You are armed and prepared, ready to do battle against your greatest enemy. The tension in the air increases as your foe enters the arena. Of course, you know the tactics she will deploy. She is you.
I often hear from clients the lament of needing more willpower or discipline. These are noble attributes to strive for, yet they are not the key to ensuring our success in realizing our goals. Here’s why…
Willpower is powerful, yet the supply of it is limited. We have more of it earlier in the day when we are rested and less distracted. As the day goes on, our supply of willpower and ability to access it diminishes quickly. Think of it more like a shot of adrenaline. We cannot rely on it to power through our days. Its best use is for a quick redirection of our focus.
The word discipline evokes a sense of control; that the person that has it can stand above the fray, the distractions and the temptations and simply say, “No.” Do you want to spend the majority of your life saying “no”? Kind of a downer, isn’t it?
Both willpower and discipline are wonderful tools to help us accomplish our goals. Yet both are limited in their ability to ensure our success. Instead, it is up to us to craft, develop and create a life and way of being that supports us. How do we do that? Tune in next week and learn how to set yourself up for success!