Pump Up Your Willpower
Jun 03, 2020
"WHAT TAXES YOUR WILLPOWER? Implementing new behaviors; Filtering distractions; Resisting temptation; Suppressing emotion; Restraining aggression; Suppressing impulses; Taking tests; Trying to impress others; Coping with fear; Doing something you don’t enjoy; Selecting long-term over short-term rewards."
--Gary Keller, from "The ONE Thing"
I was astonished while reading his chapter on willpower from Gary's book, "The ONE Thing." Gary compares willpower like the power bar on our cell phones. Every morning, we start out with a full charge. As the day goes on, every time we use our phones, we use up some of the charge. It’s the same with your willpower. As the day goes on, our resolve shrinks just like our cell phone battery. Every time we use our will, we have less of it to draw on later on in the day. When the charge is gone…so is our willpower.
Willpower is one of those resources that needs
to be managed. Who knew?
But it makes sense. Every day, right around 3:00, I’m done. I can’t hardly make a decision after that time. I just need to leave work and regroup. I find myself closing my laptop, getting a snack, walking my dog, or just doing something brainless for about 30 minutes. If I can carve out that time, I can finish my day with ease. If I miss that time, I welcome any distraction that comes my way and productivity goes out the window. Many times it leaves me searching for LifeSaver Gummies, or some other sugary snack.
Knowing this information is powerful. Maybe you’ve heard of the Marshmallow Test? Walter Mischel did some research with four-year-old children. He gave them one marshmallow and told them they would get two if they could wait to eat the one until he came back. Only three out of ten could delay gratification for 15 minutes to get the two treats. Willpower was in short supply. 
What’s the big deal about this experiment? Over the next 30 years, Mischel followed those who participated in his experiment. He found out that the “high-delayers”, those who could hold out for two marshmallows, fared better in life. The “low-delayers” were 30 percent more likely to be overweight and suffer higher rates of drug addictions. WOW. Willpower is so important that using it effectively should be a high priority.
“The more we use our mind, the less minding power we have,” Gary writes. He also says that studies show that willpower is a mental muscle that doesn’t bounce back quickly. We assume that thinking doesn’t take many calories, but if our brain were a car, it would be a Hummer. It’s takes a lot of fuel to think.
Gary gives us these steps to put our willpower to work:
1. Don’t spread your willpower to thin. On any given day, we have a limited supply of willpower, so decide what is most important and reserve our willpower for that.
2. Monitor our fuel gauges. Never let what matters most be compromised because our brains are under fueled.
3. Time our tasks. Do what matters most first each day when our willpower is strongest.
Don’t fight your willpower, build your day around it. Then we will be able to count on it.
Still surprised!
Jan
Jan McDonald
The John Maxwell Team
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