On your worst day, on a scale of 1 to 10 (with 10 the highest), how high is your resistance to start writing your dissertation?
On those days when your resistance is high, how hard is it just to sit down at your desk? Once you’re seated, do you then have an overwhelming urge to flee? Do you feel in danger of being sucked into the tornado that seems to be sitting on your chest and stopping your breathing? I’m not exaggerating, right? I’ve felt it, too.
How can you calm yourself and feel safe enough to write?
The old tried- and-true deep breathing is the first step.
1) Close your mouth and, as you push out your stomach, take in a deep breath through your nose. Hold this for a second, and then exhale slowly through your mouth. Repeat a couple of times. This simple breathing exercise can put the brakes on that out-of-control feeling in your body.
2) After the deep breathing, sit for a moment and promise yourself that you will write in just a couple of minutes.
3) Then close your eyes. In your mind’s eye, bring up a picture of yourself when you were at your best, when you were unstoppable. What were you doing? Where were you? Savor this moment as you take in You at Your Best. Take a mental snapshot of yourself that you can easily draw up.
In the next couple of posts, I’ll let you know how some of my dissertation clients move from this point into writing.
That’s all for now. Happy week-end.
Nancy
P.S. This week I received in the mail an announcement from one of my dissertation clients that she will be conferred the degree of Doctor of Philosophy on Saturday, the sixteenth of June. Wow—that’s today! Let’s celebrate. Happy Finishing!
P.P.S. Incredible writers, you, too, will be conferred the degree of ________________ on ______________ [fill in the blanks]. Put that intention out there!
Nancy Whichard, PhD, PCC Your International Dissertation Coach and Academic Career Coach www.nancywhichard.com
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