The Importance of Will Power

What is the essence of will power? We can do anything we set our minds to, as long as we have the will power to finish the race. It seems like a simple thing – just do it. But we all have trouble just doing it. So why is will power so elusive?

In order to accomplish the goals we set for ourselves, we must clearly understand our current situations and the importance of reaching that future finish line. What weaknesses must we currently overcome? What obstacles stand between us and our future goals? What benefits will we receive from accomplishing our goals?

Here are four of the most common obstacles to developing your willpower, with suggestions from Evocrates, the wise and mysterious platypus who lives high in the western mountain range of E-VOUS Island:

Lack of Motivation: “Plato-san, you must focus! You have forgotten why your goals are important. You would not jump off a cliff, would you? No, because you absolutely know it would be bad for you. You must have the same certainty of knowledge that your goal is good for you. If you focus on the importance of your goal, you will feel motivated to work on that goal every day. Write notes for yourself. Make posters for your walls. Write about your goals in your journal. Keep the importance of your goals always in front of you and you will keep motivation inside of you.”

Lack of Energy: “Your body can only put out as much energy as you put into it. The more time you spend training your body, allowing it to rest, and feeding it well, the more energy it will be able to expend. Make sure you take your vitamins, sleep eight hours a night, and exercise daily. If you still feel too tired to complete your goals, spend five minutes breathing slowly and clearing your mind three times or more per day. This will give your mind time to recharge.”

Goals Are Too Hard: “A mountain seems too tall to climb when you look up at it, but when your head is down, it looks like just one more step. If your goals seem too hard, simply bow your head and put one foot in front of the other. All you have to do is try. The largest of dreams were achieved by completing one small task after another.”

Goals Are Unpleasant: “So, you have set a goal that you want to achieve, but you do not enjoy working on this goal. I too had a problem like this. As a young platypus, I did not enjoy solving mathematical problems. So I sought out another young platypus who did enjoy math. I asked him what he liked about math. He sat down with me and went through a number of equations that made him happy, and I began to see math through his eyes. People who care deeply about a subject are usually the best teachers of that subject.”