Beliefs Lead To Actions
What happens if you believe your examiners are going to be harsh with you?
What happens if you believe the viva is a tough process?
What happens if you believe you’re going to forget something important?
You won’t be more likely to fail, but if you believe the viva will be harsh or tough then you’re going to act accordingly.
You’ll be on alert in your prep, looking for problems instead of looking for progress; you’ll be cautious in the viva, wondering when the bad questions will come. If you worry about forgetting you’ll be watching yourself and distracted from simply engaging with the discussion.
Your beliefs about the viva have an impact on how you approach it. Sometimes they place limits where there don’t need to be.
What happens if you believe that you’ve done enough? What happens if you believe you’re good enough?