Strength Of Mind

There’s a Science Behind Self-control and Motivation, and You Can Acquire More of It

It’s 5.30am and your phone alarm starts its melodic warble to rouse you from sleep. You vowed today will be the day: the day you get up, pull your gym shoes on and head to that class before work. But you just can’t. You can’t seem to lift the covers and place your feet on the floor. You hit the snooze button and promise that tomorrow will be different. Repeat ad infinitum.

If this sounds like you, you’re not alone. Most of us wish we had just a little more willpower to reach the goals we set ourselves. But no matter how hard we try we just can’t stick to that diet, exercise like we’d planned, or cut out sugar like we’d hoped. Willpower – self-control, grit, motivation – whatever you want to call it, seems to bless only a select few. Judy Klipin (Judyklipin. com), a life coach specialist and author based in Joburg, says: ‘Willpower refers to our motivation or commitment to implement our will to follow through on something that we’d like to do or achieve. It’s a function of our ability to motivate ourselves to reach a goal.’ And if you have it, willpower can be a positive and life-affirming skill that can have a profound effect on your life’s course and direction.

WHAT IS WILLPOWER?

The ability to delay gratification or resist short term temptations in order to meet long-term goals.

Conscious, effortful regulation of the self by the self.

The mental capacity to override an unwanted thought, feeling or impulse.

THE SCIENCE BEHIND SELF-CONTROL