One Seeker's Journey: Transition Step    
 Transition Step10 comments
24 Sep 2003 @ 10:59, by Craig Lang

One thing I have noticed in my wanderings from breadcrumb to breadcrumb is that there are a whole lot of people doing pretty much the same thing. Since there seem to be quite a number of people on NCN who are in a similar transitionary phase, I thought I would share some of my experiences in this arena.

Yesterday, as part of my on-going casting-about, stumbling from breadcrumb to breadcrumb, I paid a visit to the University of Minnesota Alumni services - specifically the Minnesota Career and LifeWork Center. I've known others who have worked with them before, and what I've heard is that these folks are good. And one thing I have learned is that often it is usually good to get the help of others who are most knowledgeable about such matters. So I decided to take advantage of this resource, myself.

It struck me how many people there must be who are in career transition in a similar manner. The biggest hint was that there was quite a long wait to get in for an opening appointment. To me this says volumes about how common this whole scenario is.

But yesterday, I did get in, and the results were quite productive. What suprised the counselor was that I had already done the homework that they have most people do as part of their program. My sense was that while alot of people may not have done their homework, probably those who have been in the midlife-transition scenario for awhile have thought about this alot. And so, if they are anything like me, they will have by-default gone through alot of these mental gymnastics, often with the corresponding paperwork to go with it.

There are the ubiquitous tests:
Myers-Briggs - done that (E-N-T/F-J)
Strong-Campbell - done that
Disc Assessment - done that
Highlands Ability Battery - done that...
Done all of 'em - some several times. So for this kid, it was time to take action.

I noted that in this service, the people I talked to were quite open to the more esoteric side of the search. Though perhaps not all as knowledgeable about spiritual considerations in a professional environment, it was not new to them. And what they were good at is how to find leads, based upon well established interests. So I got some pretty good insights on the more spiritual side of the path, as well as some rather worldly leads.

One thing that seems to be the case is that most people who have a significant esoteric interest will likely travel on a dual track (at least for awhile) - One side being the day-job, and the other being the spiritual/esoteric track. At some point they may combine, but the phrase "don't quit your day job" is often very appropriate. It's just something we have to live with. The trick is to make the day-job be a enjoyable and compatible experience for as long as one is in that track.

So, to that end they did have alot of ideas - some about finding different optins [...I will be vague about this, as this is going out over the net, and at some point someone like my boss might see it :)... ] and the other about making your current situation more meaningful [hear that, Boss? :)...].

So, while this was pretty much of a concrete and "business-y" thing, taking advantage of resources such as the lifework center can often be a very good move.

Again, for those who are interested, the above may be just a re-statement of the obvious - maybe even greeted with a big "duh!". But often I've found that hearing someone's experiences in such a way can be helpful. I hope this is helpful to someone out there.

Let me know if it IS helpful, if you have comments - or even if you have an idea for the next breadcrumb... :-)
Namaste,
-Craig

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10 comments

25 Sep 2003 @ 02:31 by repsyche : I share your transition
If it was easy to find a meaningful and economically rewarding life the system would not be doing its job properly. Capitalism needs wage slaves. Like most of us, I guess, I have felt this tension since about 2 minutes into my first job!

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CL Note: Yes, I'd say about two minutes into the job is about right... :-)  

25 Sep 2003 @ 04:11 by jeffolsen : Do op
Hip hop to the hip hip hop to the hippity hop, ya can't stop
Do wop a bebop duh whomptout bang boom.
Transisting, no resisting eh? I hear ya.
Cheers

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CL Note: Well, you seem to have musical (or at least poetic) talent, unlike myself... :-)  

25 Sep 2003 @ 08:32 by martha : advice
well craig as usual you are offering sound advice. Unfortunately I left my last day job (1992) because i worked for a bully and management didn't care that my boss was like that.
I also find a lot of bullying here at NCN. Some people profess to be on a spiritual path but behind backs all they can do is undermine why we are all here.It is all very tiresome.And i can't understand why some people have the nerve to tell others who or who not they should hang around with. And this comes from those who profess grest love and caring for all, or at least that is the veil they think they can manipulate.
I have been unable to enter the "real Job" world for 11 years now. The disfunction is everywhere. I think the hardest part of being on a spiritual path is realizing how much our world doesn't want to get along with everyone. Many people I know are struggling with this.  

25 Sep 2003 @ 08:41 by vibrani : I think
the problem could lie in confusing selfishness with self-love and being on one's spiritual path as not having much to do with getting along with others and living together in the world of which we are obviously a part. Arrogance (which I think comes from fear/lack), instead of a healthy ego, seems to have replaced a few more important items. One thing is still pretty much rampant everywhere, the need to control. The last job I had working for someone else was in 1980.  

25 Sep 2003 @ 08:46 by martha : yes control
is at the heart of the matter. And we will never get beyond that until people realize one can only control one's own actions and no one elses. People here claim they come from heart but that is not what I feel. It's part of the games they play. Form a tight knit group and then point fingers at everyone else. All very childish and unfortunatley damaging to anyone who goes againt the grain.And i mean damaging in the sense that it pulls away from the purpose of our union for EVERYONE OF ALL BELIEFS.  

25 Sep 2003 @ 13:09 by craiglang : Growth
In nearly every spiritual-oriented group I have been part of, including NCN, I have observed alot of growth. One thing I've noticed in each case is that growth can be painful. Nearly always, as people grow, they become more aware of issues. I think that it's just part of becoming aware, that each of us notices more. It's just part of learning.

I've been often told that the issues one observes most "out there" might just be those that apply to the observer (Lord knows, I'm sure I'm just as guilty of this as anyone else...). Maybe these are some of the growing pains of spirituality, and maybe they're not really such a bad thing - as long as we try to learn from them, and focus on what we have in common, rather than our differences.

The other piece of advice I have recieved over the years (especially in group situations) is that it is often best to first try and understand the other person's position. Steven Covey probably put it best in his book 7-Habits - Habit 5: Seek first to understand, then to be understood.

Well, back to my mountain top... :-)  

25 Sep 2003 @ 14:04 by hgoodgame : I think the painful part
involved in growth has to do with more light coming in. Growth means more light. Then as we see better we also see where we are still limited and even where those limitations are. Still, I wouldn't trade the pain for darkness and bliss.
Yeah, I've heard that too, that if I am sensitive to an issue then it is probably something still inside of me. Well I don't agree with that 100% but there is undoubtedly some truth in it, at least to show me where I still lack tolerance and where my judging self holds sway. Hey, according to the story, even Jesus got upset and threw the "money lenders" out of the temple. Nobody's perfect, huh?
I'll meet you on that mountain top :))  

25 Sep 2003 @ 14:17 by vibrani : Being sensitive
means we care about something or somebody. It doesn't automatically mean there's something "wrong" with us that needs correcting. So, for instance, I'm sensitive about issues regarding a woman's body because I'm a woman, and while I'm also sensitive to issues regarding men's bodies, I'm going to take it more personally when it comes to a woman's body or women's rights. Does it mean I'm more limited? No. Does it mean I can't open up more to something else? No. It's not always about having to repair something inside of ourselves.  

25 Sep 2003 @ 16:21 by craiglang : Hmmmm
Good point Nora.
From what I have studied on interpersonal type stuff, there there are a number of distinct reasons for any given dialog (more Covey stuff, so bear with me...)
- Simple exchange of info (e.g. two technicians exchanging data)
- To make a political point (e.g. a debate between political rivals)
- To convince someone else of your point (win/lose: contention such as the courtroom - often turns to lose/lose if gridlock and ill feeling result)
- To reach an acceptable middle ground (compromise: everybody gets some of their goal)
- To reach consensus (Win/Win everybody is satisfied with the arrangement)
- Others that I haven't thought of... :-)

The idea is that when in a dialog, each party might at some point ask themselves what the purpose of that dialog is. The habit that Covey was stressing there is to "Think Win/Win".

Nuff sed... :-)
Thanx,
-Craig  

25 Sep 2003 @ 16:31 by vibrani : lol
Yup, that's what I think, Craig.  

Other entries in
3 Aug 2007 @ 21:51: Synchronicities positive and negative - Catch God on a whisper
23 Dec 2005 @ 23:36: 'Fun' in the literature world
5 Jul 2005 @ 16:37: Torn on the 4th of July
10 Mar 2005 @ 17:04: Stress and Drivers
27 Feb 2005 @ 23:51: It was a dark and stormy night
8 Feb 2005 @ 18:45: Disparity
4 Nov 2004 @ 20:54: The March Goes On
9 Sep 2004 @ 04:17: The Light of Contrast
26 Aug 2004 @ 00:37: Nonspecific Orneriness - a grouchy spirit in the material world
9 Aug 2004 @ 10:16: Rocks, Reunion and Reflection

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