Willpower: What If We Make a New Year Resolution?

A New Year resolution is a commitment to accomplish something in the coming year. We must choose from among the many good things in life the one that we want the most to accomplish. Once a choice is made, we necessarily have to repress other desires that obstruct our success. This will require willpower.

Christmas is over and 2012 is just a few days away. What if we make a New Year resolution, a commitment to accomplish something in the coming year? Some consider changes in their lifestyle – quitting smoking, becoming a vegetarian, or taking a hobby. Others set goals – save up and buy a brand new car, quit a dull job and become self-employed, or write a novel. I wonder how many people still make a New Year resolution, but I know quite a few who have resolved not to make one anymore to spare them of breaking it anyway. In a study conducted by Richard Wisemen from the University of Bristol in 2007, more than three-quarters of those who make New Year resolutions fail.

There are many things that we want in life, but with limited resources, such as time and energy, we must choose from among the many good things in life the one that we want the most to accomplish at the time. If we are to succeed in accomplishing something, we need to personally want it. Sometimes, we do things just because the people around us are doing them and a New Year resolution is one of these things. Breaking our New Year resolution is almost certain if we simply set a trendy goal that we have not seriously thought about. We can accomplish something, even that imposed on us by another person – a loved one, an employer, or a physician – provided the desire to accomplish it becomes a personal choice. Once a choice is made, we necessarily have to repress other desires that obstruct our success. Anybody who chose to live a healthy life needs to repress the urge to smoke, drink alcohol, eat indiscriminately, and forgo exercise. To effectively repress strong and persistent desires that are detrimental to our success, we have to be self-disciplined. Self-discipline is the ability to be in control of one's desires, thoughts, and emotions for one's own benefit. Self-disciplined people have control of their lives. Motivated by a strong desire to succeed, they choose and determine how to act and what to do. Self-discipline is formed by the consistent use of willpower in confronting the pain of being in control.

In his book The Road Less Travelled, M. Scott Peck defined will as “a desire of sufficient intensity that it is translated into action.” He added that will also implies choice. If we do not want something very much, then the will to accomplish it is likely to be weak. To get what they want, self-disciplined people use their willpower to overcome obstacles and maintain in control of the situation. Willpower is the inner strength that overcomes irrational desires, bad habits, unhealthy urges, and thoughts and emotions that obstruct action. Willpower is the determination to exercise will, even in the face of difficulties. The greater pain is involved, the stronger willpower is required. People with strong willpower will pursue their goal even in the face of intense pain, while people with weak willpower will lose control easily.

In the book Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength by Roy Baumeister and John Tierney, Baumeister compared willpower to a muscle that can be fatigued. In his willpower-muscle metaphor, Baumeister pointed out that willpower can be toned up by exercising it by using it regularly starting with small challenges. In the film Green Lantern, Tomar-Re narrated: “Billions of years ago, a race of immortals harnessed the most powerful force in existence: the emerald energy of willpower.” and he told Hal Jordan: “Your will turns thought into reality. To master the ring you must learn to focus your will and create what you see in your mind. The ring's limits are only what you can imagine.” Hal trained in focusing his will. We can strengthen our willpower by training ourselves on how to use it in our daily struggles.

The Mighty Sven of Happy Feet 2 has said. “If you want it, you must will it. If you will it, it will be yours.” We can let our desire, what we want, motivate us to strengthen our willpower that will in turn enhance our self-discipline. With a strong willpower and established self-discipline, we become well-armed in accomplishing our set goal whether it is a New Year resolution or not.