Willpower is like the muscle and can be developed by systematically working over it. But how do we grow our willpower? This article attempts to list some steps which can be useful.
Take Incremental Steps
What if you suddenly try lifting a heavy weight without any prior practice? You are bound to fail, isn’t it? So what do you do? You build your muscle systematically by lifting small weights initially, and then slowly increase the intensity of the program, till you become capable of lifting heavy weights. Similarly, willpower can be strengthened by breaking the larger goal into smaller incremental and achievable steps and executing them systematically till one is capable of taking bigger strides to his goal to able to reach it faster.
Do Not Give Up
Never give up in between if you find no perceptible progress, as progress is always there but we do not notice it as it is small. These incremental small steps over a long period of time add up to the larger goal. Hence, one needs to stay focused and have faith in himself and keep constantly working towards the goal.
Manage Discomfort (Pain)
This is the most crucial part of this exercise. Pain is a big deterrent in one’s ability to make progress. The only way to manage pain it is to reward yourself once the incremental activity is completed. This could be by indulging in something you enjoy, but subject to fulfillment of the incremental objective. Perceptible progress also acts as a significant motivation for one to keep going. For that to kick in, one has to overcome the initial barrier. This is important, as only after that, managing pain becomes relatively easy.
Improve Process Constantly
Just like technique is important in one’s ability to use muscles efficiently, similarly following correct process is important to expedite progress. Using inefficient process can significantly slow down progress and dampen one’s willpower to keep executing.
Convert Tasks Into Habits
Habits help one perform task effortlessly without much effort. This help in managing pain and discomfort — the barrier to one’s progress. Habits can be formed if one works in a routine. Haphazard working creates confusion and makes habits difficult to develop and therefore increases the difficulty of the task in hand, thereby denting willpower.
Manage Failures Gracefully
Nothing is fair in this world, and therefore failures are bound to happen. One cannot avoid it. But even if the end goal remains unaccomplished, no one can stop one from strengthening his “willpower”. Once that is accomplished, one is better equipped (than earlier) to make the next attempt, thereby improving his chances every time he tries.
Success in life is linked to one’s willpower and one has to consciously improve it by following a systematic process. Having accomplished that, it can be used as a tool to drive one’s destiny.
