“Willpower is the key to success. Successful people strive no matter what they feel by applying their will to overcome apathy, doubt, or fear.”
— Dan Millman
What is the deepest desire of your heart?
Within your heart lives your passion, or your “why,” it is what you truly dream about; Successful people have the will to win, overcome obstacles, do whatever it takes to achieve what they dream about, and are driven by their purpose, vision, and values.
Willpower is generated by living in what we are most passionate about
Passion is the powerful engine that drives the will.
Passion provides the “want-to” when it comes to high achievements.
Choosing nothing less than winning enables us to sustain, assess, and learn from our numerous failures.
The will to win is entirely under our control.
To win in life, we must become intentionally self-disciplined to strengthen our resolve (willpower). I believe it’s helpful to think of willpower as a mental muscle; we must be intentional with visits to a gym to strengthen our physical muscles; willpower is no different.
Will Power is Intentional
Whether your thinking is intentional or reactionary corresponding behaviors will follow, Social Psychologist Roy Baumeister says, “People with low willpower use it to get themselves out of crises. People with high willpower use it not to get themselves into crises.”
Isn’t it true that if we want something bad enough, we’ll find the willpower to obtain it? That being said, willpower is intentional and entirely under our control. We will be acted upon if we do not act; the choice is ours.
Psychologist Catarina Lino remarks, “We rely on willpower to exercise, diet, save money, quit smoking, stop drinking, overcome procrastination, and ultimately accomplish any of our goals. It impacts every area of our lives.”
Change is Intentional
Enduring a transformation process is a decision we reach after giving all it entails much thought. Whether we’re considering
A Career Change
A Change of residence
Living from higher values
Embarking on a personal development program
All require deep consideration that leads to a lifestyle change and committing to the necessary thinking and planning that goes into each. My point is simple: by our intentional thinking, we are where we are today, and so, we will be tomorrow by the thoughts we intentionally entertain today.
Attitudes are Intentional
Our attitudes, good or bad, are by choice. Whatever we allow to occupy our minds will shift our focus and eventually stir up our emotions.
Filling our minds with positive, healthy, and inspiring thoughts leads to developing a positive, healthy attitude; the opposite is equally valid.
Behaviors Are Intentional
What you think about influences how you behave; this applies to what you do or don’t do. If your thoughts are negative, your behavior will follow.
I’ve stated that we are today where our thoughts have taken us, and we will be tomorrow where our thoughts lead us because our thoughts direct our actions.
In his book As a Man Thinketh, James Allen correctly observes, “Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results; bad thoughts and actions can never produce good results.
We understand this law in the natural world and work with it. Still, few understand it in the mental and moral world—although its operation there is just as simple and undeviating—and they, therefore, do not cooperate with it.”
In Conclusion
John Maxwell observes, “The secret to willpower is what someone once called “wantpower.” People who want something enough usually find the willpower to achieve it. You can’t help people become winners unless they want to win. Champions become champions from within, not from without.”
*** This article was authored by John Picarello, Chief Leadership Officer at Lions Pride Leadership Co. ***