{"id":993,"date":"2025-06-13T12:00:00","date_gmt":"2025-06-13T11:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.exeter.ac.uk\/hasspgrblog\/?p=993"},"modified":"2025-06-14T08:54:19","modified_gmt":"2025-06-14T07:54:19","slug":"problemreaction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.exeter.ac.uk\/hasspgrblog\/2025\/06\/13\/problemreaction\/","title":{"rendered":"Problems May Not Always Be the Problem \u2014 Our Reactions Often Are\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Abdul Ghani Amin<\/strong> – a PhD student in the School of Social and Political Sciences, Philosophy, and Anthropology – encourages us to take a fresh perspective on the challenges of postgraduate research life<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In my view, the academic journey \u2014 no matter how exciting \u2014 is like a bumpy road, filled with ups and downs. Balancing the demands of academic work \u2014 research, writing, feedback, and deadlines \u2014 alongside personal responsibilities such as family commitments and day-to-day stressors, can often feel like a delicate juggling act. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are moments when it seems like everything is slipping out of control. That sense of helplessness can grow quickly into anxiety and emotional fatigue. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

And yet, from my experience, often, the real problem is not the situation itself, but how we choose to respond to it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Cockroach Metaphor effectively conveys this idea. A cockroach flies into a restaurant. When a customer screams in panic, other customers start to panic as well. The cockroach causes chaos, flying from person to person. It finally lands\u202fon a waiter. The waiter watches it calmly,\u202fgently catches it, and carries it out of the restaurant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The cockroach was not the problem. It was people\u2019s reactions that created the panic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This reflects the viewpoint\u202fof Stephen Covey in his book \u202f\u2018The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,\u2019 where he notes, \u2018The way we see the problem is the problem\u2019. (Covey, 2020, p. 40). Often, the event itself is not what counts; rather, our interpretation and reaction to it determines so much. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In my academic journey, I have discovered the relevance of the cockroach metaphor. Let\u2019s say a student receives critical feedback from a supervisor or examiner. The feedback is part of the process. In fact, it can be very constructive – an opportunity to further enhance quality. But if the student reacts with frustration, or self-doubt, the issue can feel much worse than it is. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes, we are not prepared for the kind of feedback we receive. Other times, we simply have not built in the time or space to respond properly. In both cases, our reaction \u2014 not the feedback \u2014 becomes the problem. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In these kinds of situations, I have found it helpful to pause. Instead of panicking or feeling overwhelmed, I take a step or two back to breathe; to detach from the emotion; and then return to the task with a clearer and calmer mind. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the most valuable lessons I have learned from my supervisor is to prioritise my health and think positively, especially when feeling anxious or overwhelmed. When I was working long hours \u2014 sometimes up to 16 a day \u2014 all while raising three children and supporting a partner who was severely affected by the trauma of our forced migration from our country, my supervisor advised me to take a short break and spend time with family. At first, this felt counterintuitive; how could I take time off during a crisis? In situations like this, I had always considered time as a lost opportunity. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, over time, I realised their advice was in line with Stoic philosophy, which emphasises focusing on what we can control. I decided to give it a try and therefore took a small break. It was upon my return that I realised the break had not slowed me down; it allowed me to return stronger, enabling me to respond, not react. Time turned out to be an investment, not a waste. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As someone from the Global South who spent my childhood in a refugee camp and later living through war upon returning to my country, I understand that adopting a positive, proactive mindset is not always easy \u2014 especially when everything seems to be falling apart. However, it becomes easier with practice. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are a few things that have helped me stay grounded during challenging situations: <\/p>\n\n\n\n