“Willpower is a mind-body response, not a virtue.”
“Willpower is not an unlimited resource. Too much self-control can actually be bad for your health.”
In her book, The Willpower Instinct, Kelly McGonigal explores the phenomenon of willpower while busting a lot of myths concerning it. She also cites 5 important strategies to get rid of old habits that are no longer serving you and to exact positive change in your life.
#1. Forgive yourself for eating the cookie…or slice of chocolate cake, or too many jello shots…whatever it is.
#2. Always get enough sleep, or anything that sustains you and gives you more energy.
#3. Reward yourself.
#4. Accept the feeling you have about your inner experience while you’re making the change. It can be difficult. You might be sad. This is O.K.
#5. Pay attention to how you fail as much as how you succeed.
#5.Pay attention to how you fail as much as you succeed.
This last one really got me the most. Pay. Attention. To. How. You. Fail. As. Much. As. How. You. Succeed. What is going on when something doesn’t go right? Where do you feel it? In what part of your body? What tapes are playing in your head about what happened when things didn’t work out the way you planned? There is a clue there somewhere as to what is possibly holding you back.
It could be that you’re not aligned with your true purpose…or your ideal client…or the motivation isn’t right. Is there a pattern? Once you uncover these clue(s) hiding in the “failures”, you just might discover the missing link to your eventual success.
#4.Accept the feeling you have about your inner experience while you’re making the change. It can be difficult. You might be sad. This is O.K.
Pay attention to your inner experience while change is manifesting. Allow yourself to have the feelings you’re feeling and not judge. Nurture yourself, parent yourself, comfort yourself. Thank yourself for making the effort to change. Give yourself credit for meeting change halfway. YOU have a hand in this change.
#3. Reward yourself.
Tell yourself that after you work on such and such, you’ll give yourself a small reward. It could be a walk in the sunshine, or a break to watch your favorite sit-com, whatever. Knowing that you’ll get a little reward once you reach a mini-milestone helps spur you on.
#2. Always get enough sleep, or anything that sustains you and gives you more energy.
Rest. Exercise. Drink lots of water. Meditate. Whatever it is that sustains you and gives you more energy is very important. You’re doing tough work here. You must take care to nourish your body & soul.
#1.Forgive yourself for eating the cookie...
Or slice of chocolate cake, or too many jello shots…whatever it is. So, you went off the cleansing diet and ate a big, luscious cookie? Don’t beat yourself up. Enjoy every bite. I mean it. Seriously. Love the sh*t out of it. And then get back on track.
This book is an enlightening study in human behavior and the concepts are backed up by many, thorough studies. Check it out for yourself.
Here’s the link (and don’t forget to get some rest and enjoy the cookie). http://amzn.to/K7mBRO
It’s not too late to join B-School! Check it out for yourself…Here’s the link:
