, Carl Rogers, and other founders, our profession is one that has evolved and grown as the needs of our society have changed. We have entered the age of evidence-based practice, managed care, and a changing landscape in the world of healthcare and finance. As counselors, a look into the past provides us with a framework that guides our practice. At the same time, that look into the past provides a framework for developing our practice into a more solid and valuable part of the world in which we live.

The theme of this year’s fall conference is “Bringing the Future Into Focus.” As we continue to develop ourselves and our profession, we begin to see how change is exciting and beneficial and also exhausting and dreadful. We will keep facing challenges in the midst of change. Those challenges offer many things – hassle, anxiety, improvement, and reward. The WV Counseling Association seeks to help counselors navigate changes in a meaningful way by helping us to develop ourselves and our profession. As you participate in your association this year, I hope that you will take some time to simply get to know yourselves and your profession better, creating a launching pad into the future.

Sincerely,

Jason E. Newsome