Positive Thinking To Pass The ACT/SAT: Take Control Of Your Thoughts

Whatever you think is that which is likely to happen. That’s the first rule of optimism, as well as pessimism. So as your exam day looms nearer, don’t besiege yourself with worst case scenarios. Being pessimistic will actually predilect you to failure. And don’t even bother asking about your score, whether it was the ACT or the SAT that you took, granting you are a high school student.

Positive thinking is not just some corny mumbo-jumbo. Its effects have been proven by Science, such as in one study conducted at the University of Toronto. In an experiment, it was proven that being in a positive mood allows the visual cortex to absorb more information. Whereas being grumpy and morose leads to tunnel vision. Thus, if you want to perform at your best when taking your ACT or SAT or other standardized exams, it makes a lot of sense to stay optimistic. What are ways for you to inculcate positivity?

Be proactive in your thinking. Adjust the way you think. This is the primary indicator of being a positive thinker. Transmute your negative thoughts into positive ones. Instead of thinking “I’ll do horribly at my test tomorrow”, put your thoughts to a halt and say “I’ll pass my test with flying colors”. At the very least, you can think neutrally, such as by thinking “I’ll do my best and hope for the best”. Visualize imagery that is happy and positive every night, like you achieving an awesome score in your test. Your ultimate goal is to combat pessimism.

Create an environment that’s surrounded by positivity. Note down realistic but optimistic statements. Fill your wall with post-its that contain encouraging messages. Your phone’s wallpaper? Make it an inspirational poem. What made you happy throughout your day? Note three things about it. Surround yourself with positivity so that it will be easier for you to think positively.

Induce a positive mood by relaxing. Apparently, this means steering clear of cramming on the night before your exam. It’s definitely bound to stress you out. What makes you happy? Do those things that do. You can read your favorite book or do yoga. Your ACT or SAT is important, but remind yourself that there are likewise better things.

Humor yourself, too. What if you fail your test? Make fun of the worst case scenarios that may take place. You becoming homeless or living in cardboard boxes. Or selling awful finger paintings to be able to buy food. How about people pelting tomatoes at you because your finger paintings are so darned bad? LOL.

So that’s you failing your ACT or SAT. You drowning in tomatoes, you hobo with terrible finger paintings! Then again, there’s a significance to this because humoring your pessimism means you are taking control of it, which then counteracts its negative effects.

So laugh, be happy and don’t worry so much. Do your best to the task at hand (your ACT test prep or SAT test prep) and set aside things that perplex you for the time being. Take it one step, one day at a time, and believe that you can give it your best shot when you actually get there.