Choosing between easy and necessary paths is fundamental for shaping our personal and professional lives. However challenging this task may seem, self-discipline can enable us to make the right decisions. But first, we need to nurture it.
Many people associate willpower with pushing ourselves to the limits. However, we can wear ourselves out by adhering to this definition. Instead, we should treat it as a muscle we can train. This way, we will channel the energy spent blaming ourselves into figuring out what strengthens and undermines our self-discipline. By managing it efficiently, we can become high achievers.
At the same time, let’s be honest with ourselves: progress takes time. As we don’t live in a vacuum, social expectations, others’ patterns, psychological traumas, and many other factors affect our decisions. Navigating them takes much effort, so let’s understand that self-control is also a journey, with milestones and tracking even minor progress.
The following questions will ensure we don’t deviate from the right path:
• Are we aware of the choices we make?
• Do we realize our goals clearly?
• What are our main drainers of willpower, and how can we minimize them?
• Which tools that increase self-control work best for us?
Step by step, we will form new habits to sustain our willpower.
• Limit the most frequent distractions; for instance, switch off notifications from social media.
• Imagine yourself in ten years. What would you like to have, and what kind of person do you want to become? Turn these dreams into your goals.
• Dig deep to understand the causes of your self-sabotaging thoughts and behavior. Instead of thinking you are lazy, figure out why certain activities fail to motivate you.