Podcast #2878

Hello and welcome back. I want to talk to you today about something that makes a lot of us feel a little bit of dread, a little bit of anxiety, maybe even a little bit of fear. I want to talk about tests. Not the little pop quizzes of life, but the big ones. The ones that feel like they carry weight, the ones that seem to define a moment, or a grade, or a job opportunity. The ones that loom on the calendar. And I want to offer you a different way to look at them. Because what if I told you that this test you're facing isn't just an assessment? What if it's actually a powerful opportunity? An opportunity to demonstrate your dedication, your growth, and all the knowledge you've been diligently cultivating. Let's sit with that for a minute. An opportunity. Not a punishment. Not a judgment. An opportunity to show up and show what you're made of. I want you to think about an athlete. Picture them in your mind. Maybe it's a runner at the starting blocks, or a gymnast poised before a routine. In that moment, right before the event begins, what are they feeling? Are they consumed by fear? Are they thinking, oh no, what if I fail? What if I fall? Maybe a little bit of that is there, it's human. But predominantly, that athlete is feeling something else. They are feeling focused determination. They are ready. They have put in the hours. They have done the drills, the practice, the conditioning. They know their body and their skill. They are standing there, not with terror, but with the quiet confidence that comes from preparation. They are there to perform. They are there to execute. This is the exact mindset I want you to bring to your test. Approach it not with fear, but with the focused determination of that athlete. Know that every single hour you spent studying, every chapter you read, every problem you worked through, has built your capacity. It has built the mental muscle you need for this exact moment. That preparation didn't disappear. It's in you. It's part of you now. It's the foundation you get to stand on. So when you sit down, whether it's in a quiet classroom or at your desk at home, take a deep breath and connect with that foundation. Remember the work you've done. Trust in that effort. This is so crucial. We often undermine ourselves right before the big moment. We think, did I study enough? Did I focus on the right things? What if I forget everything? That voice is the fear talking. It's trying to protect you from potential disappointment by making you doubt yourself. But you have to gently tell that voice, thank you for your concern, but I've got this. I have put in the work. I trust my effort. Your effort is your currency. It's the proof of your commitment. You didn't just wake up today and decide to take this test. You've been on a journey. You've grown. You've learned new things, you've struggled with concepts until they clicked, you've expanded your understanding. This test is simply the arena where you get to demonstrate that growth. It's the stage. And you are the main performer. Now, let's talk about embracing the challenge. It's easy to see a difficult test as a threat. Our brains are wired that way. Threat, danger, run! But what if we reframe it? What if we see it as a chance to shine? This is your moment to pull all that knowledge out of your head and put it on paper or on the screen. It's your chance to solve those problems, to articulate those ideas, to show just how capable you are. Embrace that. Get excited about it. This is your opportunity to prove to yourself, more than anyone else, what you are capable of. And here's the most important part, the part I really want you to hold onto. Your potential far, far exceeds any single score. Read that again. Your potential is not defined by a number on a page. It is not contained within a percentage or a letter grade. That score is a data point. It's a snapshot of your performance on one particular day, on one particular set of questions. It is not the full, magnificent picture of who you are and what you can achieve. You are so much more than that. You have talents, insights, creativity, and a capacity for learning that cannot be fully captured by any test. So go into this knowing that. Release the pressure that says this score is the ultimate measure of your worth. It's not. It's just one measure of your performance on this specific task. This test can also be a moment of discovery. It's a chance to not only prove what you know but to discover the depth of your own resilience and capability. You will likely face a question that stumps you. You might feel a moment of panic. And in that moment, you have a choice. You can let the panic take over, or you can take a breath, lean on your preparation, and tap into your problem-solving skills. You can discover just how resilient you are. You can find a way through the difficulty. That discovery, that moment of overcoming the mental hurdle, is often more valuable than getting the answer right. It builds a kind of confidence that lasts long after the test is over. It shows you that you can handle pressure. That you can think under stress. That you are resilient. So how do you practically bring all of this to your test day? Let's break it down into a simple pre-test ritual. The night before, do not cram. Trust that the foundation is laid. Do something relaxing. Watch a movie, read a book for fun, talk to a friend. Get a good night's sleep. Your brain consolidates memory while you sleep, so rest is part of your preparation. On the morning of the test, eat a good breakfast. Fuel your brain. Hydrate. Before you begin, take two minutes. Just sit quietly. Close your eyes. Take three deep, slow breaths. In through your nose, out through your mouth. On the first breath, think, I am prepared. On the second breath, think, I am capable. On the third breath, think, I am ready for this opportunity. Then, when you start, read the instructions carefully. Pace yourself. If you get stuck on a question, don't dwell on it. Mark it, move on, and come back. Trust that your brain will work on it in the background. And throughout the test, maintain that athlete's mindset. You are there to perform. You are there to execute the game plan you've prepared. You are not there to be perfect. You are there to do your best with the tools you have. Remember, every person who has ever achieved anything great has faced tests. They've faced moments where they had to perform under pressure. They succeeded not because they were never afraid, but because they moved forward with determination anyway. They trusted their training. They embraced the challenge. You are no different. You have that same strength inside you. So as you walk into that testing room, or as you log in to that exam, carry this thought with you. This is my moment. This is my opportunity to demonstrate how much I've grown, how hard I've worked, and how resilient I can be. I trust my effort. I embrace this challenge. And no matter the outcome, I know my potential is limitless. Go in there and shine. Thank you for listening.