The Professor is Confused (And Why That May Be Good News)

I recently rewrote my mission statement: "I envision a world in which people are deeply connected with themselves, with one another, and with the world around them. A world in which love, rather than ego or fear, guides our choices, relationships, and systems."

This statement feels like a compass that finally points in the right direction.

It resonates with who I am becoming.

And at the same time,

it terrifies me.

Why?

Because I am also an Associate Professor in Biomedical Data Sciences at Hasselt University.

I work with hard facts,

complex systems,

and the clinical reality of healthcare.

And that’s where the friction starts.

Lately, I’ve been experimenting:

a podcast about the messiness of life,

blogs about my deepest doubts,

and a project for the Health Campus where I want to bridge the gap between artists and scientists.

Lately, people have started asking me:

"Liesbet, where are you going with this?

What is it you’re actually trying to achieve?"

And my honest answer right now is: I don’t know.

I feel an immense pressure to push myself back into a recognizable box.

The fear of "going too wide."

The fear that people won't be able to 'grasp' me anymore and that my mission will dilute into something abstract.

Or worse: the fear of losing my credibility when I speak about 'love' and 'connection' in a world built on 'ratio.'

But while I feel this confusion, I notice something else.

The conversations I’ve been having lately—about the podcast, about the art project—are the most vibrant conversations of my career.

There is energy.

There is genuine connection.

Maybe the problem isn't that I'm "going too wide."

Maybe the problem is that we’ve grown accustomed to a world where we have to park our humanity at the office door.

I am an idealist with my feet in the data.

I am a scientist who believes art can save us where numbers stop.

And yes, it’s chaotic.

It’s a messy middle.

I’ve decided to stop hiding the chaos.

Because how can I invite others to "connect deeply with themselves" if I keep my own search hidden behind a polished professional image?

Today, I choose the "not-knowing."

I trust my compass, even though I haven’t drawn the map yet.

Are you building something that doesn’t have a name yet?

I’d love to hear about it.

Because it’s in the confusion that we truly find each other.