The statistics are stark: 6 out of 10 grand declarations to overhaul our lives fall flat within a mere three months.
Improving your life — whether that means quitting smoking, losing weight, or getting a handle on your disaster of an inbox — requires change. And to make change happen, we usually go straight to our old friend willpower.
The internal conversation usually goes something like this:
Wake up, willpower, I’ve got a bunch of jobs for you! First I need you to get me out of bed at 5:30am. Then you’ve got to get me out the door for a run. Also, don’t let me eat any sugar today. And while you’re at it, help me keep my mouth shut the next time my boss says something annoying.
Sound familiar?
We draw on willpower a lot. But what is it, exactly? Why does it seem to fail us? And, most importantly, how can we make it work better.
You may know it by a few different names:
determination
drive
restraint
resolve
self-discipline
self-control
resilience
can-do spirit
The common thread: They all make your palms sweat and your mouth go dry when forcing yourself to do something you really don’t want to do.
We've all experienced it—the relentless cycle of ambition and disappointment, left wondering why our determination falters at the smallest challenge.
The culprits behind these failed endeavors are manifold.
Too Much: Some of us bite off more than we can chew, attempting to make a plethora of changes all at once, only to find ourselves overwhelmed and discouraged.
Too Soon (No Action Plan): Others embark on their journey without a roadmap, lacking a concrete plan of action to guide them through the seas of transformation.
Old Habits Die Hard: And then there are those who overlook the intense influence of engraved life patterns, unwittingly sabotaging their efforts by failing to address the underlying habits that reinforce old behaviors.
Yet amidst these common pitfalls lies a central, often overlooked factor that holds the key to our success or failure in the realm of change: willpower.
It's a term often tossed around, conjuring images of resolute determination and unyielding strength. But do we truly grasp the depths of this seemingly mystical power?
Willpower, in its essence, is the fuel that propels us toward our goals. It's the internal engine that drives us to resist temptation, persevere in the face of adversity, and stay the course when the going gets tough. Yet for all its importance, our understanding of willpower remains woefully inadequate, mired in misconceptions and half-truths that obscure its true nature.
We've been led to believe that willpower is a finite resource, a wellspring that runs dry with each exertion until we're left depleted and powerless. It's a narrative that resonates with our lived experiences, explaining away our moments of weakness as the inevitable consequence of a limited reserve of self-control. But what if this portrayal of willpower as a dwindling commodity is not the whole story?
Recent research has begun to challenge the prevailing wisdom surrounding willpower, shedding new light on its underlying mechanisms and potential for growth. Studies have shown that our beliefs about willpower play a critical role in shaping our behavior, influencing everything from our ability to resist temptation to our capacity for self-improvement.
One particularly illuminating study demonstrated the profound impact of mindset on willpower. Participants who were led to believe that willpower is a replenishing resource performed significantly better on challenging tasks than those who subscribed to the notion of willpower as finite. In other words, our beliefs about willpower can become self-fulfilling prophecies, shaping our experiences in ways that either empower or constrain us.
So, what does this mean for our aspirations for change? It means that by re-imagining our relationship with willpower, we can unlock new possibilities for growth and transformation.
Instead of viewing willpower as a dwindling reserve to be rationed and preserved, we can see it as a dynamic force that grows stronger with each exertion.
Rather than lamenting our perceived lack of willpower, we can cultivate a mindset of abundance, recognizing that our capacity for self-control is not fixed but changeable. By re-framing our beliefs about willpower, we can tap into a wellspring of resilience and determination that empowers us to overcome obstacles and achieve our goals.
What does this mean for you?
Just like every other life situation, our own self-talk and beliefs determine how we handle difficult situations.
This means that how you think about willpower can actually translate to how you act, and that can mean better results.
For example, if you’re having trouble finding the motivation to get to the gym, or you’re tired of white-knuckling yourself away from the refrigerator, try simply re-framing the situation.
Tell yourself that every time you work on a challenging task you become more capable of rocking the next one.
That mindset alone can make you feel more empowered.
In the end, the key to harnessing the power of willpower lies not in sheer force of will but in the way we choose to perceive and cultivate it. By embracing a mindset of capability and possibility, we can unleash our full potential and chart a course toward lasting change. YOU ARE CAPABLE of CHANGE. You can do HARD THINGS. You just need practice.
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