Page 29 - Blue Valley Issue 5 2020 print.pdf

TODAY’S CHILD

Positive mindset
When you are positive throughout your
studying and exams, you are giving yourself
a huge advantage. Positivity allows you to
value the process. It helps us approach every
challenge and enjoy it. You will also begin
to enjoy other high-pressure events in your
life, such as a ballet performance or first
date... that used to scare you to death. Your
confidence will naturally grow. Insecurities
will begin to melt away. You will believe in
yourself and those goals you make for every
day.

Positive thinking boosts performance and
helps you feel more in control. While negative
thinking leaves you feeling helpless and
overwhelmed, positive thinking leaves you
feeling confident, excited, happy and fulfilled.
It also encourages your mind and body to
perform at their peak intensity while being
rise in intensity. But this is short-lived. If not with maths, make a short-term goal for this relaxed and excited about the task at hand.
properly dealt with, they will begin to cause exam that reflects an achievable, long-term
more damage, as they slowly wear away at goal. Not to say that positive learners do not have
our core belief that we can do the task at • Believe in yourself. You can achieve this. bad exams from time to time... everyone
hand. A negative mindset tells us that we are If you believe you are going to succeed, does. But you will not see them collapsing
failures and failure is unacceptable. When you will. Positive self belief brings positive or bursting into tears in the corner. Positive
we are overwhelmed by these thoughts, results. thinkers talk it over with a parent or teacher,
we experience an onslaught of emotions • Persistence is vital. If you know that you analyse aspects to be improved upon, and
including fear, frustration, anger and need to make a change, do not give up move on. Your response to those bad exams
helplessness. Focusing our energy on the after a week. Keep working hard to change or tests determines how fast you will bounce
task at hand becomes impossible and steals your thought pattern and train yourself back and achieve the next time. A couple of
productivity from the situation. not to worry about what is outside of your not-so-great results do not mean that your
control. efforts at positive thinking are not working.
Change your mindset • Take a deep breath when you feel yourself They merely take time to develop and really
Here is the good news: if you are reading this responding to negativity, coming from take root.
and realise your studying and exams might yourself or your classmates. Anxiety and
be dominated by a negative attitude, you stress can inhibit deep breathing; therefore, A positive mindset will help you to be calm
can make tangible steps towards a positive by focusing on your breathing, your airways and confident when it matters most. How you
mindset. will open up. Breathing deeply will help respond to tough things will determine your
your body relax, feel better and feel more success as a learner at school.
• Ask yourself the following questions when in control. Deep breaths also provide the BV
you begin to beat yourself up about a poor body and brain with a flood of oxygen that
day’s studying, lack of concentration or a enhances performance. These changes will
bad exam: naturally increase your confidence and
Am I being fair on myself right now? enable you to perform well.
Am I blowing this out of proportion? • Smile. When you feel stress and do not
Am I helping or hurting myself by thinking know whether you can take anymore,
this way? smile. Even if you do not feel as though
• Psychology literature tells us to reframe you can, do it. Smiling releases endorphins
these thoughts and visualise a better which cause your body to relax and feel
outcome when faced with doubt and happy.
fear. Instead of feeding into and voicing • Apply all of your focus onto your exam. • Marital, Couples & Family
negative thoughts by complaining, You have been preparing for this moment • Therapy
Counselling Children,
you learn how to control your reactions and know what to do. Focus on yourself
by finding a more constructive way of and no one else. Ignore sights and sounds Adolescents & Adults
interpreting your situation. Reframing around you and put your next foot forward. • “Teen” Challenges
causes you to shift your focus from factors Performance is oftentimes marginally • Behavioural & Adjustment
that you cannot control to those you can. attributed to preparation and largely more Challenges
• Visualisation is a powerful tool with determined by mental strength. • Stress-Related Challenges
cognitive reframing. Visualisation and • Allow room for improvement. Instead • Adjustment to Depression &
positive self-talk are a form of relaxation. of beating yourself up after a poor Anxiety
When you picture yourself being successful performance, think of at least one • Subject & Career Counselling
and reaching your goals, your body way you know you can improve (like • Psychometric Testing
responds to that. So next time you feel the reading the exam paper through once For an appointment please call
self-doubt rising, picture yourself achieving before starting) and put that aspect
what you have set out to do. into practice. For example, in each and 083 376 1995
• Make a goal. By concentrating on your end every class assessment, practice the skills
goal instead of thinking of how tired you of slowly reading through the paper Fees are charged according to Scale of
Benefits
are or how well everyone else is doing, before commencing with answering any
ask yourself: “What result do I want?” or questions. Each exam is an opportunity to
“What do I want my maths marks to be?” By learn something. Develop a plan of action Pr. Nr. 0860000114022
concentrating on what you want, you are and move forward. Do not give up if the Reg. No.: PS 0080543
taking concrete steps toward controlling plan does not work the first time. Refine it,
the outcome. Remember to make short- move forward and keep trying.
and long-term goals. If you are struggling

BLUE VALLEY NEWS • Issue 5 2020 • 27