What does Will Power mean? It simply means we have the power to make decisions.
Sometimes we make decisions to pursue a goal or dream that require an investment of a great amount of time and energy to complete a project or goal, like starting a business, weight loss or an athletic achievement like running a Marathon.
Will is also the simplest of things. Our emotions and cravings can easily manipulate our will. We don’t always use our will in a positive way.
We use our will to reach out and pick the Giant Slurpee cup and fill it with Lime Green slush instead of reaching for the bottled water. We pick the cupcake instead of the apple. We pick the couch over the running shoes.
Will and Discipline go together. We often times have the will or at least the intention but we lack the discipline to empower our will.
We make decisions every minute of every day. It’s very easy to stay with the old habits. It takes both will and discipline to create change in our lives.
If you are not unhappy or are not unsatisfied or you lack the desire to improve or make a change, then you most likely won’t have the will let alone the discipline to change.
However if you don’t easily settle for what you have or what you are, you can be motivated to try something new. You have the will to change or improve. This could be the desire to get a better education, a better job, move to a better place, stop smoking, lose weight or anything you desire as change.
Once you have the will….then you need the discipline to implement the change you desire. Discipline requires reinforcement of positive will.
Webster’s Dictionary defines discipline as:
: control that is gained by requiring that rules or orders be obeyed and punishing bad behavior
: a way of behaving that shows a willingness to obey rules or orders
: behavior that is judged by how well it follows a set of rules or orders
Basically then, discipline is behavior or action that obeys the rules….well YOU set the rules with your will. You have the Will Power to set your rules for change or improving your life. Discipline is the act of following the rules you set for yourself on the road to change.
It’s not easy. Temptations are all around. When you are faced with the issue you wish to change or improve, you must recall your will to change and act according to that will. Discipline is the result. You will abstain or you will work harder or you will take the action needed depending upon your goal.
Will and discipline work in a repetitive cycle and over time the result will be that you have reached your goal.
It doesn’t mean you won’t have set backs or small failures along the way. You will, everyone does; there are no Supermen or Superwomen. But over time, if you have the will and discipline to enforce your will, then you can achieve your goals and desires.
“If it is to be, it’s up to me.” William Johnsen