This is one in a series of meditations for people who have a hard time taking tests and exams.
I've made a few different meditations so you have different tools in your toolbox.
And as needed you can take whichever tool works for you while studying for the exam,
Or during the exam.
It really sucks that you've studied,
You've prepared,
You know the material,
Walk into the exam,
And you just can't get your knowledge onto the paper.
This series of meditations is meant to help you show what you've really got in your head and do well on the exam.
Do as well on the exam as you deserve based on your preparation.
So get into a comfortable position sitting in a chair.
It's probably preferable because that's the way you'll be during the exam.
During meditation we'll close our eyes but you don't have to do that in the meditation or on the test.
So close your eyes,
Take a deep breath in,
And let it go.
Notice where you feel it in your breath.
Do you feel it mostly in your nose?
Do you feel it in your chest?
Do you feel it in your belly?
Just notice.
Deep breath in and let it out.
Now what I would like you to do is visualize yourself taking the exam.
You're taking the exam,
You've answered the first few questions,
And you feel yourself tensing up and getting stressed.
You just freeze up and you can't do anything.
Visualize this during the exam.
And what you're going to do during the exam is take a deep breath in and let it go.
And you're unfrozen.
You may still be stressed but you're not frozen.
And have a deep breath in and let it go.
Let's do that again.
Visualize yourself taking the exam.
Visualize the room that you're sitting in.
Visualize the teacher or proctor up at the front of the room.
Look around you at all the other students working on the exam.
Look down at your desk.
Your pens,
Your pencils,
The paper,
The test booklet,
The scan bubble sheet.
You've answered the first question,
And you've answered the second question,
And you've answered the third question,
And you freeze up.
And you're panicked,
And you're stressed.
You just can't go on.
Feel that tension.
Feel that stress.
And breathe in and let it go.
And breathe in and let it go.
And this is how you're going to get through freezing up during the exam.
Some mindful breaths,
Some deep breaths,
Then you get back to work on the exam and you show them what you got.
And right now I'd like you to give yourself a little hug and say,
Hmm,
Thank me for getting ready to do on the exam.
I so appreciate me being prepared both with the knowledge and to get through the test anxiety.
I'm proud of myself.
