Thank you for this timely reminder! Like most everyone, I do feel insecure sometimes. A lot of it – for me – is to do with the fact that I’m still early on the process and started halfway through the academic year. Because no-one else started when I did, it makes me feel as if everyone else knows what they’re doing. (Which is nonsense, I know!) Another thing is the fact that I’m doing my PhD part-time, by choice. Everyone I have told has been either shocked, surprised, or outright skeptical. Makes you wonder why they’re all reacting in similar ways…
Luckily for me, the insecurity/anxiety tends to be fleeting for me. And, I think your second tip is spot-on. It’s very easy to see yourself as synonymous with your research. And it makes it very easy to see yourself as a failure when your research isn’t going well.
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