Page 28 - Blue Valley Issue 5 2020 print.pdf

TODAY’S CHILD

A POSITIVE MINDSET FOR THE UPCOMING EXAMS

By Dr Ilse Ruane

e've all had that day where we wake in oneself and the outcome is what makes mental blocks or lack of focus and/or poor
up to our alarm, thinking about the biggest difference to performance. preparation. Negative thoughts tell us we
Whow we would rather be doing Attitude and belief about what one can have not been studying enough or do not
anything other than face a day of studying accomplish are essential elements when it know our work well enough, despite the
and exams. People experience negative comes to achieving anything. fact that our preparation was solid.
thoughts every day, whether consciously
or subconsciously. When we entertain Learners during exams typically fall Negative emotions can hurt you mentally.
those negative thoughts, we unknowingly somewhere between the positive mindset Your emotions are telling you that, deep
sentence ourselves to creating a negative and negative mindset. A mentally tough down, you are not confident in your ability
narrative that can be carried into the exam learner has a positive mindset and a to perform well and achieve your goals.
context and into the future. mentally weak learner may have a negative Therefore, your confidence will decline. Also,
mindset. A positive versus a negative since your negative emotions are so strong,
So how do you reign in and retrain your mindset makes a bigger difference than you will likely have difficulty focusing on what
thoughts to make significant improvements you think. will help you to perform well. The negative
to your exam time? emotions draw your attention to all of the
Effects of a negative mindset negative aspects of your exam performance.
Mindset A negative mindset causes constant
A positive mindset is arguably one of the negative wear and tear to your thoughts For example, suddenly you are acutely aware
most important tools to develop. Your and, ultimately, to your body, and that that there is noise in the classroom, which in
mindset ultimately determines your results, is bound to take its toll. No one can stay all honesty has always been there... but today
whether in studying or in the exam itself. positive all the time; we all have bad days. it is deafening. Negative emotions can hurt
The learners who stay positive in exams How you respond to those thoughts, your motivation to perform because you just
are setting themselves up for success. however, is what counts. do not feel good or you start believing you
Positive learners are ready for anything just cannot do it. For example, you sit frozen
that is thrown at them, whether their pen If you are hit with negative thoughts with the exam paper in front of you and you
runs out of ink, their girlfriend or boyfriend before an exam and allow these thoughts go completely blank.
just broke up with them or they are writing to take root, chances are that you will
their favourite and easiest subject. From underperform. Negative thoughts create Negative emotions are tricky because, at
psychology, we know that the positive belief anxiety or fear. Negative thoughts cause first, they can boost performance due to a

26 • Issue 5 2020 • BLUE VALLEY NEWS