Walkup's Way Home  The Myth of Willpower

"Visualization must precede actualization."

 

"You must get past the myth of willpower. Willpower is fueled by emotions, and emotions are fickle. We make resolutions when we're emotionally pumped, but five weeks later, those emotions aren't there. And that's when it has to be about more than emotion. You have to set up your life so it's easy to do what you need to do and hard to do what you shouldn't do. If you have a toothache, you wouldn't cancel an appointment with the dentist because your sister needed your help to move her fridge; don't cancel an appointment at the gym because your sister needs your help. you deserve to make your own priority list."
From "Dr. Phil's wise words   Oprah Magazine February 2005 page 157

Have you ever cleaned your home or car and felt so good after the task was completed?
Have you ever organized your files and paperwork  and felt on top of the world once this was done?
Have you ever been on a high after receiving a great grade?
Have you ever lost a little weight and said, "This is me. I'll stay like this forever"?

When we are pumped with joy, high on emotion, we often make resolutions:  I'll keep my house and car clean, I'll keep orderly files, I'll stay in shape. I'll study hard....!" 

Some people make resolutions on New Year's

What happens five weeks later? 
Is there a chance your enthusiasm will decrease?
How should you protect yourself against a possible loss of motivation?

 

1.  Write an affirmation  card.
Place copies of it where you will see it often.
The card could say something like:

"I read for 15 minutes every evening after supper."
"I exercise BEFORE eating any fattening snack."
"At 9PM (or 15 minutes before bedtime), I quickly clean the house"
"I study hard  and earn As"

Place these cards where you will see them (in your wallet, on your fridge...)

Read my affirmation lecture

2. Take a photo of you by your dream and look at it often

My banker has a picture of her dream home by her desk.  When she gets tired of working and taking classes and being a mom, she  looks at her dream home.   

A student has a picture of herself in a cap and gown. She had borrowed the gown from her brother.  She looks at it when she needs to be invigorated.    

3. Remember the difference between a dream and a goal is your written plan.
Read my Goal Setting  Lecture    and the quick reference   -Goal Setting - 5-Step Process
Fill out Goal Setting - Journal & chart