Do you believe that willpower is a finite resource? Once you use some, you have a little bit less?

It can be easy to attribute poor decisions made at the end of the day to a lack of willpower. Have you ever felt like it’s harder to say no to a second beer or a slice of cake at the end of a long day?

Although the idea of “willpower depletion” has been widely popularized, it’s not a completely accurate account of what’s going on in your brain . . . 

According to a study performed at Stanford University, if you have a deep-seated belief in unlimited willpower, you won’t experience willpower depletion! If you want to overcome procrastination, change unwanted behaviors, and increase willpower to achieve the goals you desire, you may want to change your beliefs.

People who believe they have a limited source of willpower display a lower ability to exercise self-control. So no matter what the obstacle is – big or small – know that deep down inside, you have to power to persevere, no matter what! That’s the power of belief; willpower is just a state of mind!

Innercise: How to Increase Willpower to Overcome Willpower Depletion

1. Take 6 long, slow, deep breaths. To maximize the effectiveness of any emotional or mental practice, you want to be calm and relaxed. Your brain is more open to new ideas that way.
2. Now that you’re relaxed, choose a goal you want to achieve.
3. Next, create a brief personal affirmation, telling yourself that you have all the power in the world to manifest your goal. Repeat this affirmation to yourself for several minutes
4. Immediately after, write down 3 strategies that you can implement today to move closer to your goal.

It can be easy to get sucked into a pattern of negative thinking and to discourage yourself. To get out of that cycle, you can use this Innercise to turn on the motivation part of your brain instead! When you focus on how to achieve goals instead of why you can’t, you’ll notice that the fear and the symptoms of anxiety start to dissipate.

Keep practicing this Innercise anytime you notice yourself slipping into the negative thought patterns. You’re stronger and more capable than your brain sometimes leads you to believe. To achieve all of the success in the world, sometimes you just need to believe it’s possible.

We’d love to hear from you!

Did this work for you? What goal do you want to achieve before the end of the year? Let us know in the comments below!