April 1978 Comment Page 4 Common career — questions answered Thinking about changing jobs in midlife? You are one of a growing number who are deciding to opt for that “impossible dream”’ and strike out on a daring new career. Just out of college or graduate school and seeking your first new position? Leon Blake, assistant professor of psychology and counselor, offers a few Apri identifying specific skills (talents we have acquired or learned such as typing). 3) Seriously consider your values as it relates to life in general and work in specific. For example you may ask yourself what you want out of a job! Do you want a) security b) high salary c) adventure and excitement d) recognition and achievement. suggestions to questions most often asked regarding career-decision making. Q. If you have some doubts about what you want to do, ask your parents friends for advice and suggestions. or A. False. There are two approaches people utilize in making career selections. 1) External approach. 2) Internal approach. An external approach is where an individual will rely heavily upon outside : gener _abiliti hada Q. sources and individuals to make a decision for him or her. This is what I consider a passive, dependent method. An example of this approach is the student who comes into my office and asks, ‘“‘Which occupation pays the most, is the easiest to get into, or is in the DR. JOCELYN GLIDDEN greatest demand.”’ uses eastern technique. Fruit, flowers, makes up incense a and a Guru, two-syllable word without a meaning called a ‘‘mantra,”’ sets the scene for learning eastern or transcedental meditation. It comes from India and has been known for centuries, recently becoming popular in the west. “I was skeptical about meditation at first,’’ admitted Dr. Jocelyn C. Glidden, associate professor of Philosophy. found had Roberta, wife, His meditation to be a great help in dealing with stress and finally he consented to go with her and learn how himself. “I don’t know why you have to get your own ‘mantra’ (the word you silently repeat to yourself) from a Guru. Anyone could make one up but these don’t seem to work.”’ Unlike freudian analysis which involves someone else, this technique is done by yourself once you learn how, said Dr. Glidden. There are two types of scientific meditation, transcendental and religious. In America the religious type is less popular than the scientific type. they would enjoy most. discovered people ‘meditation’? sign on a respect his door) or he enjoys the peaceful outdoors. “Once you are in a comfortable position you let thoughts rise to your consciousness as bubbles float to the surface of a pond. The idea is not to try and think about any solution to problems nor make a mental effort to bring them up,’’ he said. ‘‘This process of letting any idea simply rise up allows for a release of tension.”’ Dr. Glidden pointed out if there are no thoughts emerging you turn to your mantra, repeating it over and over to yourself. In this way it acts asa catalyst that gets you into the transcendental state. The transcendental state is a calm situation—as if your mind were asleep— yet you can hear sounds around you and are cognizant to some extent of your environment and yourself. It’s a state of rest and complete relaxation. “Physiologically your system drops into a slow state, which can be measured scientifically,’ said Dr. Glidden, “It’s mind over matter.”’ “I don’t think I become one with God and the universe when I mediate but I 20 requires Meditation usually minutes. It is time-out and pure self- use it as a means of attaining profound rest in a short time,’’ Dr. Glidden said. awareness. ‘“‘A nap takes probably one-half hour. I can get better results with meditation by sitting 15-20 minutes in my chair.”’ Dr. Glidden finds a comfortable position in a quiet place (he has | , When Dr. Glidden feels “‘up-tight and tense,’’ he also jogs. ‘‘Meditation job r Their main interest is centered in what would be “easiest’’ rather than what .% Meditation = rest who . stren; occur of ho A.! conserves strength, running builds strength. I feel I’m more efficient because of meditating and jogging. Both release stress and tension. Other individuals declare they have made a career selection and when asked how they made that decision the response is often ‘‘I have a good friend that is in this field and he enjoys it—so I’ve decided I’d go into that field also,”’ or ‘‘My Mom and Dad feel this is a good occupation so I’ve decided to go into it,”’ or ‘‘my best friend thinks I’d be good at this job.”’ The internal approach is based on identifying who you are and what you’re about and then trying to identify a career that would allow you to utilize your talents to the fullest. This would involve 1) exploring your particular interests, asking yourself what activities, classes, hobbies and events you enjoy. It means looking back over your past life experiences, whether they be 10 or 30 years, and identifying the positive aspects of your life. 2) Recognizing or becoming aware of natural gifts which we call aptitudes and sitting down and They free me. I have learned to monitor both mind and body and have become more sensitive to my own needs.”’ Many people push too hard during the week and then can’t unwind during the weekend. Dr. Glidden believes there is far more benefit in taking a few minutes off each day to meditate and jog. ‘Most people stick with meditation once they’ve learned it. It’s difficult to really explain why it works. It just does.”’ Q. Once you choose a job usually the decision is final. A. One needs to keep in mind careet decision-making is a process and nota finality. A study headed by Lewitt Solomon, of the Higher studies. There is a definite trend towatt late career changes. Bernard of Bark Haldane Associates, an executive job-counselitf service with offices in 19 U.S. cities, saif more people are making career change today than 10 years ago and estimate the increase to be 30 per cent over wha it has been in the past. “The prospect of change does produ a certain amount of apprehension bu nonetheless, people these days seeil more willing to take the risk. Bark contends this is because “sel fulfillment’’ is no longer a dirty wort in fact, it is becoming more virtuous | switch than to suffer in a job you dislike The trend toward second careers isi middle-class phenomenon, according | Mary McParlin, vice president of pet sonnel at Compton Advertising, Inte, New York City. She says the desire f change often comes between ages 35 all 45. That’s when people think of openitf that ski shop or going into the antiqk business. 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