Processing

Everyday, I am learning to accept the commentary that is offered to me as data points for review rather than statements of my worth. It seems simple and obvious, but for a long time it wasn’t for me. We are all scholars of ourselves, collecting and analyzing information to inform our actions. How we critically evaluate that data determines our ability to develop from it.

Yesterday, my dissertation committee chair sent me his comments on my thesis proposal. There were a lot. However, none of them suggested substantive changes to my work. They are reflections, prompts to delve deeper, ideas for additional or alternative sources to cite, and a few notes of typos. As I think back to my previous reactions to feedback–almost all negative in terms of how I internalized them and used them to beat myself up–I’m grateful for my response in this moment.

I recognize it as growth.