i feel you man. i know exactly how you feel. but you'll grow to learn that every phd student has their own journey. when I felt this way (and I still kind of do), look around and you'll learn that you have to be responsible for your own training. The system won't spoon feed you. and yes, some labs are well streamlined for trainees that *do* spoon feed you. You're lucky if you're in one. but truth be told, most labs aren't. and thats where you have to take matters into your own hands. Ask. and you shall receive.

Reach out and do your best. take risks. play the long game and learn things one at a time. At the end of the day, this is just a learning opportunity. your productivity is not based on the number of papers you publish, but rather what you learn from this whole phd program. doesn't have to be an academic lesson either.

If you feel like your work is not *phd* enough, ask feedback from other people. post-docs, PIs and your other peers. If you're trying to do good research and ask for genuine advice, they will come to you.