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When I reflect on my journey into social work, I realize it has always been both deeply personal and profoundly collective. As a first-generation immigrant woman from China, I grew up in a marginalized family. Among the many Chinese philosophies I encountered, Taoism became my anchor. It guided me through hardship, teaching me to seek balance and harmony even in the most difficult times.
My social work values are drawn from three places: my cultural background, the professional principles I’ve learned and practiced, and the new perspectives I’ve gained through my Master of Social Work (MSW) studies—especially from Indigenous worldviews.
🌿 From Professionalism to Wholeness
When I first entered the field, I believed that being a “good social worker” meant mastering the best techniques and emphasizing professionalism. This mindset reflected the dominant discourse of productivity and technical competence.
But over time—and especially through my MSW journey—I learned that what truly makes social workers effective is not just knowledge, but qualities of the heart: respect, flexibility, kindness, empathy, and warmth. Social workers must also cultivate self-awareness through reflection, and develop strong interpersonal and communication skills.
I realized that successful helping relationships often resemble genuine friendships—marked by closeness, authenticity, and equality. My values have since expanded from a narrow focus on “competence” toward a more holistic and transformative vision of practice.
🔄 A Circle of Values
To represent my values, I created a circle. The circle symbolizes wholeness, interconnectedness, equity, and transformation.
At the very center is the Taiji (Yin-Yang) symbol, representing harmony and balance. It reminds me to resist binary thinking that divides the world into good/bad, strong/weak, valuable/worthless. Both Indigenous teachings and Taoism highlight that everything exists in relationship.
Around the Taiji, I placed the ancient Taoist concept of Wuxing (五行, the Five Agents: Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth). Each element holds values that matter to my practice:
- Metal (金): Justice, competence, diligence, confidentiality
- Wood (木): Service, integrity, empowerment, creativity
- Water (水): Flexibility, reflexivity, openness, transparency
- Fire (火): Bravery, passion, honesty, warmth
- Earth (土): Patience, persistence, respect, acceptance
Just like the five elements interact—nurturing, restraining, sometimes clashing—our values also interact in dynamic ways. At times, this creates dilemmas. When I feel uncertain, I turn to reflection, relational practice, or external guidance to realign my path.
❤️ Love and Transformation
Within the circle are two more symbols that ground me:
- The Heart: for love—not just for clients, but for self, family, colleagues, community, humanity, nature, and spirit. Love is not a “soft” value; it is a radical ethic that transforms practice.
- The Butterfly: for transformation. Social work is not only about helping others change—it transforms us as practitioners, too.
Together, these images remind me that social work is not simply about solving problems. It is about walking alongside people, honoring their strengths, and co-creating a future where balance and equity are possible.
✨ Closing Reflections
My value statement is not static—it evolves as I continue to grow as a person and as a social worker. But at its heart, it is rooted in interconnectedness: drawing from Taoist wisdom, Indigenous worldviews, and the Canadian social work ethic.
I carry forward a vision of social work that is transformative, holistic, and love-centered—a practice where competence is important, but humanity matters more.
