Lead Us Not Into Temptation

When it comes to making resolutions, you’ve either got the willpower or you haven’t, right? Wrong, says Claudia Connell, who discovered she could learn self-control – and then went on to lose 25 kilos.

- Claudia Connell

Every Christmas was the same as a child: I’d wait until my  parents were in bed, then  tiptoe around the house,  turning the place upside down  looking everywhere for my presents.  It was an action that left my sister bewildered. She couldn’t understand why I’d want to ruin the wonderful surprises that were coming my way – but she’s also someone who’d make her Easter eggs last until her birthday in June, while I scoffed mine in 24 hours. When we shared a flat in our 20s, she’d eat half a bag of sweets and put the rest in the cupboard for another day, something I’ve never achieved in the 48 years of my life.

Marshmallow man

Can I ever change? Walter Mischel thinks so. He’s the eminent psychologist who, 50 years ago, pioneered what became known as the Marshmallow Test. He selected a group of four- and five-year-olds and put marshmallows in front of them. They were told they could eat a marshmallow if they liked, but if they could resist for 15 minutes, they could have two marshmallows.

A third of the children were able to hold out, but two-thirds found the temptation too great (no prizes for guessing which group I’d be in). The children were subsequently tracked throughout their lives, and what was immediately apparent was that those with the stronger willpower fared better in life; they went further in education, earned more, were in better health and even had more successful relationships.