In today’s episode, I explore the idea of shifting from viewing our jobs and careers as linear paths or defined identities to seeing them as part of a larger body of work that we have freedom to build and shape in whatever direction we want throughout our lives. I also get curious about how this body of work question might apply more broadly to who we are in the world, as we build our "body of being" for how we want to show up and experience our daily lives.

Key Points:

• Centering Around Building a Body of Work vs. Professional Identity: What if we consider our work as projects within a larger body of work, instead of feeling tied to roles as part of our identity?
• Viewing Job Positions as Projects: What happens if we stop viewing our job positions as fulfilling a particular role and instead see them as projects that contribute to our evolving body of work? This creates space for objectivity and subjectivity—giving us permission to decide whether what we're doing aligns with our values and to make changes if it doesn’t.
• Body of Being: Expanding the idea even further, I play with the notion of a Body of Being—how we show up each day and how we live our lives as part of who we are becoming. It's less about long-term identities and more about how we choose to embody our values and desires in the present moment.

Reflection Questions:

• How would viewing your career as a body of work change your perspective on your current role? 
• What would be different if you approached your career or personal life with this perspective?
• Could this shift in thinking give you more permission to change, adapt, and grow?

Join the Conversation:
I'd love to hear how the "body of work" or "body of being" concept resonates for you! Share your thoughts or experiences by sending a message below.

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Summary:
In this episode, we dive into a mindset shift that can make a big difference when tackling tasks that feel overwhelming or hard to start. Even when we're excited and inspired by new projects and ambitions on the horizon, that excitement can often come with a sense of being overwhelmed. The focus today is on the simple yet powerful mantra: Let it be easy.

Today, I share some personal insights, discussing how this simple phrase has helped manage feelings of resistance when starting new projects. For those who are high achievers or tend to overcomplicate things, this episode offers practical tips on how to shift into ease and flow, breaking tasks down into manageable tiny steps and allowing for more fun in the process.

Key Takeaways:

• "Let it be easy" as a mantra: How to use this four-word phrase to change your approach to tasks that feel daunting.
• The challenge for high achievers: How success and productivity can sometimes lead to the internal belief that something needs to be hard or complicated to be valuable.
• The power of tiny steps: Breaking tasks down into the smallest, easiest steps can reduce overwhelm and build momentum.
• The role of fun and alignment: How giving yourself permission to make things fun and natural can reduce the forceful energy often associated with hard work.
• Noticing resistance: A simple practice of observing the thoughts and beliefs that create resistance can help shift your mindset.

Discussion Questions:

• How can you apply the phrase "let it be easy" to your own tasks or projects?
• What is the absolute smallest, tiniest step you can take today to move forward on something you’ve been avoiding?
• Have you ever noticed how your internal beliefs about what’s "valuable" or "worthwhile" might be making things harder than they need to be?

Join the Conversation:
I'd love to hear how "letting it be easy" works for you! Share your thoughts or experiences by sending a message below.

Subscribe & Follow:
Make sure to subscribe to the podcast so you never miss an episode! Share this episode with anyone you know who might benefit from learning how to let things be a little easier.

Connect:
Instagram: @shirleymarkant

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Summary: In this quick and fun episode, Shirley shares a surprising moment from her day that brought a little dose of joy. She dives into how this unexpected sight led to some deeper thoughts: What if we all embraced being different and brought a little joy into places we don’t quite fit? Why not be the unexpected in a world full of conformity?

Key Points:

• Shirley’s unexpected source of joy.
• The metaphor: Why can’t we be the "tomato plants" in our lives, bringing something real and different where it’s not expected?
• Letting go of fitting in and embracing our unique selves.
• How we can change the overwhelming structures of the world by bringing in small elements of our nature and humanity

Takeaway: Today, give yourself permission to bring something unexpected and joyful into the world just by being your unique self.

Also Mentioned:
Dr. Tererai Trent - check out her story and work

Thanks for tuning in!

Connect:
Instagram: @shirleymarkant (See the tomato plant pic!)

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Episode Summary: Hey everyone! After a year-long break, I’m back, and the podcast is taking a new direction. Originally, this show was all about helping scientists who were thinking about leaving academic research, but life changes, and so have my interests. Now, I want to talk about something a bit broader – how we often feel like we're not measuring up to expectations that were set by someone else: jobs, family, society – you name it.

In this episode, I talk a little bit about the direction the podcast is heading in to address how to be more of ourselves in the face of all of life’s expectations.

Key Points:
Life happens, priorities shift – and that’s okay.
A lot of us are struggling to meet expectations that aren’t even ours.
Why do we stick to norms that make us feel terrible? Time to rethink that.

What’s Next: I’m still figuring out the details, but I’d love to bring in some guests eventually and maybe build a little community around these conversations. No promises yet on regular episodes – I’m going with the flow here.

Thanks for Listening! I’m excited to be back, and I’m looking forward to chatting more about all the new stuff I’ve been exploring. Let’s see where this goes together!


Connect:

Follow Shirley on Instagram

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Welcome back to the podcast!

In this season, we're digging into exploring how to figure out what we really want, which can be a challenge for so many of us. Today, I'm sharing my perspective on why what we want matters as well as my recent experience with an exercise that investigates what we want our ideal world to look like. And how defining this for ourselves as individuals can help center around our values and inform daily life and big picture decision-making.

Mentioned in this episode:
Mirrors in the Earth by Asia Suler

Thank you for listening!

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If this podcast resonates with you, I invite you to explore the Sequel to a PhD website (www.sequeltoaphd.com), because there’s a lot evolving over there, too!

Also, I’m currently accepting applications for 1:1 coaching with me for late Fall 2023. Please reach out for more information.

Send us a text

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Welcome back to the podcast for the start of Season Two!

I’m excited to be back with you! Today, I’m returning to orient around the question we often have for ourselves of “What do I really want?”. You would think that this question of would be easy to answer, but I think it can be REALLY hard for so many of us, for so many reasons. We know we want something different, but we can’t quite identify what to move towards. Today, I'm sharing some thoughts around how micro-moments in our lives can help us explore and learn to trust that inner voice that can set the course towards answering this question.

Thank you for listening!

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If this podcast resonates with you, I invite you to explore the Sequel to a PhD website (www.sequeltoaphd.com), because there’s a lot evolving over there, too!

Also, I’m currently accepting applications for 1:1 coaching with me for Fall 2023. Please reach out for more information.

Send us a text

Support the show

Welcome back to the podcast!

Today, I'm talking about how the question of "what can I take out of my life?" can help us focus on living our values, as well as how this relates to my personal approach to the summer. I also talk about my plans for the podcast for this summer, and the experiment of "just being".

Thank you for listening!
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Know of anyone navigating what to do next after leaving bench science or academia? Sign up for the interest list for the Sequel to a PhD Incubator (you'll be the first to get the details about the new program!).

Or contact me directly if you are interested in some one-on-one personal coaching - offering first session free for a limited time.

You can also check out other resources from Sequel to a PhD: www.sequeltoaphd.com

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Welcome back to the podcast!

In this episode, I talk about my perspective on how overwhelm from the numerous components that require our attention when making big changes in our careers can contribute to that scary feeling that happens when we approach change. I also talk about a few approaches to address these various components and remember that we have the agency to decide how we want to feel as we move through change.

Thank you for listening!
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Know of anyone navigating what to do next after leaving bench science or academia? Sign up for the interest list for the Sequel to a PhD Incubator (you'll be the first to get the details about the new program!). 

Or check out other resources from Sequel to a PhD: www.sequeltoaphd.com

Send us a text

Support the show

Welcome back to the podcast!

In this slightly nostalgic episode, I look back on my favorite role in bench science at a start-up pharmaceutical company! (And some slightly comical and absurd moments in the role I held prior to the start-up company job...) This episode also addresses how remembering our past experiences can help us identify our values and what brings us fulfillment in our work. By reflecting on what we loved about past jobs or projects, we can intentionally bring more of those elements into our current work or new opportunities that align with what's important to us now.

Thank you for listening!
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Know of anyone navigating what to do next after leaving bench science or academia? Sign up for the interest list for the Sequel to a PhD Incubator (you'll be the first to get the details about the new program!). 

Or check out other resources from Sequel to a PhD: www.sequeltoaphd.com

Send us a text

Support the show

Welcome back to the podcast!

In this episode, I'm delighted to chat with Dr. Kristine Averill, who shares her inspiring story of transitioning from a successful 15-year academic career in Plant and Crop Sciences to become a passionate Somatic Mindfulness Coach. Raised on an apple farm, Kristine developed a deep connection to nature, which led her to pursue a PhD in Ecology. Despite her achievements, she felt a longing for something more fulfilling. In stepping out of academia, she embarked on a journey of self-discovery through yoga, meditation, and coaching. Today, through somatic mindfulness and inquiry, Kristine helps people who feel trapped in uncertainty or frustration to manage anxiety and burnout and to gain clarity about their purpose so they can create the impact they want while doing what they love.

The key moments in this episode are:

00:01:35 - Becoming Interested in Plant and Crop Sciences 

00:05:01 - Moving Away from Academia 

00:08:43 - Developing a Coaching Business

00:12:16 - Staying Curious and Experimenting 

00:16:50 - The Importance of Following Your Passion 

00:18:43 - The Rewards of Coaching and Yoga 

00:21:02 - Encouraging Curiosity

00:24:05 - Trust Yourself

I found her story to be incredibly inspiring, brimming with profound insights and valuable guidance!

To learn more about Kristine, visit https://www.kristineaverill.com/


To access her free Regulate Your Nervous System training, visit https://www.kristineaverill.com/free-training


Thank you for listening!
__

Know of anyone navigating what to do next after leaving bench science or academia? Sign up for the interest list for the Sequel to a PhD Incubator (you'll be the first to get the details about the new program!). 

Or check out other resources from Sequel to a PhD: www.sequeltoaphd.com

Send us a text

Support the show