How To Reach Your Full Potential in Scholarly Motherhood

Do you wish you could reach your full potential as a Mama on a PhD journey?

Are you juggling the demanding worlds of academia and motherhood, wondering if it’s possible to excel in both?

As someone who started a PhD journey with one child and completed it with three, I’ve learned that reaching your full potential isn’t just about academic achievements – it’s about creating a life that feels as fulfilling on the inside as it looks on the outside.

By the way, if you want to listen to this topic as a podcast, please feel free to tune in wherever you get your podcasts:

Why Does Reaching Your Full Potential Matter?

Before we dive into the ‘how,’ let’s address the fundamental question: why should you strive to reach your full potential in scholarly motherhood? The answer goes beyond academic accolades and prestigious recognition.

You deserve to achieve your goals without putting your family life on hold. When we talk about reaching your full potential, we’re not just focusing on achievements – we’re talking about how you navigate this unique journey. It’s about finding ways to pursue academic excellence while being present for bedtime stories and first steps.

Your journey serves as a powerful example to your children. When they see you pursuing your dreams with purpose and determination, you’re showing them what’s possible. You’re demonstrating that ambitious goals are achievable, even when the path isn’t conventional.

Starting from a Position of Rest

Picture yourself on an aeroplane, waiting for takeoff. You slowly back from a stationary position and begin to slowly taxi down the runway. Just as the plane needs to start from a complete stop before accelerating down the runway, you need to begin your journey from a position of rest. This isn’t just nice-to-have advice – it’s essential for sustainable success.

Think about it: how can you reach your full potential running on empty? You can’t effectively write chapters, conduct research, or analyse data when you’re exhausted. Taking intentional breaks isn’t a sign of weakness; it’s a strategic necessity for long-term success.

This might mean:

Setting aside dedicated rest days
Creating boundaries between work and family time
Allowing yourself to recharge between intensive research phases
Prioritising sleep and self-care

Understanding Your Appointed Time

One of the most challenging aspects of academic motherhood is watching others progress at different speeds. During my PhD journey, I watched numerous colleagues complete their degrees while I continued my slow and steady pace, balancing research with family responsibilities.

Here’s the truth: your journey is a timed operation, but it operates on your schedule, not someone else’s. Just as planes must wait for their appointed time to take off or land, your success will come at the right time for you too.

Remember that your circumstances and needs are unique, your progress isn’t always linear and your success doesn’t have a universal timeline. Remember, your journey doesn’t need to mirror anyone else’s – it’s yours to navigate.

Reach Your Full Potential Through The Power of Being Purpose-Driven

So back to the plane analogy… when a plane takes off, its destination is clear. The pilot knows exactly where they’re heading and the path to get there. Similarly, reaching your full potential requires clarity of purpose.

Being purpose-driven means:

Having a clear destination in mind
Understanding your ‘why’ behind the journey
Staying aligned with your goals
Maintaining focus on your path forward

When you’re clear about your purpose, obstacles become challenges to overcome rather than permanent roadblocks. Your purpose acts as a compass, guiding you through difficult decisions and helping you prioritise what truly matters.

Anticipating Your Success

Imagine if a pilot announced, “We might take off today – we’re not sure, but just in case, fasten your seatbelts.” How confident would you feel about that flight? Just as a pilot must believe in a successful takeoff, you must believe in your ability to reach your goals.

This unwavering belief isn’t about ignoring challenges or difficulties. Instead, it’s about maintaining faith in your journey even when the path gets tough. Your belief in success becomes the foundation for actually achieving it.

Key aspects of anticipating success include:

Cultivating an unwavering belief in your capabilities
Acknowledging that your path may look different from others
Understanding that pace and success aren’t the same thing
Maintaining vision even during challenging periods

Moving Forward: No Room for Backward Travel

So, once a plane starts accelerating down the runway, there’s no option to reverse course. Similarly, while you should acknowledge your past experiences and learning moments, your focus must remain forward-facing.

This doesn’t mean forgetting where you’ve come from or ignoring the challenges you’ve faced. Instead, it means using those experiences as fuel for forward momentum rather than anchors holding you back.

Growth happens even when the journey is tough. Every challenge you face, every obstacle you overcome, contributes to your forward movement. Even when progress feels slow, you’re still moving in the right direction.

Embracing Your Unique Journey

Reaching your full potential in scholarly motherhood isn’t about following a predetermined path or meeting someone else’s expectations. It’s about creating a journey that honours both your academic ambitions and your role as a mother.

Remember that your success story will be uniquely yours because progress happens at different paces. However, every step forward counts, no matter how small. Further, your journey is valid, even if it looks different from others’.

Conclusion: The Secret Sauce to Reach Your Full Potential as a Scholarly Mama

Reaching your full potential as a Scholarly Mama isn’t about sacrificing one role for another – it’s about finding ways to excel in both. Start from a position of rest, understand your timing, stay purpose-driven, anticipate your success, and keep moving forward.

Your journey might take longer than others, and that’s okay. What matters is that you’re moving forward with purpose, creating a life that honours both your academic ambitions and your family values. Remember, you’re not just pursuing a degree; you’re showing your children what’s possible when you pursue your dreams with determination and purpose.

Are you ready to embrace your purposeful journeys of becoming? Remember, your potential isn’t limited by your responsibilities – it’s enhanced by them. Each step forward, no matter how small, brings you closer to your goals and shows your children the power of purposeful persistence.

Remember Mama, these are our journeys of becoming…

Sending you lots of love and gratitude, until next time,