We all know that our brain are well-tuned for instant rewards and gratifications, thanks to dopamine junkies of our brain. We’ve built to crave quick rewards rather than grinding for long hours – like slogging through application forms which actually feels like a personal attack .
This got me thinking about the real world struggles, which every student faces : Applying to universities for masters and PhD. Your CV is a masterpiece and you have a very compelling purpose to talk about – you feel like you are on the track and you hear a “chirp” from your phone, lightening up your eyes. “Just a quick peek” and twenty minutes later you are laughing over a dog singing in a talent show and what about your statement ? Still missing that one sentence that would have been a deal breaker.
Sounds like most of us in life’s biggest moments and the real kicker comes after we submit all applications – uncertainty sets in and its a beast on its own. We fall into this limbo state refreshing mail boxes – we start second-guessing every decisions we have made. It’s a vicious loop and breaking free is no small feat.
But it that unachievable ? – certainly not. This uncertainty is just a temporary roommate , that we can break through
- Learn to embrace the unknown – Learning to accept things as it is – the real key
- Toast to the tiny victories – Completing the introduction paragraph of your SOP is one of it
- Put in the work, then kick back and vibe – we have planted the seeds , hoping the squirrels don’t stage a heist
Approaching of uncertainty from a different perspective could actually help – you don’t need answers right away, we just need to take one step at a time. So next time when your brain drags you back or freaks you out – give it a gentle nudge to hang out in the present. How do you usually deal with these thoughts? I’d love to hear your take!
Scholarscape 