In the 1996 film Bio-Dome two quirky characters (Bud and Doyle) get roped into a project to rescue self-contained environment project. A plot twist incurs where substantial damage is done to the dome that needs to be repaired internally. As the film progresses Bud and Doyle work hard to restore the “Bio-Dome” to homeostasis, or “the property of a system that regulates its internal environment and tends to maintain a stable, constant condition of properties” (Homeostasis, 2011). To me, being a graduate student is at times like physically being an organic dome that undergoes unnecessary or unusual stress, much like the stress put on the Bio-Dome. We too need to constantly seek out ways to retain homeostasis and balance within our lives.
As another perspective on this similar thought I am reminded of the book Tau Te Ching roughly translated as “the book of the way”. This book is a modern translation of the writings of the philosopher Lao-tzu originating around 500 B. C. Within this book one of the entries states the following,
This quote eloquently describes the extremes that exist in life and how they are dependent on each other. There are extremes in everything that happens in daily life, and at times those extremes are created by us as individuals. This thought helps remind me that within doctoral graduate study it is important to remain level headed and balanced. To not celebrate productivity too hard, and to not let the work load weigh you down too much. To not let great results get you too high, or to let poor results get you too low. The process of graduate study is about learning, so we must remain focused on what lessons and feedback are available to us to learn from. For the next three years there will always be plenty to do and it will only be accomplished one word at a time. Remaining on the level can help to preserve and balance emotional peaks and valleys associated with the journey.
I don’t intend to sound like we should all take on the qualities of drones that just slowly drudge through our work. I am just realizing that if I let it, the work load and stress associated with graduate study could weigh me down more than it should.
I will try to remind myself of this as I continue to make progress through the work that remains this semester and in semesters to follow.
Remember that what lies ahead might be a challenge but it is worth every minute.
Resources:
As another perspective on this similar thought I am reminded of the book Tau Te Ching roughly translated as “the book of the way”. This book is a modern translation of the writings of the philosopher Lao-tzu originating around 500 B. C. Within this book one of the entries states the following,
“Being and non-being create each other.
Difficult and easy support each other.
Long and short define each other.
High and low depend on each other.
Before and after follow each other” (Mitchell, 1988, p. 2).
This quote eloquently describes the extremes that exist in life and how they are dependent on each other. There are extremes in everything that happens in daily life, and at times those extremes are created by us as individuals. This thought helps remind me that within doctoral graduate study it is important to remain level headed and balanced. To not celebrate productivity too hard, and to not let the work load weigh you down too much. To not let great results get you too high, or to let poor results get you too low. The process of graduate study is about learning, so we must remain focused on what lessons and feedback are available to us to learn from. For the next three years there will always be plenty to do and it will only be accomplished one word at a time. Remaining on the level can help to preserve and balance emotional peaks and valleys associated with the journey.
I don’t intend to sound like we should all take on the qualities of drones that just slowly drudge through our work. I am just realizing that if I let it, the work load and stress associated with graduate study could weigh me down more than it should.
I will try to remind myself of this as I continue to make progress through the work that remains this semester and in semesters to follow.
Remember that what lies ahead might be a challenge but it is worth every minute.
Resources:
Blumenthal, J. (Producer), & Bloom, J. (Director). (1996). Bio-Dome. [Motion Picture]. United States: MGM.
Mitchell, S. (1988). Tao te ching. New York, NY: HarperCollins.
