Here’s how I eliminated stress from my life.

You’re sitting in a classroom, silent except for the frantic scribbling of pencils and the insistent tick, tock of the clock on the wall. You try to swallow, despite your mouth feeling bone-dry, as you move onto the next question. It’s okay. Deep breaths. You can do this.

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You read option A and think, Oh, that’s definitely it. You’re flooded with relief, safe for a moment. But then you get to option C, and it all falls apart; option A, so solid and tempting when you began reading, is suddenly flimsy. You read option C again and it also seems weak.

You flag the question and come back for later, but you’re still stuck. A or C? You’d circled A; now you’re paralyzed in a moment of indecision. Which one, which one? The clock is ticking.

You erase your original answer and put in option C. You’re still not sure. Can it really be A? You swallow again; you finished your water, but your mouth is still dry. The clock is ticking insistently, cutting through the silence with each moment. Your breathing is quickening; sweat beads down your neck. Your teacher stands and calls, “Time’s up!” You look down and see that you filled in option C. Doubt fills you. It was probably A.

You get your test back the next day. The answer was A. You inwardly kick yourself. I knew it.