MASTER Risk Model - Learning Resources - Mindset

Intrinsic Motivation

Write one task today and add “because I care about learning…” to reconnect it with personal meaning.

Choose one assignment and link it to your values—why does this matter to you beyond the grade?

Block ten minutes to study something that excites you—no outcome needed, just enjoy the process.

Start your day by asking: “What would make today feel meaningful, not just productive?”

Keep a “why I study” sticky note visible—anchor your tasks to your deeper intrinsic purpose.

Say no to one task that drains energy and doesn’t align with your purpose for studying.

Journal about the last time you lost track of time while studying—what made it so engaging and fulfilling?

Reflect on which part of your program brings you joy—how could you increase that more often this semester?

Explore how your early interests still influence your research choices—what themes continue to persist?

Write about a time when you were proud of effort, not results—what did it reveal about your motivation?

Identify a moment when peer pressure distracted you from intrinsic goals—how can you guard against it?

List three values that guide your studies—how are they showing up in your current decisions?

Spend one hour this week on a passion project or stretch topic—track how it energizes your studies.

Share what drives you internally with peers—invite them to share theirs in return.

Choose one task this week and focus on enjoyment of learning instead of the grade.

Rework a routine task to reflect your strengths or personal interest in the subject.

Speak up for a change you believe in at university—even if unpopular, let values guide your voice.

Declutter your study to-do list—keep only what connects to purpose or genuine curiosity.

Ask a peer what they think your “why” is—does it align with how you feel about your studies?

Share your core motivation for grad school with a mentor—ask if your actions reflect that drive.

Ask a classmate to observe what energizes you most—when do they see you “light up”?

Discuss with a classmate what motivates you both—what overlaps and what differs in your drives?

Ask a peer when they’ve seen you most alive in studies—what were you doing, and why?

Reflect with a peer or mentor on when you work hardest without grades—what drives you then?

Shift “I have to study” to “I choose to study because…”—finish the sentence with my why.

Recast frustration with study as: “What value of mine feels off, and how can I realign?”

Replace “I must finish this” with “I want to grow through this”—link work to deeper purpose.

When motivation dips, ask: “What deeper reason brought me to graduate school?”

Change “This is boring” to “What could I make creative or meaningful in this work?”

Reframe ambition as alignment: “What am I building that reflects who I want to become?”

Track which subjects energize or drain you—does the pattern match what you truly value?

Observe your focus across different tasks—where does it sharpen naturally?

Notice when praise or incentives sway effort—do they align with your inner compass?

Notice how you feel after helping a peer—what inner driver fueled that effort?

Watch yourself under heavy workload—do you cling to purpose or drift to autopilot?

Track the “why” behind your yeses—are they driven by curiosity, guilt, or values?

Extrinsic Motivation

List one scholarship, grade, or recognition that motivates you—remind yourself before hard tasks.

Share a recent academic achievement with a supervisor—notice how acknowledgment boosts drive.

Create a small reward system for finishing tasks—tie completion to something enjoyable.

Add a visible progress tracker for your thesis—watching progress builds commitment and drive.

Identify where accountability could help—share a study goal with a classmate for support.

Choose one task to finish before lunch and reward yourself with a treat or break.

Reflect on how recognition affects your work—what motivates you most: grades, feedback, or visibility?

Write about a time external motivation pushed you through—what recognition helped you persist then?

Explore moments when you relied too much on grades—what impact did it have on your motivation then?

Journal about how financial incentives affect you—do they align or clash with your values as a student?

Think back to when you last received recognition—what impact did it have on your focus afterward?

Reflect on your current performance metrics—are they motivating, distracting, or due for redesign?

Share progress on a tough assignment with your advisor—let visibility fuel your follow-through.

Compete with yourself using a measurable target—finish one section or problem today.

Set a reward for hitting your weekly study target—make it tangible and enjoyable.

Publicly commit to finishing a section of your thesis—use accountability to stay consistent.

Try a productivity tool that uses streaks or badges—notice how gamification shapes your effort.

Ask your professor for feedback on one thing done well—notice how recognition affects you.

Ask a peer what kind of recognition motivates them—compare it to what drives you externally.

Invite peers to share how they like recognition—adjust your style to reflect their input.

Ask a peer when they’ve seen you most motivated—was it tied to feedback, praise, or results?

Reflect with a peer on what incentives keep you focused—what patterns help sustain motivation?

Share how external rewards helped you persist—ask peers what success looks like for them.

Ask for feedback on your pursuit of rewards—do peers see healthy ambition or over-reliance?

Reframe grades or praise as signals of value—“This shows what others find impactful.”

Shift “I just want recognition” to “I want to feel seen for contributions”—clarify what helps.

Change “This isn’t worth it” to “What driver would make this task meaningful for me?”

Recast scholarship goals as fuel for freedom or growth—link outcomes to meaning.

Reframe visibility as influence, not vanity—ask: “What message do I want to project here?”

See deadlines as activators of urgency—clarity for action, not just pressure.

Track when recognition from professors or grades helps or hurts—when does the effect become motivating?

Notice what feedback style motivates most—public, private, grade-based, or effort-based?

Notice how competition impacts you—does it sharpen focus or distract from goals?

Watch your reaction to being overlooked in class—what habits kick in immediately?

Observe when you work hardest—what external factor is usually present then?

Track how motivation shifts with versus without feedback—how strong is recognition?

No Fear

Name one small risk in your research you’ve avoided—take the first step toward testing it today.

Name one uncertain step in your thesis you’ve delayed—note what you can control and act on it now.

Email a professor or peer with a compliment or idea—expect no reply and treat the act as success.

Say out loud: “Failure is data, not identity”—repeat it whenever hesitation shows up before exams.

Say aloud: “Uncertainty means possibility”—repeat it when you feel tempted to delay research tasks.

Say aloud: “A no doesn’t define me”—repeat it before asking for feedback, help, or opportunities.

Share one academic failure and lesson learned—remind yourself how it led to later progress.

Schedule ten minutes to explore a concept you don’t understand—lean into curiosity over fear.

Share your opinion in class—even if unpopular, speak once with calmness and clarity.

Reframe an assignment as an experiment—success means learning, not achieving perfection.

Ask one curious question in your next seminar—even if unsure of the answer.

Make a simple request you’ve delayed—time, help, feedback, or access to resources.

Post a sticky note: “What if I try—and learn?” Place it where you often hesitate in work.

Pick a small, unclear decision—make it quickly and treat it as a test, not a trap.

Write down the hardest rejection you’ve received—note what happened next and how you grew.

Lower the stakes: pick one assignment you fear and do it badly—just to get it started.

Change your desktop background to a quote on exploring the unknown—keep discomfort visible.

Add a sticky note: “Rejection is redirection”—place it where hesitation often shows up.

Journal about a time you failed an exam or paper—how would you rewrite the story differently now?

Journal about a time you acted despite research uncertainty—what happened, and how did it shape your path?

Reflect on your earliest memory of rejection in school—how has it shaped your current approach to feedback?

Reflect on where your fear of failure comes from—whose voice or past experience shaped this belief?

Reflect on what the unknown in your studies triggers—loss of control, falling behind, or something else?

Journal about a time you faced rejection on an application—what story did you tell yourself afterward?

Identify how fear of failure shows in your body—what cues appear before you freeze on tasks?

Write about a moment when not knowing a topic led to growth—how did the experience unfold in class?

Explore what you fear most about rejection—loss of respect, disconnection, embarrassment, or visibility?

Think of a peer who embraces failure—how do they reframe it differently than you usually do?

Explore your academic decision style—do you delay until clarity, or experiment with partial knowledge?

Think of a peer who handles rejection well—what do they believe that helps them stay grounded?

Write about a success that came only after a failed attempt—how did that failure unlock new growth?

Reflect on the cost of waiting for certainty in research—what progress did hesitation block you from?

Reflect on when you rejected yourself by staying silent—what would have changed if you had spoken?

List three academic opportunities you missed from fear of failure—what would you do differently now?

List three areas in your studies where ambiguity is high—how are you managing each one mentally?

List three things you avoided in grad school from fear of rejection—what if you did one of them now?

Volunteer to present in class without full certainty—speak or lead even without knowing the outcome.

Make one decision in your thesis this week without full data—trust instincts and note the outcome.

Pitch a bold research idea even if it might not land—track how it’s received and how you respond.

Share a past academic failure publicly in class or online—frame it as a growth moment.

Join a project outside your comfort zone—embrace uncertainty and learn in real time.

Ask for something you want but fear to request—support, resources, or visibility.

Submit an assignment before it’s perfect—focus on contribution instead of flawlessness.

Start a research draft without full clarity—begin now and adjust as you progress.

Apply for a scholarship or role even if you doubt success—focus on courage to try.

Ask a challenging question in class—even if it feels risky to speak up.

Try solving a study problem without full research—use iteration to build understanding.

Send a message to a professor you admire—acknowledge their impact, even if no reply comes.

Choose to act even when only 80% ready—note what happens when you move before full clarity.

Share publicly that you’re exploring a new research path—own uncertainty and model courage.

Volunteer to go first in a seminar or presentation—step into visibility before you feel ready.

Approach a mentor for feedback on an unfinished draft—show progress, not perfection.

Ask a peer to assign you a task that stretches you—accept it without overpreparing.

Share a personal story in class—model vulnerability and observe the response.

Ask a classmate to share a time they failed and grew—what shifted in their mindset?

Ask a peer how they approach uncertainty in research—what do they tell themselves when clarity is missing?

Ask a classmate: “How do you experience me when I’m hesitant to ask questions or speak up?”

Share something you hesitate to admit in class—track how others respond versus your fear.

Share an uncertain academic decision—ask a peer how they might approach it differently.

Discuss with a peer how rejection shaped your academic path—compare strategies and stories.

Share a failure moment with a peer—ask how they might have approached it differently.

Reflect with a classmate on what uncertainty feels like—compare emotional and behavioral responses.

Ask someone you admire in academia how they handle rejection—what mindset helps them keep going?

Talk to a peer about how fear of failure shaped their studies—what advice would they give younger self?

Invite feedback on how you show up in ambiguity—do others see confidence, avoidance, or hesitation?

Invite feedback after making a bold academic request—did they notice any hesitation in you?

Ask a peer how they know when fear is holding them back—compare it to your own signals.

Ask a peer to share a time when uncertainty created growth—what did they learn from it?

Share a rejection story with classmates—normalize setbacks and invite others to join in.

Ask for feedback on how you handle academic risk—do peers see fear in you that you don’t notice?

Share how you usually react when plans change—ask if peers have noticed the same pattern.

Ask a classmate: “What’s one thing you wish I did more often?”—listen without defending.

Reframe “I’ll fail this test” as “I’m practicing courage”—focus on effort instead of outcome.

Reframe “I don’t understand” as “I’m learning”—lean into the process rather than fearing the gap.

Reframe “They might say no” as “This is a chance to practice courage”—treat the ask as the win.

Replace “What if I fail?” with “What might I learn if I try?”—shift focus from fear to discovery.

Change “This is unclear” to “This is an open space for discovery”—explore it with curiosity.

Replace “I might look foolish” with “Trying is how I learn”—shift focus from judgment to growth.

View mistakes as iteration, not failure—what would a scientist-in-training do differently?

Turn “There’s no roadmap” into “This is a chance to create a new path in my studies.”

View rejection not as failure but filtering—each no brings me closer to the right fit.

Instead of “This must go right,” say: “I’ll adjust as it unfolds”—focus on flexibility.

Recast confusion as curiosity—what’s one question I could ask instead of staying quiet?

Instead of “What if they reject me?” ask: “What if this helps just one person feel seen?”

Recast fear of failure as readiness training—each attempt makes me more resilient.

View unpredictability in research as agility training—each unknown builds flexibility.

Recast rejection as feedback, not identity—what lesson can I use to improve next time?

Reframe high standards as “I’m here to improve, not prove”—embrace learning over proving.

Instead of “What if I’m wrong?” ask: “What might I learn by being wrong this time?”

Shift “They’ll think less of me” to “I’ll think more of myself for trying at all.”

Track when hesitation shows up before submitting work—what thoughts shape that behavior?

Notice when you delay academic tasks—are you unsure, or just afraid of being wrong?

Watch how you act when unsure if your idea will be accepted —do you withdraw, over-explain, or go quiet?

Observe a peer who takes bold risks—what mindset appears when outcomes fail?

Track emotions when instructions are unclear—do you freeze, rush, or ask questions?

Notice how peers handle rejection—what can you learn from their tone and posture?

Watch how you recover after failed answers—do you reflect, excuse, or shut down?

Observe a professor guiding uncertainty—what language calms and directs?

Track your inner voice after hearing “no”—does it spiral or stay constructive?

Notice your reaction when peers fail—are you judgmental, empathetic, or curious?

Track self-talk with new tools or tasks—does it encourage action or retreat?

Observe when you pre-reject yourself—what do you avoid just to avoid a “no”?

Notice how your body feels when taking risks—tight, light, or heavy—what’s the signal?

Catch moments when you crave guarantees—what would acting with partial clarity look like?

Catch approval-seeking cues—do you adjust too quickly to avoid rejection?

Catch yourself avoiding a task from fear—what imagined outcome drives hesitation?

Watch how children or beginners approach the unknown—what can you learn from them?

Notice how people react to your openness—do they lean in or pull away?

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