survey says reprise

When I was five years old I went to kindergarten in the afternoons. In the mornings one of my neighbors would usually watch me as my Mom had recently returned to the workforce. The neighbor would drop me off at school in the morning after lunch and the Family Feud (hence the "Survey Says" post title).

But now on to the actual topic of this post. The other day I found myself thinking ... Novitiate is hard and a little odd at times, but at least I'm not miserable as I was at my job. A blog quiz last spring measured my job dissatisfaction level at a whopping 65%. I decided to take the quiz over today using my current reality as a Novice as my "job." I answered truthfully. And what does the survey say?

Your Job Dissatisfaction Level is 25%

Your job is not bad, but it's probably not a long term thing. You're just not happy enough to stick around for too long... And there's little that can change how you feel. Start looking around for other options, but only quit for something really good!

Should You Quit Your Job?

A fairly accurate picture. Not perfect as a daily existence but manageable and worthwhile .. for now. Novitiate is not a long term thing. One year of Canonical Novitiate (a time away for intense prayer, study and reflection) followed by one year as an Apostolic Novice (where I'll be involved in some full time ministry along with time to "integrate" those experiences). And the fact that it's not a long term thing is a good thing. But if I'm honest, so is this experience - at least at the almost 4 month mark.

I remember reading recently at a frequent blogstop a reflection of a former monk on his life in the monasatery: "He says that being in the monastery was like putting the lid on and turning up the heat - that it forced and 'sped up' an inner confrontation of illusion. ... They seem less hassled and harrassed by the pressure and rushedness of the culture."
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Putting the lid on and turning up the heat. What a perfect description of Novitiate as well. It's not something I could handle for too long, but if I manage to come out the other end "less hassled and harassed by the pressure and rushedness" of the world, that would be a very good thing.

In any case, 25% is MUCH better than 65%! And I'm much less likely to be sued (I was sued 3 times in my old job) or declared "Rogue of the Week" in my current endeavors. Instead I'm just focusing "primarily on my transformation in Jesus Christ," as our Constitutions say. That's all. Piece of cake, right? ;)