“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.” — Mahatma Gandhi
Is willpower finite?
Only if that’s the game you want to play. A study at Stanford University offers insight on how we might leverage the philosophical notion of willpower.
In research by long revered psychologist, Carol Dweck (et. al.), when viewed as deplete-able, willpower becomes an enigma, a ghostly version of its true depth. Stanford students who believed willpower was a limited resource procrastinated 35 percent more, ate junk food 24 percent more often, and performed poorly on concentration tests. This manifested in self talk such as, “If I just finish this one part of my work, I can take a TV break.” They were then less likely to go back to the work. The theory goes, if you feel a motivational well is going to run dry, panic builds and bad hording tactics ensue.
I can’t tell you how many people say to me, “I have no willpower,” when it comes to health. Indeed, I’ve also felt this lack of will, and yet I’ve accomplished heart wrenchingly difficult goals that, when I look back, astonish me. We all have.
In looking back, other people ask, “How did you make it through such-and-such?” My answer is always immediate and exact, “Sometimes you just put your head down and go. Had I known what was in store, I might not have done it, but it beat the alternative.”
This is what Ghandi meant by “Indomitable Will.” It is automatic when we are facing what matters most to us in life. How can we apply this will always, not just in desperate times that call for desperate measures (Thomas Paine)?
There is something to be said for the “Just do it” approach. We don’t like that it implies we all have the skills, tools, and knowledge to do what “it” takes in a safe and effective manner, which isn’t always the case. Those things being present and equal, however, “Just do it” does require us to cut through gratuitous drama or whining that allows us to play victim.
Dweck’s research gives power to the term resolve. When people say, “give yourself a break” it’s important to stop and sift out how much back patting you really need in order to go on. Yes, get up and stretch and get oxygen flowing again. Yes, stop and meditate to re-center your brain and heart rhythms when stress is overwhelming. Yes, vent and laugh with loved ones. These are all critical coping techniques and integral to success, but only as part of the big picture, not in lieu of it and only if you get back on the horse. Resolve to reach your goal with an indomitable will.
So, before you “break,” zoom out and look at the end product you desire (the goal you truly want and what’s most important to you) and ask, “Is what I’m doing now helping me get there?” If sloughing off, for its own sake is more important to you in that moment, so be it. No judgment. Just be clear that you are choosing a different PATH at that moment and you are deciding to put off achieving what you want. Again, no judgment, just clarity.
In some cases, veering happens — a small detour due to life’s interruptions. Making a plan to grab hold of your resolve again and re-point your focus is vital.
Oh, and here’s a quick tip that can help:
When you feel you’re about to veer (e.g that box of donuts is calling to you from the staff lounge), a study from University of Chicago says to clench your fists. Seriously! Drop temptation by tightening up your muscles and pushing the urge out of your soul.
Bottom line:
Will doesn’t leave us. Distractions overbear us with the nagging question, “is this really worth it?” Stop, clench and zoom! If your goal is what you truly want, the answer has to be “yes.” In which case, don’t take a break. Stretch, breathe, dig deep and carry on.
How do you keep your resolve? Let us know on the PATH Ahead!