Acceptance is a concept that is not well understood although it is often recommended as a coping strategy. Perhaps you are familiar with the Serenity Prayer which begins “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change…” But what is acceptance and how does it apply to doctoral study? Acceptance is seeing …
The notion that practicing gratitude contributes to overall well-being is not new. In fact, the gratitude movement dates back to the early 1900s. Research suggests that gratitude is associated with increased life satisfaction, psychological health, and physical health. But what exactly is gratitude? Gratitude can be conceptualized as a mood, an emotion, or a trait. …
Not many would argue against the doctoral journey as one full of challenges. Earning a doctorate is an exercise in patience that will test your spirit and your skills. I see so many stories from individuals about how difficult their doctoral journey was. I felt like my journey was difficult, too. But the truth is, …
Some people think optimism is just looking at the bright side of everything. That no matter what life throws your way, you should look for the reason or benefit. But that isn’t the full picture of optimism. Optimism is being hopeful about the future and having the confidence of a successful outcome. The opposite of …
Have you ever stopped to ponder the difference between confidence and self-confidence? Confidence is based on your past achievements, like being confident you can write a doctoral dissertation because you have written a master’s thesis. Essentially you make an inference that because you have achieved something in a past experience, you can achieve something similar …
Why having self-confidence beats having confidence any day of the week Read More »
Hand in hand with maintaining composure is having patience. In today’s fast-paced culture, it can feel like patience is a luxury we can’t afford. Technology provides instant communication and access to information, and with it comes the expectation to respond to external demands in real time. For example, supervisors text subordinates outside of business hours …
Stressful situations tend to provoke reactive behavior, whether that behavior shows outwardly, like raising your voice during an argument, or is physiological such as flushing beet red when embarrassed. You can also be emotionally reactive in your mind where no one else can see. For example, when your chair gives you constructive criticism you might …
Many folks have just made a new year’s resolution to do something that’s a stretch for them. Maybe it’s something they’ve tried in the past without much success, like losing weight. Perhaps it’s sticking to a writing schedule. Whatever their challenge is, they might be thinking that believing in themselves just a little bit more …
Quick Tip: One way to reach goals without needing to “believe in yourself” more Read More »
The demands of earning a doctorate will change you. That is the purpose of a doctoral program, to mold you into a scholar-practitioner. What you may not realize is that not all the changes may be ones that you want. If you’re struggling to keep up with the demands of your program while simultaneously trying …
The holiday season is almost upon us once again. I remember the extra pressure of the holiday season when I was doing the doctorate. I was torn between celebrating and relaxing with family and friends and using the time off to be more productive, especially when I was in the dissertation writing phase. If you’re …
