Dear PhD Self,

There’s nothing stopping you but YOU.

We are probably used to hearing this quote from our friends and family. I am almost certain that everyone has come across this quote on Instagram or Twitter at least once a week. Just that it can be written in different ways however, the message is the same that Nothing has the power to stop you but you.

I have come across this quote a lot but it was until on Tuesday morning that I fully understood what it meant while listening to the audiobook ‘The Achievement Habit: Stop wishing, Start doing and Take command of your life by Bernard Roth on Scribd app.

The author mentioned that people can say negative things about you, they can think about it, sometimes even tell you to your face that ‘You are in over your head’, ‘You are not enough’, ‘You can’t’ etc. No matter it is they say about you, no one takes an action but you.

It dawned on me that I have been taking action against myself and so have many others. This is what I realised that when we are being told negative things is that we internalise what is being said, believe it and unconsciously act accordingly and end up acting against ourselves.

Think about it, people actually have a right to their opinion and freedom of speech but they can not take the action on our behalf. The action is on you. I happen to love sport, football in particular. In football, on some occasions although, a player can score a goal against his/her own team. It is absurd but it happens.

While I meditated on ‘Nothing is capable of stopping but me’, I realised that I have been scoring a touchdown against myself. I took the ball from the opponent and instead of heading to the opponent goal post, I headed to my goal post and scored. This is what happens every time I internalise, the negative opinion of people that I am in over my head in this PhD journey or how I am not able to complete this PhD.

You bet I was angry when I realised what I have been doing to myself. I purposed in my heart right there and then that NO MORE. In all honesty, there can be a lot of negative words and opinions flying around for a PhD student. I already think in my head that I am in over my head by doing this PhD I don’t need any other person repeating it to me.

Here is the good news, Words can’t stop you, action will. What action are you deciding to take today?

Love,

Vicky