Self-Discipline(ˈdisəplin): Willpower

Self-Discipline(ˈdisəplin): Willpower

By Steve Pavlina

The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength(treNG(k)TH,strenTH), not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.
– Vince Lombardi

Willpower — such a dirty(ˈdərtē) word these days. How many commercials(kəˈmərSHəl) have you seen that attempt to position their products as a substitute(ˈsəbstiˌt(y)o͞ot) for willpower? They begin by telling you that willpower doesn’t work and then attempt to sell you something “fast and easy” like a diet(ˈdī-it) pill(pil) or some wacky(ˈwakē) exercise equipment(iˈkwipmənt). Often they’ll even guarantee(ˌgarənˈtē) impossible results in a dramatically short period(ˈpi(ə)rēəd) of time — that’s a safe bet because people who lack willpower probably won’t take the time to return these useless products.

But guess what… willpower does work. But in order to take full advantage(ədˈvantij) of it, you must learn what it can and cannot do. People who say willpower doesn’t work are trying to use it in a way that’s beyond its capabilities(ˌkāpəˈbilitē).

What Is Willpower?

Willpower is your ability to set a course(kôrs) of action and say, “Engage(enˈgāj)!”

Willpower provides an intensely(inˈtens) powerful yet temporary(ˈtempəˌrerē) boost(bo͞ost). Think of it as a one-shot thruster(ˈTHrəstər). It burns out quickly, but if directed intelligently(inˈtelijənt), it can provide the burst(bərst) you need to overcome inertia (iˈnərSHə) and create momentum(mōˈmentəm,mə-).

Willpower is the spearhead(ˈspi(ə)rˌhed) of self-discipline. To use a World War II analogy(əˈnaləjē), willpower would be D-Day, the Normandy(ˈnôrməndē) Invasion(inˈvāZHən). It was the gigantic(jīˈgantik) battle(ˈbatl) that turned the tide(tīd) of the war and got things moving in a new direction, even though it took another year to reach VE Day (Victory(ˈvikt(ə)rē) in Europe(ˈyo͝orəp)). To make that kind of effort every day of the war would have been impossible.

Willpower is a concentration(ˌkänsənˈtrāSHən) of force. You gather up all your energy and make a massive(ˈmasiv) thrust(THrəst) forward. You attack your problems strategically(strəˈtējik) at their weakest points until they crack(krak), allowing you enough room to maneuver(məˈno͞ovər) deeper into their territory(ˈterəˌtôrē) and finish them off.

The application of willpower includes the following steps:

Choose your objective

Create a plan of attack

Execute(ˈeksiˌkyo͞ot) the plan

With willpower you may take your time implementing(ˈɪmpləmənt) steps 1 and 2, but when you get to step 3, you’ve got to hit it hard and fast.

Don’t try to tackle(ˈtakəl) your problems and challenges in such a way that a high level of willpower is required every day. Willpower is unsustainable(ˌənsəˈstānəbəl). If you attempt to use it for too long, you’ll burn out. It requires a level of energy that you can maintain only for a short period(ˈpi(ə)rēəd) of time… in most cases the fuel(ˈfyo͞oəl) is spent within a matter of days.

https://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/2005/06/self-discipline-willpower/