Category Archives: Preparing the Mind

Cultivating Academic Humility (Part I): The Doorway to Curiosity, Innovation, & Passion

Posted on January 29, 2018 by Payal Patel

“The more I learn, the more I realize how much I don’t know.” –Albert Einstein. It is no coincidence that one of the most influential scientists of the 20th century spoke these words. Hearing Einstein’s name often conjures up the … Continue reading →

Posted in Anxiety & Struggle, Curiosity, Focus & Clarity, Observation, Preparing the Mind | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

On Struggle (Part 3): In Conversation With Struggle

Posted on January 16, 2018 by Payal Patel

In the my last article, On Struggle (Part 2): Embracing the Evolving Mind, I promised to post my meditation on understanding struggle and embracing the evolving mind. Today’s post is primarily a video containing a meditation with the background image … Continue reading →

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On Struggle (Part I): Befriending Struggle

Posted on December 11, 2017 by Payal Patel

Struggle. This one word often invokes frustration, annoyance, and hopelessness among students. But why? I always ask my students: What’s so bad about struggle? Tell me about it! What’s the big deal?  In fact, I just asked these questions to … Continue reading →

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Judging, Labeling, & Mathematics: An Unfortunately Common Practice

Posted on October 13, 2017 by Payal Patel

Every year, I come across students that say one of the following phrases in the beginning of the year and I work hard all year to change the beliefs behind such statements: “I used to be good at math but … Continue reading →

Posted in Anxiety, Math Anxiety, Metacognition, Non-Judgement, Preparing the Mind | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Exam Anxiety Meditation I

Posted on September 4, 2017 by Payal Patel

NOTE: Those of us who are not students can use this by substituting test anxiety with extreme nervousness during high pressure situations (public talks, meetings with a boss, high-pressure deadlines at work, etc.) I had promised that I would post … Continue reading →

Posted in Anxiety, Anxiety & Struggle, Math Anxiety, Preparing the Mind, Test Anxiety | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

A New School Year…An Old Habit: Test Anxiety

Posted on August 30, 2017 by Payal Patel

NOTE: Those of us who are not students can read this article by substituting test anxiety with extreme nervousness during high pressure situations (public talks, meetings with a boss, high-pressure deadlines at work, etc.) As summer begins to point towards … Continue reading →

Posted in Preparing the Mind, Test Anxiety | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Unplugging for Clarity

Posted on August 17, 2017 by Payal Patel

When we don’t give ourselves the opportunity to unplug (literally, from all the electronic devices we use), and sit down with ourselves, acknowledge our exhaustion, our joys and failures of the day, our feelings of defeat, and our feelings of … Continue reading →

Posted in Focus & Clarity, Metacognition, Preparing the Mind, Stillness | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Harnessing the Breath

Posted on July 27, 2017 by Payal Patel

As you turn to the next page of your exam, your teacher announces, “Ten minutes left!” You flip through the remaining problems and freeze, “I don’t think I’ll finish!” For a moment, you hold your breath and your hand tightens … Continue reading →

Posted in Focus & Clarity, Metacognition, Preparing the Mind, Stillness | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Embracing Your Pace

Posted on July 23, 2017 by Payal Patel

Imagine this scenario — You are silently reading a book and every few minutes, you hear sounds of turning pages. You look up – your friend is on page 16. You look down at your book – I am only … Continue reading →

Posted in Focus & Clarity, Metacognition, Non-Judgement, Observation, Preparing the Mind, Self-Regulation, Stillness | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

The Art of Observation

Posted on July 12, 2017 by Payal Patel

If we travel back to our birth, we realize that learning did not take place through formal instruction – nor was there a handbook available to us on how to recognize qualities that made up our new environment: new parents, … Continue reading →

Posted in Beginner's Mind, Observation, Preparing the Mind, Stillness | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments