Why your willpower won't power (" I won't power" vs "I want power")

In speaking with prospective clients, there’s one comment that comes up a lot in the many conversations we have. "I just need more willpower”.

"I know what and what not to eat , but I just don’t have the willpower to stick with it". 

I don’t have the willpower  to resist the different  temptations in my  life.  "I can’t resist those late-night cravings of chocolate, cakes  or  Netflix as well as willpower to hold back from bad relationships.  I can’t resist staying away form my phone and social media"

Look we all want to feel in control,  feel like we are enough, feel like we have power, look perfect and portray ourselves as "having it all together,

But Let me explain here; There are two types of willpower at least in the context of this conversation

I WON'T POWER The  type of willpower /control  that is rooted in fear,  and convey the message that we aren’t safe and you can’t trust our own decisions and  inner hunger signals (inner needs). This is how it works we get a forbidden urge (any form of cravings that we deem bad ),  we call upon willpower as a defense-mechanism that gives us the illusion of safety. We start to exert pressure and fear and tell our brain that we can’t have it

This is the illusional type of power , where you think control/pressure/fear  will give you strength, discipline ,safety, power and happiness but it does the opposite. It creates self-doubt, reinforces the brain to  go for it . Brain can’t tell the difference if you want or don’t want this craving, the brain only hears what you focus on.This type of willpower cuts off the stream of creativity and intuition, and disconnect you from your true needs and sources of joy.  It disconnects you from your real power. This type of will power, won’t power you. 

Until you are able to cultivate and build self-awareness. self trust, to let go of control   you won’t be able to transform your relationship with food, body and yourself.  

So, how do you build self-trust and reclaim the Real willpower? 

I WANT POWER

This is the most important part of our willpower muscle. It’s the part of the brain that remembers  what we really want. It is trained by building self trust and increase the level of self-awareness . This will power is trained when you become curious about why you want the willpower , why  do you want to resist  the temptation in the first place,  What do you really want. You do not judge your appetite and fear your cravings.  you accept your appetite,  you  trust body signals,  trust your intuition so you can hear what you actually need. what are your dreams, goals, what's on the other side?

It is becoming curious about why you need to resist this donut, or chocolate, or why you want to go to the gym,  or why you need to end this relationship .It is about learning to nourish your needs from a place of love and balance ,from a place of owning what you want and why you want. When you activate this part of the brain" I want power" , the motivation to resist the temptation comes more naturally to you , and your cravings become less powerful.

CALL FOR ACTION: choose a willpower challenge (whether its going to the gym,  not eating sugar,  not eating late, or you want to cut down on social media hours ), anything that you’re currently struggling , and fuel your why to  activate the   “I Want” power muscle in the brain . Make a list of all of your goals and keep it where you can review it every day. 

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If you want to take this willpower into more practice and learn tools to activate in the brain , schedule a conversation.