Written by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan, The One Thing is a book that focuses on bringing to our attention the most simplistic and effective way to achieve our goals. I will writing about the chapter on "Willpower." This ActiveRain challenge was a great way exercise and something I enjoyed.
"Where there is a will, there is a way" the author's state that this universally used statement is commonly misunderstood as its simplistic approach is anything but. Treating willpower like it was an object a tool that you always have in your toolbox ready to be used at any moment is a fallacy. You have to manage willpower to obtain its best use. An essential aspect of willpower is timing, "the key to willpower is when you use it."
Treating willpower like a limited resource, their analogy was like the battery power on your cell phone. The more you use it throughout the day, the less power it will have, it will get depleted and drained unless you rest it and build it back up.
"The brain takes up more than 1/5th of the calories we burn for energy", that is a staggering number to me. Willpower is a mental muscle, the more you use for it one task, the less you will have for the next task. The food you eat has a direct impact on your ability to maintain willpower, that's a new idea to me.
Another statement the authors make, "When our willpower is low, we tend to fallback on our default settings." Essentially if your default setting is not a positive one, you run the risk of repeating those bad habits when your willpower is running thin.
Main learning tool: "We lose our willpower, not because we think about it, but because we don't." Not treating your willpower like a limited resource is a mistake. They ask the question, "How do you put your willpower to work?" Their answer which I agree with, treat with respect, realize that you need to utilize it when it is at its strongest. Basically take on your hardest task when its ready for the challenge, because then you stand the greatest chance to have success with that task.
The timing aspect of willpower is essential. Fight the biggest fight when you have the most willpower at your disposal and then manage what you have got left throughout the rest of the day so you don't backtrack your earlier achievements.
Practical lesson to implement: Take on the toughest or most important task of the day FIRST, before all of the daily minutia sucks out your energy and focus, your willpower.
Treating willpower like a limited resource is a very new idea to me, I haven't thought of it like that before. It makes sense and its a good way to put yourself in the best position to succeed and get the best of yourself.
Comments (6)Subscribe to CommentsComment