Willpower: the ability to control yourself; strong determination that allows you to do something difficult (such as to lose weight or quit drinking).
After you quit drinking, there will be times when you will crave alcohol, and it will take willpower to overcome that craving. It’s like a tug-of-war between you and the craving. The craving wants you to do something unhealthy, to pull you over to the dark side. But you know what’s over there on the dark side if the craving wins: a brief feeling of euphoria (the buzz from the alcohol), followed by misery (hangover, sickness, missed days at work, lost weekends, wasted money, etc.).
If you don’t currently have a lot of willpower, you will have to fight a mighty battle to beat the craving. It will take every fiber of your being to overcome the urge, pulling on “the rope” with all your might to stop yourself from drinking.
If, on the other hand, you have highly developed willpower, you can make a simple ninja-move and let go of the rope, sending the craving crashing back to the dark side.
People who use their willpower:
- Stick to their plans
- Keep their promises
- Reach their goals
- Do what they say they’re going to do
- Learn new skills
- Climb mountains — real and virtual
- Make things happen
- Take charge of their lives
Develop Your Willpower
If you want to succeed at most things in life, you need willpower. And here’s the good news: you have it. We’re all born with it. It’s one of the most important tools you have in your tool kit — consider it a super-power. But, like a muscle, you have to use it to develop it.
You have so many simple opportunities every single day to develop your willpower:
- Get up when the alarm goes off
- Choose a healthy breakfast over junk food
- Brush your teeth – every day, twice a day
- Make the bed
- Get to work on time
- Have an exercise routine
- Do the laundry
- Pay the bills on time
- Wash the dishes
- Keep your home clean and tidy
- Resist unhealthy temptations
- Go to bed when you should
The list goes on and on. To develop your willpower, you do what needs to be done, whether you feel like it or not. No excuses. You will yourself to do the right thing. And you do it before even thinking about rewarding yourself with watching your favorite TV show, or a movie, or going out with friends, etc.
It might seem difficult at first, but, like learning to ride a bike, or to drive a car, it becomes second nature. You develop healthy, empowering habits, and rid yourself of procrastination and old, bad habits. You become your own master.
If you consistently take care of the smaller things in life, every time, when you should, you will be developing your willpower; you will be ready to take on life’s bigger challenges when they arise.
As Nike’s powerful slogan says: “Just do it.”
It’s really that simple.
KTB
Kick the Booze 