Willpower vs Willingness: Can you have one without the other?

Journey to There

In This Episode:

Definition of Willpower and Willingness

will·pow·er ˈwilˌpou(ə)r/ noun

1. control exerted to do something or restrain impulses. 2. “most of our bad habits are due to laziness or lack of willpower

will·ing·ness ˈwiliNGnəs/ noun

1. the quality or state of being prepared to do something; readiness. 2. “the ability and willingness of workers to migrate” synonyms: readiness, inclination, will, wish, desire, alacrity “we appreciate your willingness to help”

Willpower vs Willingness: Can you have one without the other?

Is there an unlimited amount of willpower?

If willpower isn't limited why do we feel depleted and how can we tap into that potential endless supply of energy?

Choose your perspective: Research shows you may feel wiped out from a task you perceive as work but if the activity is shifted to a fun activity accomplishing the same goal your energy goes up!

Find out what dancing and willpower have in common.

Recent studies suggest it may be possible to choose how your willpower works for yourself. It is about shifting your idea around the concept in general.

Will I do it? Or I will do this. Which is your perspective?

Learn the key to creating more intrinsic motivation.

Setting your mind on a goal may be counterproductive. Instead, think of the future as an open question.

An interesting study by Ibrahim Senay of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign lends scientific support to the recovery concepts of surrender and openness. He found that people who kept their minds open (“Will I do this?”) were more goal-directed and more motivated than the people who firmly declared their objective (“I will do this”). Having the freedom of choice seemed to create more intrinsic motivation—

Why do you act differently when you believe willpower is unlimited? You procrastinate less and prepare more efficiently. You’re more likely to view solving a challenging problem as a motivating experience, instead of an exhausting one. If a task goes more smoothly because of better preparation, it’s probably easier to keep that good momentum going.

Michael Inzlicht, a researcher at the University of Toronto, explains that self-control crises happen when two of your goals conflict. Your emotional response determines your choice. It’s not that you’re completely unable to resist the pint of rocky road ice cream in the freezer. It’s more likely that losing 10 pounds by swimsuit season is a less valuable goal to you than a creamy treat right now.

Traci's Takeaways from this show:

Have the willingness to reach out and ask for help when struggling with any addiction. Willpower is not the solution.

Resources:

http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0109950

Infinite willpower? http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0956797610384745

Choose your own self-control http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0956797610384745

Quote:

"You must have willingness before you can exert willingness."

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