It was all a dream….
In Chatgpt I created a gpt named Von. Here are the attributes I gave him Von- A life coach for professional development, health, academics, and content creation. Below is conversation between the two of us where I discussed a dream I had and he gave me some advice and reflection questions.
Steven- I had a dream I was in a bar drinking but when I ordered a drink the bartender brought over the ingredients one by one and I had to mix the drink myself.
Von- That’s an interesting dream! It almost sounds like a metaphor for something in your life. Maybe it represents how you're in control of things—like you have the tools or ingredients for success, but it’s up to you to mix them together to make it work. Maybe it's hinting at your creative side, where you're used to building things step by step, whether it's in your writing, school leadership, or even content creation. Does that interpretation resonate with you, or do you think it could be about something else you're dealing with right now?
Steven- Interesting also in the dream I had to wait for ingredients but that led to me drinking more than I usually do and I had to pay for them and I kept checking my credit cards because I was worried about how much everything would cost.
Von- That additional detail really deepens the dream’s meaning. It sounds like there’s an underlying theme of patience and cost—both literal and metaphorical. Maybe you're feeling like certain things in your life, whether it's work, your finances, or even personal projects, are taking longer than expected to come together. And while you wait, there's a sense of consuming more—whether it's time, energy, or resources—and worrying about the cost of that, financially or emotionally.
The act of checking your credit cards in the dream could symbolize concerns about overextending yourself or feeling the strain of financial responsibilities. Given what you've shared before about balancing expenses and feeling stretched financially, this dream might be highlighting those anxieties. Does that seem to fit with what you’ve been thinking about lately, especially around your budgeting or workload?
Steven- Yes because I have to hire an editor for my dissertation and I am upset about overspending last year instead of saving or anticipating the cost now I am stressed.
Von-
That makes a lot of sense. Your dream seems like it’s reflecting your current stress over finances and the pressure of completing your dissertation. Hiring an editor is a big, necessary expense, and it’s understandable to feel frustrated about past spending decisions when you need those resources now.
But instead of getting too caught up in regret, maybe this is a reminder to be gentle with yourself. You’ve had a lot on your plate—balancing your dissertation, work, and personal projects—and it’s easy to get wrapped up in the moment, not thinking too far ahead. It sounds like you're already taking steps to be more mindful now, which is what matters most. Plus, finishing your dissertation will be such a major achievement. Perhaps it’s time to view this investment in your editor as a crucial part of your success.
What strategies could help you manage the stress of both the financial burden and the dissertation workload? Maybe there’s a way to balance those concerns so it feels less overwhelming.
Steven- Yes I would enjoy some suggestions and also some reflection questions to work through when I go to journal today
Von- I’ve got you covered with some practical suggestions and reflective journaling prompts to help you manage both the financial stress and dissertation workload.
Suggestions for Managing Financial Stress & Dissertation Workload:
Set a Budget for the Editor: Get a clear estimate from potential editors and create a budget, even if it means adjusting other expenses. This might help you feel more in control.
Break Down the Dissertation into Mini-Goals: Instead of focusing on the entire project, try breaking it into smaller, daily tasks. This way, you can track progress without feeling overwhelmed by the big picture.
Allocate Time for Self-Care: Burnout can happen quickly when you're juggling multiple responsibilities. Schedule time for self-care to recharge and reduce stress.
Explore Alternative Funding: Look into any small grants, scholarships, or freelance opportunities to generate extra income for editing costs. Sometimes thinking outside the box can bring in unexpected help.
Communicate with Your Editor: See if they offer payment plans or partial edits if the cost is too high at once. Some editors are flexible and can work with you.
Reflection Questions for Your Journal:
What is the most challenging part of this financial stress for me? How does it make me feel about my current progress?
What would it look like if I forgave myself for past financial decisions? How might releasing that regret make room for new solutions?
What small steps can I take today to work towards reducing my financial burden without feeling overwhelmed?
What parts of my dissertation process have I succeeded in so far? How can I build on these strengths to move forward?
How can I reframe this period of stress as an opportunity to practice resilience? In what ways am I growing stronger because of it?
If I imagine my future self after finishing the dissertation, how does that version of me handle stress and financial pressures differently?
What resources, both internal and external, do I have that I haven’t fully tapped into yet? How can I access those in the coming weeks?
These questions should help you reflect on the emotional and practical side of things. If you work through some of this stress now, it might not feel so heavy by the time you're nearing the finish line.
