Thread by @psychidiaries

Very often, I come across people who are not able to do well in #competitiveexams and end up thinking,
"I AM SUCH A DUMB PERSON. I AM MISERABLE. I DON'T DESERVE HAPPINESS!"
Let's talk about that in this thread
#NEETPG #UPSCASPIRANTS #Aspirants
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1/n

When you have put a lot of efforts and sacrifice behind something you almost start 'expecting' the results 'should' come! This works quite well in theory exams of your school or college where your efforts translate into your marks!
2/n

The thing that separates normal exam from competitive exam is that even though you might have done your best someone else might have done slightly better and your ranking will suffer.
Here the eventual result is a rank which is not directly a reflection of your efforts alone! 3/n

The final result which is 'rank' in this case depends on the individual variable efforts of lakhs of applicants across the country! You never know how someone has prepared. You can never predict! 4/n

Also, in a competitive exam for a professional course like #NEETPG, you are competing with lakhs of MBBS doctors across the country- people with almost negligible difference between their IQ levels.
You wouldn't be appearing for this exam if you were never intelligent! 5/n

A boy recently told me that he was the topper in his class 12 in his school but wasn't able to clear #NEETPG. "How can it happen to me?", he asked. Well, it can happen to anyone. Because here the competition is with people of similar intelligence! 6/n

In class 12, you are not competing with people with similar IQs/ similar interests/similar focus. In a professional competitive exam the margin for error is little.
The fact that you are eligible to give NEET PG is itself an indicator of the fact that you are intelligent! 7/n

The problem happens when we start expecting that just because we have been toppers at school level and just because we work hard means that we will do well at a competitive exam is a cognitive fallacy! There are many factors at play! 8/n

Consider Olympics games. The best national athletes of >200 countries go and participate and only one wins. Are the rest of them not good enough?
Chances are, many of them were just not good enough on that day!
Only very few like Phelps, Bolt, etc go on to defend their gold! 9/n

Everyone can't be Phelps/Bolt. They are in a different league so just let's accept that first.
Now let's accept this fact that if you could not do well was not because you were dumb or miserable but because others did better that day than you! 10/n

In a competitive exam for a professional course rather than focusing on the results like 'ranks', it's much better to focus on the processes and the preparation.
11/n

Think about what is it that you could have done differently which would have put you in the best possible frame of mind on the day of exams? That's a better way to assess yourself. 12/n

Here's something that people who scored good marks have unanimously agreed-
1. Maintain schedule and stay disciplined
2. Regular spaced revision
3. Give as many mock exams as possible!
4. Focus on your physical and mental health
These are the things which can be controlled! 13/n

For those are going to prepare for competitive exams, consider these points in mind.
Work on things which you can control rather than distracting yourself with things you can't control! 14/n

If you didn't do well, it's not a reflection of your identity.
"I didn't do well because I am dumb!" NO.
Perhaps, you didn't do well because others who did had better processes/habits/systems in place! Seek help for that!
15/n

Don't keep wallowing in self pity and keep sulking! Work on the processes. That will help you for many exams that life throws at you!
And remember just because you didn't do well in one exam, doesn't mean you are a bad human! There are many other aspects of your life! 16/n

Don't end up defining your life's happiness with just one exam/one identity! Explore many facets of life and try to find things that make you happy.
You could be happy being a surgeon by the day and a guitarist by night!
Don't limit yourself!
YOU DESERVE TO BE HAPPY! 🙂
17/17