Willpower

June 29, 2004

The problem with willpower is that it comes and goes, but if your world is

set up to support your goals, that will prop you up when the willpower isn't

there.

I'm watching Dr. Phil this morning while eating my breakfast and he's

dealing with family members who have asked for his help with severely obese

loved ones. He just said the quote above and I literally cheered. (The dogs

are looking at my like I've lost my mind.)

AMEN! So often we read from people on these boards, " I was doing great and

then I lost the willpower and I quit. " The fact is, willpower is a fickle

partner. It comes and goes, waxes and wanes. If we depend on it, it's the

same as depending on that flakey friend who lets us down 9 out of 10 times.

Pretty soon with the friend we learn how to handle her. We tell her to be at

an appointment half an hour early, in hopes her " on time " (which is half

hour late) will get her there in YOUR " on time " . We know that when we are

depending on her to pick us up to take us to the airport, we have to make a

backup plan or not ask her. In short, because we love her we learn how to

deal with her. When she comes through, she's the best! Unfortunately she

just can't always come through.

Willpower is like that fickle friend. When it's there it's awesome. It gives

us the umph to keep going. But when it's gone, what do you do? Well you take

those times when you DO have willpower and you build up a no-fail

environment around you. You also need to recognize, just like with your

wonderfully flakey friend, that will isn't always going to be around. Just

like with the friend, you make a backup plan.

~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'~'

Tory Klementsen, MCP A+

Career and Technology Educator

-The successful person will do the things that the unsuccessful person will

not.

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