Marie Curie. Thomas Edison. The Wright Brothers. What do these people have in common? Aside from the fact that their inventions changed the course of history, these people are remembered for their unshakeable self-belief. If anything, their failures only propelled them to scale greater heights. Any endeavour requires faith in oneself-including writing exams.
It’s only normal that as exams approach, nervousness appears despite the fact that we may be well prepared. In fact, a little fear is always good to keep us grounded and anticipate potentially negative outcomes. But this anxiety should not overpower our belief that no matter what, things will turn out okay.
Think about it. What’s the worst that could happen? Our worth is not determined just by a grade. The only responsibility that we have is to give our best shot, and that best will be even better if we do that with self-confidence.
Here are some ways we can stack up on self-confidence before our exams:
Practice self-affirmation:
It’s harder to give ourselves a pat on the back than engage in negative self-criticism. We could choose to be our own best friend than our worst enemy.
Visualise success:
While we’re studying, we could picture ourselves taking the test and answering the questions with confidence. Imagine getting the test back with the grade we want. While visualization can’t replace preparation, it can help us feel more confident, which can improve performance.
Ask questions:
Even if we think they sound stupid. At least, our doubts are cleared and we would feel more at ease.
Rely on our support group:
Friends and family may not be able to help us understand trigonometry or learn French, but they can help us feel more confident.
‘Confidence isn’t about walking into a room, and thinking you are better than everyone else, it’s about walking into a room and not having to compare yourself to anyone else in the first place.’
Be confident and march ahead!
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