Einstein said, “We can will ourselves to act, but we cannot will ourselves to will.” I disagree.
Benjamin Libet found in several experiments that electrical impulses in the brain precede someone deciding to act, and then acting. These experiments have been interpreted as meaning that our sense of free will is an illusion. However, in these experiments, the subjects were not given the option to NOT act. They had to act – in this case raising a hand a random intervals. They felt compelled, chose to act and then acted. It would be interesting to see what would happen if subjects were allowed to not act.
I believe you can will yourself to act and you can will yourself to will yourself to act or not act. I believe you can transform yourself into a strong-willed person who defends certain values of your choosing. I believe – because I have experienced it and have known others who have experienced it – that you can will yourself to anything, except perhaps to be taller or younger.
You can certainly will yourself to will. The will is like a muscle. The more you use it, the stronger it gets. It just takes practice. Start small with the classic marshmallow test. Put a marshmallow (or other treat that you love) on a plate within arm’s reach. Tell yourself that if you do not touch it, then in X minutes or hours you can have TWO. Practice waiting. Move up to making yourself wait without a reward (the one treat is the reward). Then move on to more challenging tests of your will. Will yourself to workout on specific days. Will yourself to do a short fast. Will yourself to have that difficult conversation…. you get the idea. The will can be trained and made very strong indeed. Give it a try!
What aspect of your will power do you need to strengthen?
