Talismans

I have a paperweight on my desk.

It’s a Father’s Day present I received from my daughter a few years ago: a small white stone with a leaf and branch design on one side and the words “Special Dad” on the other.

It has absolutely nothing to do with my work, the viva or any practical element of me doing what I do.

And yet I can’t deliver a webinar if it’s not on my desk in front of me. I can’t feel comfortable talking to people through the little camera in my monitor if I don’t have it there.

It’s not magic but it is a little charm, a talisman, that helps me focus. It helps me get things done. It adds some element of support for what I need to do. It’s a reminder of what I’ve done in the past and what that means.

You’ve done a lot of work by the time you get to your viva. You don’t need magic when you are capable. When you’ve done the work, written your thesis and prepared for your viva you don’t need a talisman or a charm or some other kind of boost.

And yet you’ll probably feel better for having one.

What will yours be? What can you find that will just encourage you, remind you and help you to believe that you are as good as you think and as ready as you can be?

You can’t have my paperweight! So what will help you?