What To Do When You Wish You'd Started Sooner on Your SAT & ACT Prep

​When I first began my formal meditation practice, my teacher informed us that, in time, we would clear our bodies of all the stress we had stored over the course of our lives. Not a bad proposition, eh? I mean, what anxiety-ridden person wouldn’t be enchanted by the idea of a stress-free life?

I began to see positive changes immediately. But I still felt anxious. 

And a voice in my head would taunt me, "If only you'd started sooner, you'd be further along right now. You'd feel so much less anxious."

​That voice bummed me out. It didn't change my actions—I still showed up for my morning and afternoon meditations—but it led to feelings of frustration. Not just with my past self for not having started sooner, but also with my present self for not being further along—even though that was an impossible ask. I was where I was.

​Four years later, I can tell you that the voice was probably correct. I would have benefitted from starting sooner, because meditation is great and many of its effects are cumulative.

That said, even if eight weeks into a meditation practice I would have been further along, the fact that I kept showing up allowed me to reach a point where I know that even though I'm going to continue feeling better and better... I already feel pretty darn good most of the time.

Today, it matters less when I started than it does that I started... and kept going.

Of course, starting a self-care practice is different from starting your prep for college admissions tests. There are specific years when students usually take the SAT and ACT. There are official test dates when the tests are offered. It's not the sort of thing that you pick up if and when you want to.

However, the moral remains the same. You can't change what decisions you made in the past. All you can do is start (or keep) showing up in the present. Your power is always found and applied right here and right now.

I've made you a video where I discuss this concept. I would love to hear your thoughts on it!

If you like the video, please click over to YouTube where you can “like” it and subscribe to my YouTube Channel, and be sure to share the video and this post with friends!

Want more guidance? Here are a few resources you might consider:

• Acing It! A Mindful Guide to Maximum Results on Your College Admissions Test: 
  My book, in which I walk you through all the steps of the test prep process from beginning to end.
• Test Prep Coaching Package: 
  Work with me for 12 sessions to get your SAT or ACT prep into top shape! Includes a review of what you need to know for the SAT or ACT using my Math and Grammar outlines, opportunities to take and review official SATs and ACTs, and opportunities to learn mindset and study habits that facilitate top performance.
• Mindset Coaching Package:
  Work with me for 10 sessions to learn mindset and study habits that will facilitate top performance on the SAT, ACT or other challenges. ​
• Test Prep Power Up: 
  Work with me for a single coaching session. Come with any questions you have about how to perform better on the SAT and ACT. Includes the opportunity to take and review an official SAT or ACT.

​Or contact me with a question you’ve been grappling with so that I can help in a future blog.

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