As one ex-academic to another, I say you’re a scientist because you experience the world like one, just as I’m a writer because I experience my life and the world as language and texts, even when I’m not putting words on a page. I hadn’t thought of it this way before, but I guess I believe the lens(es) we use to order our lives and make meaning.
The sentence "If you define yourself through action, then once you stop the action, your identity disappears." really struck an intensely deep chord with me.
This opens up so many fundamental questions about oneself...that are usually so quickly brushed aside on a day-to-day basis, whilst running in a hamster wheel.
Who am I, when I choose to stop running in the hamster wheel? Even just for a moment.
Does the wheel define the hamster, and give it value?....or can the hamster be valid without it?
Thank you for always triggering such intense reflection processes. I really appreciate it.
Basti, you are so welcome! And I think that’s kind of the point of the hamster wheel itself--keeps you from any kind of reflection unless you are deliberate about it.
Thank you Liz! Your discussions are right on point with a lot of recent conversations between myself (a postdoc plant scientist) and a friend/former collogue that was pushed out of academic research. This exact subject of how we each describe ourselves came up just a few days ago and is one they're struggling with. Your last paragraph about how you were a professor but will always be a scientist really resonated with me.
I really appreciate you talking about these subjects and look forward more posts!
Agreed! To be a scientist is a way of seeing, experiencing, inquiring the world, and a philosophy.
Like Liz, feeling how complicated it is to explain what a postdoc is, I used to say "I'm a scientist" during postdoc years. I also (to my surprise) get "what do you teach?" a lot when I say I'm a professor.
I really enjoyed thinking about who I am without the doing and "scientist, artist, coach and mentor" feel right and good. This is a great and healthy question irrespective of plans to stay or leave academia.
“Scientist, artist, coach, and mentor!!! ❤️ Spot on! Thank you for the last sentence--I really believe that “Unprofessoring” is not just about leaving, but also about anyone deciding how to relate to a faculty position.
Hey Liz… I have been following your posts for a few months now and I am enjoying your writings. As an aside, I don’t think I ever followed up with you regarding my appreciation for being open to doing a test with electroculture with your colleagues back a number of years ago. In retrospect I wish I didn’t get discouraged from the lack of response of the technique at the time and break off so quickly… I wish I pulled myself together and had some dialogue about it and tried something new. Anyhow, I really appreciated the opportunity! Thank you!
I digress… back to your topic… I’m in the middle of trying to pull away from the doing all the time and only focusing on inspired action. I find that doing the usual for the sake of it tends to go nowhere or gets me bogged down or at best, doesn’t really do anything much to move thing forward, yet when I feel inspired, often from getting all vibed up one way or another, it tends to be way more satisfying and fruitful. I tend to follow the spiritual teachings of Bashar (Daryl Anka), Matt Kahn, and Abraham Hicks… and there’s truth that resonates with me about the process of surrendering first, perhaps daily and even multiple times a day… and not taking action until you feel it in your bones to take action. As a chronic achiever/doer/entrepreneur pushing for success (whatever that means), it’s a struggle for me to let go and stop doing. But when I do, just about every time, amazing things tend to emerge.
Thanks again for your bravery and for sharing your story. Best of luck with your new adventures!
Thank you for this, David! I wish those electroculture experiments had gone somewhere as well. I know I could have put more effort into the collaboration.
It’s amazing how good we’ve become at ignoring our intuition and instincts in order to push to accomplish more. I struggle with this all the time--especially now that I don’t have a clear to-do list. I wish you all the best with this work!
As one ex-academic to another, I say you’re a scientist because you experience the world like one, just as I’m a writer because I experience my life and the world as language and texts, even when I’m not putting words on a page. I hadn’t thought of it this way before, but I guess I believe the lens(es) we use to order our lives and make meaning.
Oh, you are definitely a writer!
The sentence "If you define yourself through action, then once you stop the action, your identity disappears." really struck an intensely deep chord with me.
This opens up so many fundamental questions about oneself...that are usually so quickly brushed aside on a day-to-day basis, whilst running in a hamster wheel.
Who am I, when I choose to stop running in the hamster wheel? Even just for a moment.
Does the wheel define the hamster, and give it value?....or can the hamster be valid without it?
Thank you for always triggering such intense reflection processes. I really appreciate it.
Basti, you are so welcome! And I think that’s kind of the point of the hamster wheel itself--keeps you from any kind of reflection unless you are deliberate about it.
Thank you Liz! Your discussions are right on point with a lot of recent conversations between myself (a postdoc plant scientist) and a friend/former collogue that was pushed out of academic research. This exact subject of how we each describe ourselves came up just a few days ago and is one they're struggling with. Your last paragraph about how you were a professor but will always be a scientist really resonated with me.
I really appreciate you talking about these subjects and look forward more posts!
Agreed! To be a scientist is a way of seeing, experiencing, inquiring the world, and a philosophy.
Like Liz, feeling how complicated it is to explain what a postdoc is, I used to say "I'm a scientist" during postdoc years. I also (to my surprise) get "what do you teach?" a lot when I say I'm a professor.
I really enjoyed thinking about who I am without the doing and "scientist, artist, coach and mentor" feel right and good. This is a great and healthy question irrespective of plans to stay or leave academia.
“Scientist, artist, coach, and mentor!!! ❤️ Spot on! Thank you for the last sentence--I really believe that “Unprofessoring” is not just about leaving, but also about anyone deciding how to relate to a faculty position.
Exactly! I am finding so much wisdom in this blog. 💕
I’m glad this resonates!
Hey Liz… I have been following your posts for a few months now and I am enjoying your writings. As an aside, I don’t think I ever followed up with you regarding my appreciation for being open to doing a test with electroculture with your colleagues back a number of years ago. In retrospect I wish I didn’t get discouraged from the lack of response of the technique at the time and break off so quickly… I wish I pulled myself together and had some dialogue about it and tried something new. Anyhow, I really appreciated the opportunity! Thank you!
I digress… back to your topic… I’m in the middle of trying to pull away from the doing all the time and only focusing on inspired action. I find that doing the usual for the sake of it tends to go nowhere or gets me bogged down or at best, doesn’t really do anything much to move thing forward, yet when I feel inspired, often from getting all vibed up one way or another, it tends to be way more satisfying and fruitful. I tend to follow the spiritual teachings of Bashar (Daryl Anka), Matt Kahn, and Abraham Hicks… and there’s truth that resonates with me about the process of surrendering first, perhaps daily and even multiple times a day… and not taking action until you feel it in your bones to take action. As a chronic achiever/doer/entrepreneur pushing for success (whatever that means), it’s a struggle for me to let go and stop doing. But when I do, just about every time, amazing things tend to emerge.
Thanks again for your bravery and for sharing your story. Best of luck with your new adventures!
Thank you for this, David! I wish those electroculture experiments had gone somewhere as well. I know I could have put more effort into the collaboration.
It’s amazing how good we’ve become at ignoring our intuition and instincts in order to push to accomplish more. I struggle with this all the time--especially now that I don’t have a clear to-do list. I wish you all the best with this work!
For what it is worth, you are already a fantastic writer from my perspective 😊
“...we are the lenses we use...” I meant to say