When I was in school, I was terrible at math. In fact, I had to take both Algebra and Geometry twice. Keep in mind when I said I had to take Algebra twice, I wasn't talking of just one class. There was Algebra part 1 and Algebra part II.
I'd see other students where math appeared to be so easy for them. Now, when I took the courses a second time, they were easy. I made very good grades with little to no effort. I'd always wondered why that was.
Was it because I already had basic understanding of the subject matter? If I did, why was there a need to take the course twice. Did the teacher have better understanding of the subject matter and taught it better? Maybe.
For me, the real reason was whenever I would take a new math class, I'd automatically tell myself I wasn't good at math. I knew I was going to have a hard time. More than likely I'd fail the class.
As a result, at the first sign of difficulty, I'd quit. My effort decreased because I knew my ceiling had been reached. I was at my limit. I knew this, because I told myself I wasn't good at math and there would come a point beyond which I wouldn't or felt I couldn't go. The effort I put forth or the lack of effort, corresponded with how far I thought I could go.
My math bar wasn't set very high.
I'd see other students where math appeared to be so easy for them. Now, when I took the courses a second time, they were easy. I made very good grades with little to no effort. I'd always wondered why that was.
Was it because I already had basic understanding of the subject matter? If I did, why was there a need to take the course twice. Did the teacher have better understanding of the subject matter and taught it better? Maybe.
For me, the real reason was whenever I would take a new math class, I'd automatically tell myself I wasn't good at math. I knew I was going to have a hard time. More than likely I'd fail the class.
As a result, at the first sign of difficulty, I'd quit. My effort decreased because I knew my ceiling had been reached. I was at my limit. I knew this, because I told myself I wasn't good at math and there would come a point beyond which I wouldn't or felt I couldn't go. The effort I put forth or the lack of effort, corresponded with how far I thought I could go.
My math bar wasn't set very high.
Your Physical Actions Follow Your Thoughts
When your mind dwells on success, failure, faith or fear, your actions will follow. When you dwell on faith and success, you will achieve positive and successful results. In the same way, when you dwell on failure and fear, you will achieve negative and not so successful results.
It depends on where you've set your internal thermostat regarding your self image. There is a powerful link between thinking and physical responses.
There was an experiment done in the 1960s, where there were two groups of students. These students were instructed to shoot a certain number of free throws. The results were recorded. Then the groups were given a week to practice.
One group was instructed to actually go to the gym and practice. The other group was instructed to only visualize shooting the free throws and seeing the ball go into the basketball.
After a week, each group returned to the gym, to shoot free throws again. The result was very interesting. They found that the group that had only visualized making the shots had the same degree of improvement as the group that actually practiced shooting free throws.
Your actions will follow your thoughts.
RSS Feed
