How do you develop your willpower?

Question

Lets face it: as human beings, we can accomplish many things...but I believe willpower is the basis that allows us to go far in life.

I would like to learn how to develop your own willpower, because everyone wants to be a bigshot, eh?

Answer 1

Some people mistake simply not wanting to do something as ... "willpower"; e.g., I have NO DESIRE to kill someone, but I might say that I am using willpower to keep myself from it. Yeah, right. At the other extreme, some people are in the grip of a variety of overwhelming COMPULSIONS which seem uncontrollable; e.g., cigarette addiction, drug addiction, alcoholism, pedophilia, gluttony, etc. The rest are more temptation-like in nature; i.e., you have some urge, but it's not an all-consuming desire.

So, the first thing is to understand what it is you are wanting to exercise will power over, why you find yourself at once wanting to do it AND at the same time wanting to resist it, and maybe most importantly how powerful is the urge.

Resistance to the everyday temptations is usually as easy as simply thinking them through. An example of this might be sweets for someone who likes them, but isn't consumed by thoughts of them. For these people, they can self-talk it through this way:

1. Look at the people who do eat far too many sweets. They are all waaaaayyyyy overweight, tired all the time, their clothes don't fit right, and they are under attacks from diabetes, high-blood pressure, heart disease, and more. I want NO part of that!

2. Much of life comes down to choices. If I laze around not working, I lose the opportunity to earn more money. If I work incessantly, I lose the time to relax, to explore, vacation, and such. There has to be a perfect balance. What is that balance? The same holds for sweets. Too much of a good thing is bad. And too little is needless deprivation. What is the right balance of healthy eating and occassional treats? What are the costs of eating too much? What are the tradeoffs for not eating any?

Etc.

It is my FIRM belief that you must call on God to break the bondage of compulsions. I see NO EVIDENCE that people can do that on their own! You see it with chronic overeaters who go back to their old ways 20, 30, 40, 50 times or more in their lives. You see it with alcoholics and serial killers and pedophiles. That's why faith is included in the various 12-step programs.

So, reason through temptations, seeing the benefits of delaying gratification; e.g., IF I save this money instead of squander it, I'll be better prepared for an emergency and I'll have a head start on retirement. PRAY, PRAY, PRAY through compulsions.

Make sense?

Answer 2

Will power can be developed, through Patience.
Desert seems so powerfull than anything on earth; But notice how quiet it is..with so much patience. And once there is a storm , it leaves noway out for anything. That is the attribute of patience....slowly slowly it builds someone inside us, which can not be defeated ever! It empowers our guts to resist!.
Ciao

Answer 3

Keeping your mind positive and having affirmations on walls and mirrors, everywhere where you can see them to remind you of your goals and what you feel about yourself. Also being consistent about reaching your goals is something that helps us have willpower...but mostly is keeping our minds fresh and positive.

Answer 4

My Willpower and Courage Comes from Reading God's Word. " Really.".... For instant, read Psalms......You gain so much willpower, you feel like you can whip a Lion! O.k? (smile) Then Read Proverbs......You Will Go Out And WHIP ONE!!!

Answer 5

The story of the spider comes to mind. He kept running his little web and each time it broke and he fell, he would try again. Finally, the web was completed, but only because he stuck to his task. He exercised will power by refusing to quit.

Answer 6

Confidence and willpower come from the Lord. Self discipline is a commandment from God.

Answer 7

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