Ta'Om has boundless curiosity and a fast mind. His presence indicates writing so as to persuade others and an outpouring of ideas. These two can be in tension with each other. If the outpouring is too large or too fast it can be hard to persuade others. If my academic mind wasn't so quick the doctoral thesis would be complete by now. Idea after idea developed, extended, critiqued, dismissed, replaced. All the time the headwork covering its own traces. Or as a colleague has suggested I may have four theses instead of one...
Ta'Om reminds me that if I'm going to succeed as an academic I'll need to manage this tendency to race ahead and allow others time to catch up or learn to run backwards to meet them once in a while. Also I need the courage to share my work in smaller parcels defending it as it stands instead of forever anticipating objections that might never be raised.
Diligently we collect and store our harvest
unaware that hungry mice empty our coffers every day.
The ego operates in like fashion,
silently, with devastating effect.
Rumi, 1207-1273
Maybe finishing your thesis is also a bit scary. Because if you're done then what?
ReplyDeleteYes I think that is part of it...
Delete"Keep it simple" - at least from a mental standpoint - has always been a challenge for me. :)
ReplyDeletewould the word end if you ran backwards right out of the idea of being an academic? What if just being was enough?
ReplyDeleteMany people fail at their chosen goal from fear of success. Because it changes our norm. And always adds new responsibilities.
No it wouldn't but that's good reverse psychology...not doing it will lead to more responsibility and less freedom. Might be freedom that I'm resisting...
DeleteIs there something you need to prove? If so, make sure to thine ownself be true.
ReplyDeleteMy problem so far not feeling the need to prove anything :) the letters Dr mean nothing to me. Just want to do a good job for myself. Might be a bit like Ta'Om thinking my wings are better than they are...
DeleteAfter I pressed submit the penny dropped. My problem is I want to be right...thank you for helping me see that :)
DeleteMy niece recently graduated and earned her PhD in Physical Therapy. A couple of long hard intensive years. The PhD means more to her parents and me than to her.
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