You think you and your brain are a team. You think you want the same things and have the same goals. Let me make this as clear as possible: You’re wrong; you are not a team and you have vastly different goals (most of the time).
If you brain was working directly for you, you’d probably be as ripped as those guys and gals on American Ninja Warrior AND be filthy rich.
Instead, you tell your brain to do things and it does the complete opposite.
“Ok, tomorrow is the day. We are getting up at 5:30 a.m. and going for run.”
The very next morning, you hit snooze until 7:30. If you’re better than most, maybe you make it a week before you resort to the snooze button.
How about dieting or saving money? These are easy examples, but there are examples everywhere. You have great plans, but your brain and your body aren’t really following your plans.
“Ok brain, we’re going to read this here list of cranial nerves and remember them. Got it?” Test day rolls around and…
It’s happened to us all.
“Ok, brain. We’re not going to throw up this time. We are going to breathe easy and get this thing done.” Instantly, your heart rate jumps to 120 bpm.
It’s kind of like when you plan to buy a house. Your realtor is there to help you buy a house. You have a very similar goal. You’re both trying to get you into a house but… They aren’t exactly the same goal; if you buy a house, any house, your realtor gets paid. If you pay 20, 30 or 40 thousand dollars more or less for the house, it barely moves the needle for them, but for you? Those are real dollars that compound over 30 years.
Sticking to a budget is your goal, not the realtor’s. You also want a HOME. A place you’re going to love and raise a bunch of little PAs in. What does the realtor want?
Very similar goals, but not exactly the same. It’s okay not to have the same goals. That’s how life works. Disaster strikes when you don’t know it. You may think you’re working together, but you aren’t.
In the February issue of PAES, I’m going to show you precisely how to get your brain on board with your plans of passing the PANCE. Well, any test really, but most importantly the PANCE.
You’re going to be a better test taker overnight. I can’t wait to see your results.
Find out how.
Physician Assistant Exam Scholar’s Newsletter
Brian Wallace
