You'll notice that everything is going to be ok

I have a Japanese exam next week. During this Japanese exam, I will be tested on my knowledge of four chapters worth of grammar, vocabulary, and kanji (the pretty letters you see in Japanese text). To give you some perspective, back home in my Japanese class, I was tested on one chapter every three weeks. I am now being tested on four times the content in a quarter the time.

I was daunted by this task. Not for a vast incompetence for the Japanese language, mind you. In fact, upon close examination of each chapter, I've found that I am quite proficient with most every grammatical structure and vocabulary word. Why, then, was in such a state? Because last week, in one of the classes, I had a difficult time with two of the grammar forms. I still have a difficult time because, simply put, it's a lot to remember. However, these are only two forms out of twenty one that we have learned.

I was so hung up and overwhelmed with anxiety because of these two little sections, that I failed to notice that I understood 90% of the material.

Humans are filled with flaws. Humans are also filled with an innate desire to not be so. So, when we trip across a proverbial crack, we want to fix it. This is a fine trait, and an important one at that. A desire to be better is what drives us to altruism, innovation, and any number of other amazing things. In the run to becoming better, though, be ready to put away the magnifying glass, take a step back, and look at everything at once. You'll notice that you don't notice the little problems anymore...you'll notice that everything is going to be ok.