Willpower is the ability to pursue long-term goals in spite of inner obstacles created by needs, desires (cravings), thoughts (excuses), and automatisms (bad habits). We know from ample empirical data that willpower is key for financial, social, and personal success. But where does this ability to control ourselves come from? Executive Functions Adult humans have a highly developed prefrontal cortex, which makes us exceptionally good at executive functioning. Executive functions are cognitive … [Read more...]
How to Live a Good Life by Doing Your True Will
The most common cause of failure in life is ignorance of one's own True Will, or of the means to fulfill that Will. [...] A Man whose conscious will is at odds with his True Will is wasting his strength. (Aleister Crowley, Liber ABA, Part III) How can you be successful and live a good life? Well, don't waste your strength. That's simple volitional logic. But what is success? Success is subjective, and yet... you cannot define it for yourself. You can't determine what success means to you, just … [Read more...]
Rationality Vs. Irrationality Vs. Spirituality
What is rationality? There are two types of rationality: Epistemic rationality is the willingness to update one's beliefs based on logic, critical thinking, and empirical evidence. Instrumental rationality is the ability to make good decisions and achieve goals effectively. For both types, we can embrace rationality by living in accordance with reason (= rational), oppose rationality by thinking and acting contrary to reason (= irrational/emotional), or transcend … [Read more...]
How to Forge an Indomitable Will
You don't need to be an extraordinary man to have an indomitable will. You only need an extraordinary mindset. And the good thing about mindsets is that you can adopt whichever you want—if you just set your mind to it. By catching yourself thinking weak thoughts and then changing how you think about things, you develop the mental hammer that helps you to forge an indomitable will. In general, you want a bold will whenever you are in a bad bodymind state: when you feel hungry and weak, … [Read more...]
How Cultural Beliefs Affect Willpower
Willpower Metaphors Does using willpower deplete your limited willpower tank? It will, if you think it does. "Let me first rest and refuel my tank" or "I better reserve my self-control energy for later..." But what if you see your will not as a tank that can run out of fuel? Multiple studies have shown that beliefs about self-control are self-fulfilling prophecies. If your willpower is limited, it is probably limited by your willpower limitation anxiety. Not depletion limits your willpower, … [Read more...]
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