Grow forward

While research can lead you to many places, it does predominantly train a specific set of muscles. Occasionally, you feel as though you want to continue and continue training these muscles, and at others, you get that distinct sense of training something else for a while—maybe to return later. Both your sense of curiosity and your capability to investigate things you are interested in are, luckily, very portable and broadly applicable skills.

Consequently, try to get a sense of the way you want to grow next and follow that sense. You do not need to stick to what you have done before—even though there are some advantages to building up a distinct track record. Growing is more about understanding in how many ways you can grow (plenty), and making conscious decisions how to grow next and how much growth you’re up to shouldering in the following months and years.

Research, to a degree, trains your motivation and ability to grow. Try to get a sense of how many ways you can interpret growth for you personally. Even though academic programmes which serve hundreds of people at once may suggest otherwise, your sense and experience of growth is individual. You may choose to join others on their trajectory, but you are also free to find your own path.

(This is a preview section. The full chapter on this topic continues with the sections “Rough coordinates”, “Train of thought”, “In essence”, “To reflect”, “Two travellers’ tales”, “Devil’s advocate”, and “How to tackle”.)