The Psychology of Passing Exams (Part-2)

SELF-MOTIVATION
Great souls have wills, feeble ones have only wishes.
Chinese proverb.

Candidates who do not persist with their desire to succeed do so out of choice! They have chosen not to exercise self-discipline and persistence to work diligently toward their goal. You choose to be a success or failure: ‘Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you ‘re right’. Realize that nothing is final until you except it as such. We all make mistakes, we all fall down and we have all at some time given up under adversity. However, to stay down once you ‘ve fallen is a matter of choice. Remember the words of the Jedi Master Yoda: ‘Try not. Do, or not. There is no try’.

‘Why Do you Do the Things you Do:’ if you cannot answer this question, you are just going through the motions, drifting. ‘I guess I’ m doing what I’ m supposed to becomes the theme of your life. This lack of total commitment may keep you from regressing, but it does not encourage peak performance. Successful candidates always have a purpose in mind for their actions. The quality of your life is directly related to your willingness to put your plans into action. Purpose creates motivation. If you want the power of purpose, you need to: identify your mission; and always act in a way that will further your efforts to reach it.

Create a priority purpose—a mission for yourself. Ask yourself:

1. Why do I do the things I do?

2. What is most important to me?

3. What am I willing to invest?

4. How much am I willing to endure?

5. What am I willing to give up?

6. How much responsibility am I willing to take?

7. Am I willing to begin where I am?

8. Am I willing to settle for anything less than my full potential? Answering these questions will aid you in determining your mission. Focus on that mission in your thoughts and actions.

To further your efforts to reach your mission, ask yourself:

1. Do I understand the aims and requirements of the examination?

2. Do I have the determination for serious study? Do I give top priority to study at the
expense of family and friends?

3. Does my employment provide adequate experience? Do I use my employment to gain experience?

4. Have I discussed my plans with a supervisor or sympathetic consultant Pathologist? Do others feel I have the aptitude for Pathology?

5. Can I accept constructive criticism from those who want to help me? You must understand that in any endeavour, obstacles and conflict are inevitable. In your efforts to overcome these factors, at some stage you will experience the pain of present limitation. The only way to overcome the limitation is to push through the limitation toward your objective.