Self-concept Up-Level: Becoming an academic

Hi there! I would love for some help with figuring out the next step for my up-levelling journey please!

I made progress last week in identifying what I want to work on, but have felt stuck with thoughts of “not having time” (the self coaching feels like a full time job, and I have other things to focus on), and “not knowing where to start”.

I feel in a catch-22 where I want to focus on my academic work, because I won’t have evidence for the identity shift until I’ve produced some concrete work, however I know that’s the wrong way round… I need to do the identity work first, so that I can start showing up in a bigger way for the work…

I think my next step is to spend time thinking about who I am (rather than what I’ve done) as a way to ‘close the identity gap’, but I’m resisting this with the thought “I’ve tried that before, but the sentences I come up with feel like empty words and don’t stick”

Do I just need to do it anyway??

Answer:

There is no right way to up level. Just get started. Why do you think your brain wants to see self coaching as time consuming? Why do you think your brain wants to stay stuck in not knowing how?

What is one small step or goal that you can do right now to get you closer to who you want to be? Be specific. If our goals are vague, it’s harder to achieve them. What is one area of your academic work you could choose?  Make it easy. Answer your own question.

Do I just need to do it anyway??