Willpower can be explained as the ability to want something, but also to execute that will. In short, perseverance. It is seen as a character trait and not something you can simply develop. However, behavioral specialists are now coming back to this and it seems as if you can indeed improve your willpower with exercises.
The importance of willpower
Willpower can guide you through difficult situations and ensures that you have sufficient self-control to oversee and manage matters. If this is a regular part of your life, the chance of a happy life is greater. You are in a stronger position and that helps both the mental process and the physical. The strong-willed among us have better health. At least that’s what the statistics show.
Too strong or too weak
The man or woman without a spine (as we call it colloquially) is the man or woman who wanders through life. He or she is not steadfast, rarely has a clear opinion and therefore blows with all the winds and easily gives in to things. It sometimes seems like the simplest solution, but ultimately it will not be experienced as pleasant by the environment (where we assume balanced relationships). After all, people don’t know what to do with you.
If your willpower dominates, it is no longer willpower, but can be seen as pushy and dominant behavior. Wanting something and going for it is fine, but achieving your goal at any cost can have serious consequences. Balance is important, even when it comes to willpower.
How can you train willpower?
How does it work?
Willpower is a bit like a muscle, a trained muscle goes further than an untrained one. But every muscle is used up at some point and this also applies to the dose of willpower that a person has in him. But that also means that you can train it.
An example that often comes up is the work you do that you no longer enjoy. To hold your own and be nice to the boss, your willpower must be strong. After all, you have to pump yourself up every time and that muscle will be exhausted at some point. For example, if you also have to do something in the evenings that requires willpower, then it may be over and you may suddenly find that the willpower shown during the day is hard to find.
How do you strengthen it?
You strengthen your willpower by starting to react less primarily. Impulses come at you all day long and if you continuously respond to them, it is not only mentally tiring but also difficult to have to respond sharply. You begin to increase your control when you can let go of the impulses. Bypassing impulses does not yield anything, then the temptation can only be greater (perhaps too great) at some point. However, not responding to the impulses strengthens your self-control. While this may not be easy at first, it really is a matter of training. And training means persevering and getting a little further every time.
In addition, it is good to write down your goals somewhere where you will see them regularly and where you can absorb them . Then also link the steps you take to get there. This can be done in keywords, as long as it becomes clear what you are working towards.
Finally
If you want to train yourself in willpower, you have to get serious about it and also accept that every now and then you take two steps forward and one step back. That’s okay, as long as the line is forward. Willpower can help you through difficult times, but it doesn’t hurt to strengthen yourself. Moreover, many people like to set goals and work towards something. Sufficient willpower/perseverance can also help you in this.