Progress, and progress.

Salam & Good day,

If you're a graduate researcher (either MSc, PhD), most of the things people will ask you is about your progress. Yes, sometimes it is a bit annoying (it depends to what lot), and most of the time, we tend to divert the answers (i did that... it works!)
Seriously,
there are days when we do not want to share things.
there are days when you keep asking yourself, what on earth you're doing!
there are days that even the best researcher does not like to be a researcher

rule # 1: like many researchers, ice skaters will fall a couple of times.
(in my case, many times. My friends told me, 10 times *at least ;-).Damn, they watched it :-))

But, fortunately, yes, fortunately ! we have deadlines, commitments and funding constraints (or playing mouse and cat game with your supervisors or team members). We have to come up our ideas, progress (for the sake of progress). We have to start doing the work. And most of the time, this jump start is sufficient to get us over the hump, and then we go back to being in the "fine-lethal-arghhh" zone and doing our best work. :-) ..literally?

So, when that thing happens, there are days when we feel "the best of me is ready to begin".

No doubt. The power of momentum. (i can recall that) :-)
Yes, momentum it is incredibly useful to someone who has to overcome deadlines, and working in order. It is like a driving force to wake you up, and i am careful to say, without them, we would probably stumble, and fall - and doing nothing.

Deep down in the core, sometimes this positive potential for an overwhelming response alerts our brain and we hold back. We're afraid of being part of something that feels like it might be too big for us. Something we are heading to nowhere.

Rule # 2: Like many sucessful researchers, they will learn a good lesson. Avoid obstacles, and glide (in my case, with cheerful smiles... "sakit oooo")

......
I do not know the answer, but i believe many of us should understand our learning curve better.
Everything worth doing has a learning curve. Every successful work, result or even passion is either easy to get started on or comes with a built-in motivator to keep us moving until we are in. But the problem set in when occasionally we encounter emotions at random (stress will influence your hormones.... heh..heh). More often, we have no choice, because there’s something that needs to be done. But most often, we seek emotions out, find refuge in them, or doing nothing.
......
pretty complicated huh?
yes, indeed.
so, how to stay motivated and keep doing your work?
in my case, i tend choose to stay within my research circle.

How?

1- by keep on "monitoring" your research circle works (frequent visit to their websites)
2- never give a damn (ouchhh) what people say or think of you (okay, they have no idea what you're doing).
3 - do not emotionally attach with your work. Stay away from that line.
4- enjoy your work (hey, you have decided to be in this line) :-). Chill out and take it easy. * apparently not.. ha ha ha
5- pray harder. yes, indeed. ask for His divine guidance. (up to the level, i did pray to debug my programming codes. :-) )

Everyday i will try to wake up fresh (albeit terrible nightmare), and plan what i will do. Not necessarily it should be a big plan. But, sort of plausible to be done within a day. Then, you will find you're moving somewhere. Occurring in the absence of you conscious, momentun will strike. At least. What do you expect?
Just wake up and suddenly you're on the right track? (i wish...heh..heh)

So, perhaps many people will differ in their ways, but i find those notes pretty handy for me. All the best in finding yours.

Pakcik said: "cherish even your minuscule achievement, it will fuel up for the greater ones"