For some crazy reason, free Internet quizzes are irresistible to me.

You know the ones: What breed of dog are you? Are you fashionable enough to walk the red carpet?

On the dog front, I emerged as a French poodle, which offended me. I can only assume it's because at one time I did have curly hair tied up with pink bows. As for fashion, I ranked as severely challenged, perhaps because I favor flip-flops and Tshirts over spiky-toed heels and strapless gowns.

So when I came across the compassion index quiz - which asked: "Are you too compassionate for your job?" - in my e-mail, I hit the link. My results were somewhere in the middle. I'm not the compassionate hero but also am not compassion-challenged. I am the compassionate listener.

The quiz gave me a big "Congratulations!" and said that I am "the safe environment people are looking for to unburden themselves." The quiz is offered by the Cortiva Institute, a family of schools dedicated to furthering careers of massage therapists, offering courses in anatomy, physiology and pathology.

It's safe to say this institute would like you to think, "Heck yeah, I'm too compassionate for my job" and apply to their schools. But they don't even tell you in the results if you're too compassionate for your job, only that you probably would be a good fit for them (unless you rank as challenged).

Still, Cortiva has raised a valid point. Is it possible that being compassionate - having sympathy, empathy and a tender heart for others  could be a career downfall?

By Dana Knight
The Indianapolis Star
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