Blog Archives

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 →

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

Test Anxiety Meditation II: Decluttering the Mind and Heart

Posted on September 24, 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.) In high pressure situations, such as exams … Continue reading →

Posted in Anxiety & Struggle, Math Anxiety, Self-Regulation, Test Anxiety | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

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

Waves of the Mind

Posted on August 7, 2017 by Payal Patel

Growing up, my parents told me a lot of stories from ancient Indian epics. There was one piece that always stuck in my mind. It was a repeated phrase which roughly  translates, “In a moment of fury (or any other … Continue reading →

Posted in Focus & Clarity, Metacognition, Observation, Self-Regulation, Stillness | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

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