P-A-R-T-Y

Follow through with my "pass the test party"

I don't think it's fair to myself to not carry through with the reward I set for passing my Physical Therapy boards exam!

Before I passed I planned out a party of renting a movie theater and having friends come celebrate by watching a film and having pizza together!  It has been over 3 weeks since I passed.  Summer schedules and events kept getting in the way, but at last we made the time and had a great time with friends and family.  

I didn't actually end up renting out the theater, but we had a group rate where we got admission, popcorn, and soda for regular admission price.  I was very happy to be able to give back a little to all those who had been such a support to me.  I have blessed to have so many great people in my life, so a few bucks to say thank you was worth every penny.  

We watched AVENGERS: AGE OF ULTRON.  It was a really great movie and had some great laughs as well as action.  We then went to the park and had pizza.  It was a ton of fun and I hope everyone else enjoyed it as much as I did.
Thank you to everyone who supported me, even if you didn't get an invite I am still so grateful to you!

EXAM PASSED!!!

First and foremost I thank GOD for making this miracle come to pass in my life!  My second thanks goes to all those who have prayed, hoped, and supported me through this process to achieving this goal!  According to the academic world the further I got away from my class room work the less likely I had of passing!  Good thing I trusted in God and not Academics!
{If you know anyone going through difficult times in any aspect of their life, forward this on!  Let them know they can achieve anything they desire If they follow the steps I took!  If nothing else I hope my story will help motivate and inspire others!  I encourage you to let my trials be someone else's motivation, and hopefully they can learn and have success more quickly than what it took me!}

I took the National Physical Therapy Exam 8 times over the course of 2 years 6 months almost to the day.  I was only to be allowed only one more attempt to take the exam if I didn't pass.  I have gone through HELL getting to this point.  I suffered depression, frustration, bitterness and pain, more than I thought I could ever bare.  Yet, over the time I have learned and grown in ways I never thought possible.  I have grown in faith and trust in a loving Heavenly Father.  I learned to appreciate and be grateful for what was good, and what I do have.  I learned to see bad events in my life as just that, an event, not a determining factor in my life.  

I feel like I was directed in starting this blog and using the Law of Attraction!  It really works!!! I would not have had the confidence and the ability to pass had I not used the principles that I used.  I have been so blessed in achieving this, now I hope every person that reads this can use the same principles to achieve their goals.  I will continue on the same path to continue meeting goals and become all that I am capable of!

GREAT SUCCESS!
The test is taken, now the week long wait!

TEST TAKEN!

I arrived at the testing center in Salt Lake city Utah at 8am this morning, July 21!  I left the testing center at 4:30pm, after more than 8 hours of sitting and testing!

I wasn't actually taking the test that long.  When I arrived it takes a few minutes to check in, then time to set up the computer and agree to the terms that if I cheat I am going to prison and they will hunt me down and take away everything in my life down to my sweaty socks.  Then I have to go through a tutorial on how to use a mouse and click on the computer screen...all very technical.  They give me 30 min to take the 30 sec tutorial, so I use a good 15-20 min to write down lab values, brachial plexus, cranial nerves, and anything else I can remember that I may use on the test and don't want to forget.  Then I start the test.  

Since I have testing accommodations I have my own room and time and a half.  Having the extra time is helpful so I freely take breaks after each section.  There is only one section that the testing time stops, which is for 22 min. The other breaks I take the clock keeps running, but I have enough time so it is easy to do.  

I always stretch, move, eat protein (brain food) and use the restroom if needed during my breaks.  Today I had The Naked Protein drink and it was awesome!  It sat really well with my stomach and was a quick snack that boosted my energy and provided a killer 32grams of Protein.  It also tasted pretty good.  I had a couple energy bars and a snickers bar as my half way treat!  I did have a sandwich, but I only had a few bites.

I did much better at examining the questions and including all the pieces into answering the question.  For most questions I made sure I could rationalize why each option was or wasn't the correct choice.  It took some major thinking to do that.  In the previous tests I would do a few questions like that but I would get so rushed with time I didn't feel like I could spare the precious seconds to think it through thoroughly.  

I really felt the support and prayers of everyone!  So many people were praying and thinking of me, and I felt it, like you feel the warmth of the sun as it rises in the morning.  I could feel the stress lifted off my shoulders by the faith and support of so many good people!

THANK YOU to everyone for your love and support!

STRESS LEVELS

As mentioned previously I was taught to monitor my heart rate as a way of objectifying my stress levels and giving me a sense of how well I was controlling stress.  During my studying I found my Heart Rate (HR) varied from 48-60bpm.  When I sat down in the testing center I felt some stress across my chest, so I checked my HR and it was soaring at 80bpm.  (The method I used to assess my HR was to feel my Radial Pulse by my wrist and count it for 10 sec's.  Whatever I count I then multiply that by 6 = Beats per minute).    

For about 20 minutes between the first 3 questions I worked to get it down.  I have decided that one of the major restrictions in my test taking is not relaxing during the exam, so I knew I had to get my body to relax and be calm!  I did finally get it lowered to about 60bpm and finally it decided to stay between 55-60bpm the rest of the test.

I was able to accomplish this by reciting parts of my affirmation statement, counted breathing (breath in through my nose for 5 seconds, out through pierced lips for 10 seconds), and a technique called tapping.  As I lowered my HR I started plunging into the questions of the exam, devouring the words to form logical conclusions.  I sent many a prayers to Heavenly Father, asking for calmness, confidence, and abilities to formulate appropriate conclusions to the questions in my attempt to choose the correct answer.  

As I became entrenched into the exam the relaxation became easier and soon it was as natural as breathing.  A couple times I had the HR increase after that, but I would just pray, think the question through, and use my breathing and tapping techniques for a minute and I would feel fine again.  

PARTY PLANNED

I had heard stories of the man that wanted a car but didn't have the money, so he wrote his goal out and then would go test drive the car he wanted until it became his reality.  

One of my spiritual mentors suggested that I apply the same idea for the exam!  So last week I decided I would plan a celebration party for my passing of the exam.  I planned out where we would go to eat and called and reserved a movie theater so I could watch the second Avengers movie that I haven't seen yet, with my friends and family!  

It is yet another way of convincing and directing my subconscious to help me achieve my planned passing rate of 80% on the exam.  It helped me to really think about my success and to visualize it and how it will be when I pass.  That coupled with my test affirmation statement that I read 2-3x/day, I was feeling confident going into the test and coming out of it.  Now I just have to wait a week before I can watch the movie!  Oh well, it will be worth the wait!

  

I now have to wait 1 week before I find out.  This will be a nice week to be grateful, relax from studying, and continue planning my continued progress and success!

THANK YOU to those who helped me prep for this exam...I felt ready emotionally and mentally!

The Final Countdown!!!

In Prep for the final countdown to the exam here is Europe's final countdown!  Epic Song!  Epic 80's Rock band hair!!!

Making Necessary Sacrifices

The last month has been a challenge in many ways.  I want to do so many things in my career, my blog, reading books, and progressing other financial opportunities.  Since I have been studying for my Physical Therapy boards exam again, I have had to put all those things aside and focus on what I need to do.
It is a good lesson for me though, as this won't be the last nor the only time in my life that I will need to put aside what I want to do for what I need to do.  I think of it as time put towards the GREATER GOOD!
Once I pass this test in 1.5 weeks from now, and I will pass my test, I can push forward with all my energy to continue accomplishing all of my other goals and aspirations.  I am so excited for that.  So giving up 4-6 weeks to focus one more time on my studies and mental preparation isn't that big of a sacrifice.  It's all about perspective isn't it?!
I will be taking my exam next Tuesday and I am honestly excited to take it!  I am going to rock this thing with at least an 80% passing score!  Check out my previous post on my affirmation statement that I have been saying to myself multiple times a day.  I am excited to show the NPTE creators that I can pass this, even after 8 attempts, and show myself that I can pass this.
I have one week to cram as much information into my head and then trust my conscious and subconscious mind to give me the recall and decision making skills to rock this thing out of the park.  The most important part to all of this for me is making sure my relationship, prayers, and faith is in harmony with God.  My major focus has been developing my faith to draw on the powers of Heaven and allow a miracle to be performed.  In doing so I am asking everyone I know to contribute their prayers to my success on this exam, July 21!  For anyone who believes in Prayer I would appreciate any you can offer in my behalf!
Here's to the FINAL week of sacrifice, to put all my focus and attention on studying and building my faith and confidence!  This exam is passed!

TEST PREP and OVERCOMING ANXIETY!!!!

I started studying for my July 21 NPTE exam about 5 weeks ago!!!  This will be my 8th attempt.  I have had professionals examine my previous test results and no pattern has been found to where my weakness lies.  I miss questions all over the board which means I have limited knowledge everywhere or there is a more sinister issue going on like...test anxiety!!!
I didn't think I had test anxiety, even after my councilor said I did, and was even able to acquire for me special testing accommodations.
A few weeks ago I started studying with my best friend who is in PT school currently, and he was kind enough to offer his time to help me.  He is a very good test taker so we decided it would be beneficial to just study questions and how they are asked.  While studying questions he started asking questions, examining me, and talking about his personal experiences he has had with subtle anxiety and mental blocks that can seriously hinder test taking abilities.  The windows started to open and the light trickled into my realization that when I get to any question or information that I have a difficult time with or dislike, I get a tightness across my chest and my heart rate begins to increase.  I then start to subtly question and tell myself things like "how do I not know this", "what is wrong with me", and "this is a stupid test anyway".  Although I dislike the exam, thinking that and other negative questions increase my negative self talk which then closes down my subconscious, and conscious brain, and ultimately my thoughts to clearly focus on the task at hand.  
So my object is to apply the same process I have been using to achieve goals through use of the Law of attraction to get this exam passed!

Here are the steps I have been taking:

1.  Draw on the Powers of Heaven!  
I am a religious person and believe that through Faith all things can be accomplished.  I also believe that we must align our will with God's in order to accomplish all things He wants for us.  Through prayer I feel I am in accordance with God's will by trying to pass this exam.  We all have different trials that we must go through to become the best person we can.  This is a trial that can either bring me closer to, or further from Heavenly Father.  I choose to let it draw me closer.
In order to draw on the Powers of Heaven I have been reading three important resources.  The Book of Mormon, Bible, and a book by Grant Von Harrison titled "Drawing on the Powers of Heaven".  This has given me great insight into what I must do to increase my faith, improve my prayers, and better communicate questions and needs to my Heavenly Father.  I have learned that I must do everything I can to live the commandments of God and be as clean and good as I can, then use prayer and faith.  Then no matter what happens the right opportunity and success will come my way!                                                                    

2. Control my anxiety and create focus!  
I talked to a sport psychologist and he pointed out that when he trains his athletes to deal with stress and anxiety he has the focus on an external focus...usually a number.  He says the brain functions well with numbers, it is something it can focus on and understand as a measurement.  He said I should use my heart rate as my focus.  Use a chest strap monitor to determine my resting heart rate.  Wear the monitor when I go to study or take a practice exam and watch my heart rate.  If I see it increase, pay attention to how I feel and how my body responds (I won't have a heart rate monitor while I am in the exam so I need to be able to recognize how my body feels when anxiety and heart rate increases).  Then use my meditation techniques to calm my body and return focus to my mind.  This gives me an objective measure I can use to make sure I am staying calm.  During the test I can manually check my rate by feeling my pulse, use the wall clock to see how many beats in 10 seconds, and multiply that by 6.

3.  Positive Affirmation!!
Much of achieving great things, I believe, is overcoming the negative and limiting beliefs of our subconscious mind.  I prepared an affirmation statement for a positive change in my life and to help me reach goals.  So why not prepare one specific for this test.  I wrote up an affirmation statement that I read at least 1x per day.  I try to read it before I study and after I study as well.  I must convince my brain that it is capable of anything, especially passing this exam.
I wrote my statement on the back of my previous statement on a 3x5 card and then took a pic of it and stored it in my phone so I always have it with me.

I have all capabilities and knowledge to pass the physical therapy boards exam.  I have precise critical thinking skills that allow me to easily identify what is being asked in each question and what answer is correct.  I have a calmness and peace throughout my body and mind that allows me to have exceptional focus and reasoning while I study and take the exam.  I love studying and preparing for the exam.  It is exciting and I easily recall all numbers and information.  I am worthy and capable of achieving anything I desire.  I demand a passing score of 80% from my subconsious and consious mind on the July 21, 2015 NPTE. 

4.  Study Happy
The last thing I have been really trying to work on is to enjoy what I am studying.  I have been over the information so many times and am so bitter and tired with the process, that having a good attitude going into studying is really difficult.  However, I know that the more you enjoy a topic the easier it is to study and to remember the information.  So I have been trying to approach it differently, thanks to some good council from my councilor.  I try to apply every bit of information to people I have worked with or could potentially work with.  By trying to make it "real"  it makes it more interesting to study and helps my attitude stay positive.  I have not mastered this by any means but I'm sure trying.

Why I stopped asking
"Why ME"
(and what I ask now)

MELTDOWN:

I have begun studying for my exam (hence the reason for decreased blog posts) and it has been difficult.
I am having a really hard time creating a desire to study even though I want more than anything to pass...which means I have to study!
So last weekend I was trying to study.  It was late, I was tired, and I was fighting this internal battle of I need to study vs. I don't want to study.  During this epic internal battle I lost it.  I started getting very frustrated and started talking myself down.  My wife kindly reminded me of the damage of what I was saying.  With the frustration building inside, but realizing she was right, I stood up and walked to my bedroom where I decided I better have a little convo with God about my current situation.  As soon as I got in my room I completely broke down.
It was as if I couldn't control my emotions and every feeling of depression, anger, and frustration all coming pouring out of my face at once!   I couldn't control nor did I want to.  After a few minuets of this my body slowly receded out the emotional shock I was in and I decided to continue on with my original idea to pray to God.
I can't say anything amazing happened such as an angel appearing to me or all of a sudden I knew everything was going to be okay.  But as I approached Heavenly Father in prayer I realized that asking "Why am I going through this", is not the right question for me.  I knew that the questions I needed answered was WHAT do I do now?  WHAT do I need to do to study correctly to pass?  WHAT can I learn from this experience?  WHAT do I do today that I didn't do yesterday?

Like a lightening strike I realized it doesn't matter Why!  Answering Why is not going to change my situation or help me improve!  Knowing WHAT to do next is really the only important question.
I'm not saying that finding an answer to why something has happened is bad, it can help us understand and release emotional confusion and stress.  But answering the What questions is how we overcome and become all that we want.

Asking WHAT is the question for progression!

How can I be happy for others when they succeed where I have not?

Two weeks ago the boards for the National Physical Therapy Exam (NPTE) took place.  The state of Idaho did not allow me to take it, for whatever reason, and I am required to wait until the end of July.  Two students that are working at my clinic both took it.  One had failed his first attempt and the other was taking it for his first time.  This last week they found out their scores and yes, both of them passed.

This was great news initially!  I am always glad to hear when people pass this demon raised exam, and I hope no one has to go through multiple failed attempts like I have.  However, the day that they passed I also found out my buddy, who is in the same boat as myself, had not passed.  He had worked so hard and is studying with tutors and has put in the time and effort and he is a brilliant man.  It also became very fatiguing listening to the student who passed, talk about how great it was, what a relief it was, and now all the things he could do now that he had passed.  I was frustrated and annoyed with the situation, as well as down on myself for not being able to pass this thing yet.  Why does it seem like everyone else in the world is passing this thing and my buddy and I am still struggling, despite our best efforts and although we know the information very well?  

My initial happiness for him began to fade and I began to feel bitter and depressed.  Then on Thursday a letter from the NPTE came in reply to a letter I had sent requesting a 2 point increase due to poor questions related to my testing anxiety (two points or 1/2 question is all I needed to pass the last test).  They refused to add points and give me a passing score, but it was just one more thing to add to the frustration of this exam and my bitterness towards those who are having success.
I was looking for some amazing solution to getting rid of my bitter feelings, but then I realized it's not as complicated as I make it out to be.  As I was doing my morning reading, meditating, prayer and affirmation statement I realized most of those unwanted feelings drifted away.
The solution to being happy for others was to calm my mind and realize that my brain was lying and trying to deceive myself...MINDFULNESS!!!  I find that I do this to myself a lot, where I allow my brain to exaggerate and lie to myself.  Using the technique of mindfulness means being in a state of active, open attention on the present. When you're mindful, you observe your thoughts and feelings from a distance, without judging them good or bad. Instead of letting your life pass you by, mindfulness means living in the moment and awakening to experience. 
I am used to telling myself lies.  Lies about what I can't do, lies about who I am, and lies about how awful my life is and everyone else has it better.  When I meditate I try and practice mindfulness, which is why those nasty thoughts and feelings dissipated like dew on a summer morning.  I became aware of what I really had, who I really am, and stopped judging myself for things out of my control.

I keep finding the benefit of the BASICS!  Read and educate myself, meditate for mindfulness, Pray and Scripture study for spiritual growth and retrain my subconscious with repeated positive affirmation statements that I have created!

Success Will Be Mine

Create and use a Vision Board

To help me achieve my goals I created a vision board that I can look at every day.  It will also serve as a way of focusing my meditation.  I can see my goals and visualize myself achieving them.
I found pictures that encompass each of my goals.  Vision board's are really easy to make but vital to achieving success...so I believe.

Materials:

• 1 poster board (any color would work)
• Glue (I used a glue stick but it's terrible, the pictures fall off as the poster board bends so I ended up taping the pictures on)
• Scissors
• Marker
• Printed pictures or magazine pictures representing each of your goals

After printing off my pics, I utilized a little child labor to get the work done!

The final product; Behold, my Goal/Vision Board!!!

How Do I Use This??!

Now that it is all organized and put together, I can start using it as a tool to 

train my subconscious.  

I use this board every day!

First, I put it where I can see it every day.  Since my wife doesn't want it hanging in our front room very bad, I put it next to my night stand by my bed.  Every time I wake up I see it, and every time I go to bed I see it.  It's a nice way to start and end each day!

When I take the time to ponder and visualize, I bring this with me.  I look at it, focusing on the closest goals, and then I just let the ideas flow!  I visualize myself already being in possession of each goal, and try to feel the emotions and happiness of having already achieved each goal.