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THE ALL-BUT-DISSERTATION SURVIVAL GUIDE™ The All-But-Dissertation Survival Guide™ focuses on ways to help its readers more readily overcome the roadblocks that often seem to stand in the way of completing the dissertation. It is read throughout the world. Want to become a coach?New MentorCoach Training Programs launching. Subscribe to our other ezines: INTERESTED IN WORKING WITH A DISSERTATION
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE - January 5, 2007
3. Reflections on Writing a Dissertation
By Teresa Cummings, Ph.D.
4. Free workshop for ABDSG readers
January 5, 2007
A Note from the Editor
Tracy Steen, Ph.D.
Who's afraid of the big, bad wolf? Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf? Who's afraid? Not us! Well, maybe just a bit fearful of…you know….
Of course I know. If you are experiencing any mental distress--whether mild apprehension or downright fear of the dissertation process--you are not having a unique experience. Every Ph.D. is a "been there, done that" survivor with firsthand knowledge of what it's like to face ABD anxieties. Some may have had an easier time of it, others may have had it worse, but all successfully completed the rite of passage and so will you!
Unconvinced? If you are feeling somewhat fearful, thinking that maybe you have aimed too high and are just not up to joining the ranks of successful candidates, think again. It is not unusual for ABD's to struggle with self-doubt. In fact, many high achievers are particularly susceptible to an unwarranted lack of confidence that is demonstrably at odds with their proven abilities. Whenever you find yourself succumbing to self-doubt, here's your reality check: If you have reached ABD status, you have already demonstrated the attributes needed for academic success.
As you proceed along the doctoral route, your history of accomplishment will be an ongoing reality check that should dampen any feelings of inadequacy. After all, you've been up to every task encountered in graduate school so far--reading, writing, analyzing, rewriting--and the dissertation is just a very long series of comparable tasks. Don't let the overall size of the project intimidate you. Accomplish the tasks, one by one, and eventually it's done! (I didn't mean to rhyme that last line; however, it's not a bad little ABD maxim.)
Even if you have made a few mistakes and had a few setbacks, who hasn't? When you're rowing forward, the boat may rock (old Chinese proverb). Only those who do nothing make no mistakes. Learn from them and move on.
But what if you think that your previous academic successes have been more a matter of luck than ability? What if you think you aren't as smart and competent as others believe? What if you see yourself as something of a fraud, out of your depth in academe and certain to be found out eventually? You may be surprised to learn that this pattern of thought is not uncommon among high achievers, and there is a name for it: the Imposter Syndrome.
This self-defeating manner of thinking was formally recognized with publication of "The Imposter Phenomenon Among High Achieving Women" (Clance & Imes, 1978). Subsequent studies found that men are subject to the syndrome in similar numbers. A failure to internalize accomplishments is the root of the imposter syndrome, allowing feelings of inadequacy to supersede evidence to the contrary. And that brings us back to the reality check previously discussed: Whenever you find yourself succumbing to self-doubt, recall that you have already demonstrated the attributes needed for academic success. Focus on your very real achievements. You may feel less than capable at times, but recognize the difference between feelings and reality.
In this issue, Teresa Cummings, Ph.D., reflects on the apprehensions that clouded her ABD efforts to complete the doctorate. Since Dr. Cummings received her degree only weeks ago, her recollections are fresh as she writes, "The dissertation writing process helped me to understand how to move beyond the fear of failure. I accomplished something I thought impossible and learned to believe in myself."
Though fears, large or small, may surface from time to time, they are not insurmountable obstacles. Courage can be been defined as the willingness to accept fear and act anyway. Perhaps you never thought of yourself as courageous, but in your current venture you are daring to aspire. The goal is attainable if you just keep moving forward, and please don't neglect the reality check as needed!
Inspirational Quotes
Man cannot discover new oceans until he has courage to lose sight of the
shore.
---Unknown Author
The block of granite, which was an obstacle in the path of the weak, becomes
a stepping stone in the path of the strong.
---Thomas Carlyle
Reflections on Writing a Dissertation
By Teresa Cummings, Ph.D.
I left the University of Illinois at Chicago ABD (all but dissertation) in June of 2000, planning to work diligently throughout the summer to finish my dissertation. In reality, love took precedence. I gave birth to a second daughter and was content to spend every waking moment with my family. As a stay-at-home-mom, I filled my days cleaning house, working out, and fussing over my brood.
When my savings ran out, I had to return to teaching. Life continued to get in the way. My busy schedule made it easy to push the dissertation aside.
In November of 2004, while relating stories about a program I had implemented during grad school to math teachers in training, I realized the full impact of that experience on my teaching ability. I had become a better teacher because of it. I knew in that moment that I had to finish my dissertation. I hired a dissertation coach and began the hard work of completing my degree.
In January of 2005 I suffered a tragic loss. My friend of 25 years and her three children were killed during the La Conchita, California, mudslide. Reality hit again. I was fearful that my daughters might be involved in an accident and need me while I was away researching and writing my dissertation. Was the time spent away from them while working on my dissertation worth it?
During a brief respite from the dissertation, I met ABD women of all ages. They had given up on completing their dissertation, and I resolved not to end up like them. It was important to me that my daughters understand: No matter how long it takes, you have to follow through on a commitment, including a commitment to yourself.
Back to writing my dissertation, I zipped through chapters one through three with relative ease. Then came chapter four-and a year of toil. As a quantitative researcher, I rely on number crunching to determine if something works or not. However, this material was experiential-heuristic. I had no experience with creative writing and was not confident of my abilities.
During my dissertation proposal defense in 2005, I took a brutal beating. Afterward, I wasted a good six weeks feeling sorry for myself, and then e-mailed a committee member for clarification about a criticism he voiced at the defense. He responded that he couldn't remember the point and that he sits on scores of committees and gives many such criticisms. It was the slap I needed. I realized the browbeating was part of the process, yet I had taken it personally. I was back on track.
Then came the next browbeating, this time from my chair after I submitted chapter four. It was so disorganized and poorly written that he didn't even read the whole chapter. I had to cut 150 pages and completely restructure the material.
With each such setback, my "wallow" time shortened, my internal critique weakened, and my belief in myself strengthened. I've always been hard on myself and afraid to fail. With each returned draft, I became a better writer.
Recently, while studying my dissertation, I noticed a young lady next to me preparing for the Graduate Record Exam. She had a look of horror in her eyes and said she feared failing. I advised her that she could re-take the test, and added that fear of failure would hinder her ability to do great things. Mistakes and failure are how we learn. Failure does not define us; rather, it is what we do afterward that reveals our mettle.
The dissertation writing process helped me to understand how to move beyond the fear of failure. I accomplished something I thought impossible and learned to believe in myself.
Free workshop for ABDSG readers
Focus: Moving from ABD to Ph.D.
In a supportive group setting, learn strategies for navigating the dissertation
process.
Starts: Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Ends: Tuesday, February 6, 2007
Duration: 4 meetings, 1.5 hours each, consecutive Tuesdays
Meets: 7:00 pm-8:30 pm EST in teleconference (number provided
after registration; normal long distance for continental US
calls will apply.)
When: Our group will meet in teleconference on four consecutive Tuesday
evenings, beginning on January 16, 2007. It will be facilitated by two
experienced
coaches who will help group members focus on practical and effective
ways to move toward the goal of completing the dissertation and
earning that Ph.D.! We will be using some innovative tools for group
communication in cyberspace that we'll be elaborating on at the Preview
Session on Tuesday, January 9, 2007 at 7PM.
Please join us then to discuss any and all of your questions or
concerns. Email us at spskieran@verizon.net
and we'll send you the
bridge line plus further information about the group.
Looking forward to it!
Bob Siegfried, Ph.D. and Shaun Kieran, LCSW
Dr. TRACY STEEN, Editor, ABDSG
Tracy Steen, Ph.D. , is a clinical psychologist and dissertation
coach in Philadelphia, PA. She received her Ph.D. from the University of Michigan
and completed a postdoctoral fellowship in positive psychology at the University
of Pennsylvania. Dr. Steen draws on her research background in positive psychology
in her coaching work with writers, helping them to remove internal obstacles
so they can find more engagement and flow in their work. You can contact Dr.
Steen with questions about this newsletter or about coaching in general at
tracy@mentorcoach.com. You can
also visit her website at www.tracysteen.com
YOUR OWN COACH
If you are considering whether to get your own coach to help you
reach your academic goals, send any email to the following: ben16-76471@autocontactor.com
BEN DEAN, Publisher, ABDSG
Ben holds a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Texas at Austin.
He began writing the ABDSG in 1997. Over the years, the ABDSG has provided
thousands of hours of pro bono coaching and teleworkshops to ABDs all over
the world. Ben is also the founder of MentorCoach (www.MentorCoach.com),
a virtual university focused on training accomplished helping professionals
to become extraordinary coaches. Finally you must subscribe to the Coaching
Toward Happiness eNewsletter! It's on applying the new science of
Positive Psychology to your work and life (131,000 readers). Ben lives in
suburban Maryland with his wife, Janice, their two children, and Norman, their
Norwegian dwarf bunny. They all love coaching from the beach!
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