Phew, this has been one heck of a year! And, we have 2 weeks left to do what? WORK?! No! Now is the time to rest, recharge, and plan out how we’re going to show up in 2026. I’m sending you all lots of love during this time and into the next year. Until then, love you. Byee!

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Happy Holidays! Now is the time where people from your past may start reaching out to reconnect — but should you? This season tends to bring nostalgia, loneliness, and reflection. For doctoral students, this also means opportunities to have your energy, time, and momentum drained. In this episode, I discuss ways that I’ve dealt with this same issue in the past. Now, this doesn’t mean not connecting at all, but to be mindful of the why/timing behind reconnecting. Love y’all!

Surviving the Holidays: Resisting the Urge to Reconnect After Going No Contact by Randi Fine, https://www.randifine.com/post/surviving-the-holidays-resisting-the-urge-to-reconnect

*This article is mainly focused on narcissistic abuse, but offers some good strategies.

Website, Socials, & Accountability: https://linktr.ee/phdlevelcomplete

This chapter in my life has been a time of reflection and change. It’s been hard, but, it’s been worthwhile to reflect on why I keep circling around the same thoughts for my future. Why have I wanted to do a thing (teach), but kept telling myself that I couldn’t? Looking back, it’s because I’ve allowed the projections of others to dictate how I see myself. Instead of saying, “that’s a YOU thing,” I tried to prove them wrong. (Phew, talk about a losing battle.) But what if I stopped trying to convince others that I’m good enough, but just started believing and acting like I am. Because, I am enough. And Doc, you are too.

A Psychologist’s Guide To: Being Your Authentic Self by Open-Up: https://openup.com/blog/a-psychologists-guide-to-being-your-authentic-self/

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I think we’ve all been in this situation before. We venture out into uncharted territory, get to a critical moment, and wonder, "what if I fail?” I had this same thought pattern at the start of one of my recent streams, but this wasn’t the first time it’s happened. I remember thinking this same way twice during my doctoral program and yet, I was able to listen to myself and learn how to move forward in the face of doubt. It was a test, really, to see if I was actually committed to the journey ahead of me. What about you? Are you truly committed to finishing or should you just stop now? I’m not you, nor do I know what you’re going through, but before you stop just remember that there is a difference between “no” and “not right now.” Remember, it’s okay to pause Doc and regroup. The end goal will still be there when you’re ready.

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How and why do we need to say no? As I’m gathering ideas for my upcoming dissertation prep course (yep, you read correctly~!), I reached out to a few colleagues for suggestions. In the responses that followed, I received a nice reminder that learning to say “no” is an important step towards self-fulfillment.

Some ideas for help in this area:

99 ways to say no (Claire Diaz-Ortiz): https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20130501190655-52397036-100-ways-to-say-no/

Say “No” in Different Languages (Beelinguapp): https://beelinguapp.com/blog/how-to-say-no-in-different-languages

Serving from Your Saucer* (Lisa Nichols): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Ty_emHQgI8

*The original video is from Facebook, but this is the person I first heard this idea from.

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For some of us, making a mistake can diminish our self worth because we’ve been conditioned to believe that our value is tied to how perfect we are. Or perhaps, it’s a sense of control that provides safety from the environment around us. It’s incredibly easy to beat ourselves up, feel unworthy, even unlovable in these moments. But you know it’s okay to be human, right? I had to remind myself of this recently and get back to a point where I didn’t allow one mistake to keep me trapped in a mental space of self-loathing… I darn say self-hatred.

Website, Socials, & Accountability: https://linktr.ee/phdlevelcomplete

Each step you take is getting you one step closer to finishing. Remember that Doc!

Website, Socials, & Accountability: https://linktr.ee/phdlevelcomplete

All the successful people are talking about these things called “boundaries” and truthfully, I’m still learning about them myself. One thing I’ve learned is that my lack of boundaries originates from a lack of belief in my own worth. Phew!—an eye opening realization that has helped me create stronger, more intentional boundaries. In turn, I’m happier. I wish the same for you.

Leah Campbell from Psych Central talks more about boundaries: https://psychcentral.com/relationships/what-are-personal-boundaries-how-do-i-get-some

Website, Socials, & Accountability: https://linktr.ee/phdlevelcomplete