Clue: If you want to make your resolution come true -- willpower won't get you there!
Achieving goals is best approached as if you
are trying to overcome an addiction. In
fact, that is exactly what you are doing. We all have addictions.
"Willpower is for people who are still
uncertain about what they want to do." -- Helia
If willpower is required – there is clearly
some type of internal conflict. You want to lose weight, but you also want that
beer.
When willpower is required there are two
causes:
1. You don't know what you want, and you
therefore have internal conflict.
2. You are not committed to a goal/change and
created the conditions that facilitate
your commitment.
What do you really want?
If reaching your goal requires willpower, you
haven't figured out what you want. Because once you really make a decision, the
internal debate is over.
After you decide what you want, the decision
is made. Thus, all future decisions regarding that matter have also been made.
No questions.
So, are you serious about this? Until you
decide, you'll be required to use willpower, and will continue making minimal
progress.
Are you committed?
When it comes to achieving goals, commitment
involves:
·
Making it public
·
Setting a timeline
consisting of small measurable goals that lead to the overall goal
·
Creating several forms
of feedback and accountability
·
Removing everything in
your environment that opposes your commitment
Once you truly commit - it's as though you've
already succeeded. All doubt and disbelief are gone.
Commitment involves building your life around
your goals. Your internal resolve, naked to an undefended and opposing
environment, is not commitment.
Create conditions that make success inevitable
You will fail to achieve your goals if you
don't change your environment.
An alcoholic who really wants to quit drinking
needs to not hang around bars and people drinking, but this analogy applies to
all goals!
So consciously create an environment that
facilitate your commitments. Actually, if you're really committed to a goal,
this is exactly what you'll do.
This is how personal growth occurs. We adapt to
our environment. Thus, personal growth involves deliberately choosing or
creating environments that helps mold us into the person we want to become.
Summary
Bill Walsh said,
"If your why is strong enough you will figure out how!"
If you're required to use willpower:
·
You haven't made up
your mind.
·
Your desire (your
"why") for your goals isn't strong enough.
·
You haven't fully
committed to what you're going to do.
·
Your environment is
not in alignment with your goals. You haven't created an environment that facilitates
reaching your goals.
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