CONFIDENCE LAB
1. Name the real story
Instead of “I’m just bad at Physics,” be specific: “I lost 18 marks on circuits because I didn’t revise the new notation.” Specific stories feel solvable. Write the story on a sticky note and immediately add one action you can take this week.
2. Run a micro-autopsy
Use three colours to mark your script:
- Green: Questions you fully understood.
- Orange: Questions where you panicked or ran out of time.
- Blue: Questions you never practised before.
The goal isn’t to feel bad; it’s to expose which skill is missing—content knowledge, speed, or interpretation.
3. Build a comeback experiment
Choose one high-impact lever for the next ten days. Examples: “Complete three circuit questions every second day” or “Teach a friend the Accounting adjustments chapter.” Make it tiny and trackable; confidence grows when you can tick boxes daily.
4. Rehearse the next win
Mental rehearsal is not fluff. Close your eyes and visualise walking into the next assessment with prepared notes, breathing slowly, and executing your plan. This trains your nervous system to expect a calmer response.
Finally, share your plan with someone you trust. When your support circle knows exactly how to help (“Please ask me on Wednesday if I’ve done the three circuit questions”), they can keep you accountable without nagging.