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Reddit mentions of Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength

Sentiment score: 31
Reddit mentions: 47

We found 47 Reddit mentions of Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength. Here are the top ones.

Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength
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Found 47 comments on Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength:

u/bokabo · 38 pointsr/Economics

You don't need to be "smart" to do those jobs. You need patience, training and work ethic. It's a frustrating myth that gets perpetuated.

https://www.amazon.com/Willpower-Rediscovering-Greatest-Human-Strength/dp/0143122231

u/bombeater · 20 pointsr/ADHD

This is a great question!

The most important part of this is the idea of "okay to ask for help".

The truth is, this has more to do with who you're asking than it has to do with you.

ADHD is difficult to come to terms with because its effects are so hard to pinpoint; they're mixed in with all of the other confounding factors that make life a struggle for everybody.

This is unfortunate because you can never completely blame ADHD for anything--there's always the possibility that you could "just try harder" to make The Thing happen.

On the other hand... no one can ever completely blame you, either! Because there's always the possibility that your executive faculties are just not running at full capacity, and absolutely nothing you do will make The Thing happen on a faster timeline.

So, how do you manage this balance? What do you do when there's never a straight answer?

In short: you have to learn the boundaries of each person in your life, how much they're willing to help (whether "help" means "listening to me bitch and moan" or "coming over to help me stay focused"), and whether they feel like you're leaning on them too hard.

You have to learn to have those awkward uncomfortable conversations where you put your emotions on the line intentionally, because it's actually safer to do it this way than wait until people blow up on you and say "UGH, JUST TRY HARDER!"

I say a lot of things like:

---

> I feel like I've been bugging you a lot lately. I just want you to know that if you ever need some space, you can just say "Hey, my plate is full--think you'll be OK without me on this one?"

---

> Yo, is it cool if I vent about my productivity a sec? (afterward) Phew, all right. I feel a little better, thanks. How are you?

---

> I really appreciate how much you've been willing to help me out with my struggles lately. Is there anything I can do to help you out in return?

---

> Hey, I'm really sorry I went MIA yesterday. I should have let you know I was having an off day. Are we cool?

---

If you're looking for reading material, I suggest:

u/gymtanlibrary · 18 pointsr/getdisciplined

Discipline = self-control = willpower. I really like Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength by Roy Baumeister and John Tierny. There's some science, some psychology, pop culture, actionable advice, and good writing. There's also Willpower Instinct by Kelly McGonigal. I've read both and Baumeister's book is better hands down. At least that's my opinion. But read both if you're curious.

Beyond that I recommend avoiding the vortex that is "self-help" books. They can just as easily waste your time and become as addicting as any other form of escapism. You can feel good by reading about discipline and productivity without actually doing anything about it. Read one book 1 or 2 books. And spend most of your time experimenting with your own life.

u/BrinjePollywog · 16 pointsr/getdisciplined

I just read this book on the subject, which is written by a science writer and a research psychologist and has lots of great, experiment-based information on how your brain works with regard to self-control, and how you can capitalize on that to get the most out of the willpower you do have.

If I remember the writers' arguments correctly, the answer to your question comes down to two basic factors: genetics and practice.

Just as with other attributes, how much willpower you start with is heavily dependent on your genetics.

But also like other skills and strengths, willpower can be grown with consistent practice. Even little tests of self-control, like banning yourself from swearing or self-enforcing good posture, can increase your mental stamina for making choices that are immediately unpleasant but gratifying on the long term.

u/The_Biggest_Monkey · 8 pointsr/AskReddit

Hi! Psych major + bookworm over here. Some well written and accessible books that I've enjoyed reading are:

Thinking Fast and Slow from Kahneman http://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Fast-Slow-Daniel-Kahneman/dp/0374533555/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1375192703&sr=8-1&keywords=kahneman+thinking+fast+and+slow

Willpower: discovering the greatest human strength by Baumeister http://www.amazon.com/Willpower-Rediscovering-Greatest-Human-Strength/dp/0143122231/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1375192853&sr=1-1&keywords=willpower

And Outliers by Gladwell http://www.amazon.com/Outliers-Story-Success-Malcolm-Gladwell/dp/0316017930/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1375192928&sr=1-2&keywords=10000+hours

Baumeister and Kahneman are the leading figures on the research done within their particalur fields and these books show a glimpse inside of the kitchen, so to speak. (Iḿ not 100% sure about Gladwell, Iḿ on my phone atm). The books are well written, accessible, entertaining and fascinating.

u/rxninja · 6 pointsr/Games

Dopamine needs and ego depletion are strong contenders. Look up Baumeister for willpower research and you may find some answers that could enlighten you. This NY Times article is a good introduction to ego depletion, though it's not as specific as other willpower research by Baumeister and others. He just came out with a book not that long ago that I highly recommend as both a scientifically sound (I'm a PhD research student, so I'm VERY picky about mainstream science books) and realistically practical book.

Depression (of varying degrees) can also play a role. Many people are compulsive buyers when depressed, as the acquisition of new things triggers a dopamine response that helps to counter that depression.

Personally, I used to buy tons of iOS games. I think I had something like 180 on my device at one point, maybe half or more of which were paid apps, and I bet I had played 25-33% of them at best. Several months ago I started getting medicated for ADD, then for depression as well. I no longer buy more games than I can possibly play and the compulsion to do so is much weaker; I can still recognize things that I want, but it's just a lot easier not to click the "Purchase" button. As with all psychological issues, however, your mileage may vary.

u/boogerdew · 6 pointsr/BipolarReddit

Just a few things that come to mind:

Self-Awareness> There are a lot of ways to work on this and most of them are worth trying. An effective goal might be to find some things that work for awhile, and prepare yourself to seek out other options when those don’t offer the same effectiveness. I’m pretty sure that when we dedicate the time to it, we provide ourselves with information that empowers us to make the decisions that bring about our idea of success.

Expectations> Most of us don’t want to fail. A lot of us feel like if we don’t meet the expectations that we’ve set for ourselves then we’re failures. This often causes some of us to avoid things that we feel we won’t “succeed” at. Hey, I’m not saying we shouldn’t set high goals for ourselves... but when we don't meet our expectations, maybe we could slowly get better at treating ourselves with the kind of love and encouragement that we would extend to our most loved of loved ones when they "fail."

Exercise> God damn it I hate exercise. I wore a button in fifth grade that said: I’m too out of shape to exercise. I’m thirty-nine now and I’ve still never had a consistent workout regimen. For a lot of us, this shit is probably harder than everything else we’ll consider in this thread. But there’s plenty of evidence to show that when the rest of our body is functioning at a more optimal level that we have more tools to work with, and that our tools are more effective. I hate exercise.

Group Discussion> Last year I attended an intensive outpatient group therapy program. This was my first experience with group therapy and I freaking love that shit. I learned that the gems to mine from this experience have very little to do with whoever is leading the group or which organization is providing the facility... as long as you feel like everyone is given the opportunity to share without reproach. Empathy is what it’s all about. The more courageous you are about sharing your struggles, the more empowered your fellow group members will be to do the same. When empathy is flowing freely most people are able to recognize some of their own cognitive distortions, AND help others find their own. Not every group is going to function well, but I think it’s well worth the effort to find on that does. You might start with looking into a DBSA group near you. My advice would be to look for one with 10-15 attendees. If you've got insurance that will cover it, you might check into an Intensive Outpatient Group Therapy program offered by a local hospital.

Books> These are just a few that have offered me some help—and a few that I just acquired but haven’t read yet.

Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength

Incognito: The Secret Lives of the Brain

Tribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice from the Best in the World

Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy



Also, this is me patting you on the back lovingly and then turning it into a hug:



Did you feel it?



Disclaimer: I’m currently doing pretty poorly at all of these things.

u/Jimbo_Joyce · 6 pointsr/science

I posted this in another comment chain but I thought you might specfically be interested.

> If anybody wants to read about the scientific basis behind this type of fatigue there is a pretty interesting book that came out relatively recently co-authored by a journalist and a scientist studying willpower.
> http://www.amazon.com/Willpower-Rediscovering-Greatest-Human-Strength/dp/0143122231#[1]

u/GlobbyDoodle · 6 pointsr/ADHD

Some potential ideas...

  • Set an alarm in your room (so you can hear it) and another in the next room over so you're forced to get up to turn it off

  • Pair getting up with something positive - maybe you get up and go right to Starbucks, or do something you enjoy even if it's singing in the shower or whatever.

  • It always helps me to NOT turn on the computer, NOT have my phone in the room, and to turn on some music and open the shades as soon as I get up.

  • You might want to check out the book called "Willpower". It's on Audible too if reading is difficult for you.

u/glyph02 · 5 pointsr/getdisciplined

This is excellent information. I loved Baumeister's book on Willpower.

I've been utilizing this methodology to get my butt in the gym to work out. By doing just three different exercises, I'm building the habit of going. I set the bar really low for myself, so I really don't have any excuses to not work out.

Great article!

u/bestPoet · 5 pointsr/INTP

The biggest thing I've done for my productivity/follow through is reading books about willpower, habits, productivity, etc. As an INTP that needs to really understand things and feel like I'm making my own decisions, rather than follow some advice a parent or whatever gave me, I love books because they give me a deeper understanding that makes sense.

Thus, I recommend reading these books:

The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business by Charles Duhigg
Changed the way I think about productivity and life changes. They key to accomplishing goals isn't developing pure willpower, but developing habits that help you achieve what you want. However, I'd still recommend...

Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength by Roy F. Baumeister
Just a very interesting book about willpower. Will shatter some misconceptions and teach you some new things.

Zen to Done by LeoBabatua
A practical approach to setting the habits and structure necessary to be productive.

Also read The 7 Rules of Highly Effective Habits, which is just a blog post so it wont take long.

I still can't sit down for hours and concentrate at will, but by implementing some of the stuff I've learned from these resources, I've set up a good system that works for me. As a very simple idea, are you familiar with the Pomodoro technique?
Basically, it goes like this. When you want to work on something, set a timer for 25 minutes and know that you only have to sit down and focus for 25 minutes. Don't worry if what you're doing is great or sucks, if you get in your 25 minutes it's been a success (expecting to spend a certain amount of time on something rather than get a certain amount of quality work done has been a game changer for me). Then, after 25 minutes, take a 5-10 minute break... and put in another 25 minutes. Then, repeat... or not.. depending on if you're feeling up for it.

u/ColdIceZero · 4 pointsr/everymanshouldknow

I asked this same question here on reddit. Someone recommended this book: http://www.amazon.com/Willpower-Rediscovering-Greatest-Human-Strength/dp/0143122231

I liked it. I still have it on my shelf. I feel like it helped me get through law school.

u/huck_cussler · 4 pointsr/learnprogramming

Read this: https://www.amazon.com/Willpower-Rediscovering-Greatest-Human-Strength/dp/0143122231/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1487043144&sr=1-1&keywords=willpower

It was recommended to me by Matt Might, a CS professor who launched his own startup while working on his PhD and who has recently been spearheading research into an incredibly rare disorder that afflicts his son.

This is not a cheesy motivational book. It's a summary of decades of actual research on how willpower and self-discipline function. The gist is, discipline begets motivation and not vice versa. There are practical steps one can take to increase their willpower and thereby their motivation.

u/MattDotZeb · 4 pointsr/smashbros

It's very difficult to get around it.

You have to stay very focused on a goal. For me, since ROM7, it's been to finish every match I play. Has that happened? No, but I understand the situations it has not and I'm very pleased with how things have been going.

It also helps if you read autobiographies or books on sports psychology (or psychology in general) to get ideas & techniques on how to better your mentality.

Here are some that have helped me immensely.

  • Golf Is Not A Game Of Perfect

    • Currently reading this. It's obviously about golf, but it's about the mental game of golf. It's applicable to Smash, or basketball, or most competitive subjects. One of my favorite take-aways thus far is to look at an error such as an SD or a missed tech and think of it like "Well, there was a percentage chance that this would happen. Odds are it wont happen again. Just gotta trust my tech skill and stay sharp."

  • Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength
    • This goes into exactly what the title states. It gives a history of research into willpower, or ego, and describes how people can behave different based off their current situation. Sleep deprivation, poor diet, getting a burst of motivation and deciding to change everything (think January 1st) can all be detrimental to your mental state. It also discusses methods of improving your willpower which can be related to habitual actions.

  • The Power of Habit
    • This is a book that goes into habitual responses and how one can better understand them/change them. Useful information across all parts of life.

  • Thinking, Fast and Slow
    • This is one I've revisited multiple times. It's quite a long read, but there's much to learn. Specifically it goes into two systems of thought. Your system 1 is your implicit (unconscious) system. It's what tells you the answer to 2+2 as you read it even though I didn't ask you to solve it. System 2 is the system that takes over when I tell you to give me the answer to 72 x 103. (Mathematical examples are great for conveying the ideas of these systems) It later goes into more economic psychology and decision making.


      PS. I'm not telling you where, but if you don't want to create a book collection PDFs of each of these may or may not be online.
u/OmicronNine · 3 pointsr/getdisciplined

I highly recommend this one: Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength.

What makes it special is that it's not a book of thought exercises or empty self-help crap, it's an overview and interpretation of the latest scientific research on human willpower. Well written and extremely illuminating. I read it twice, and I very rarely do that.

u/thevegetexarian · 3 pointsr/xxfitness

Read this book, immediately: http://www.amazon.com/Willpower-Rediscovering-Greatest-Human-Strength/dp/0143122231

It will change your life forever. I promise.

u/eronanke · 3 pointsr/psychology

I'm sure there are thousands working off of Baumeister's work. This is the non-academic title he helped author about his studies. I highly recommend it.

u/SocratesTombur · 3 pointsr/getdisciplined

Firstly, as most people here have rightly pointed out, starving yourself is the worst thing you can go. Glucose metabolism has a lot to do with levels of motivation.

Motivation has everything to do with willpower. Yeah you can take life lessons from people. But better than that would be to understand and break down the concept of Willpower itself. You need to recognize it, conserve it and learn how to wield it efficiently.

So I recommend you what I recommend to everyone who asks about similar topics. Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength. No other book breaks down better the science behind willpower and its implications in everyday life. Once you understand the fundamentals of willpower, you can work it, morph it, and strengthen it.

u/geezerman · 3 pointsr/Economics

Charter schools have significantly greater success in poor urban areas likely because, as per Heckman, "achievement" is the consequence of IQ plus "executive function" -- behavior such as impulse control, focus, acting constructively towards other people, etc. ... with executive function being the dominant of the two in producing level of achievement.

E.g. the noted psychologist Roy Baumeister reports that young children who passed the famous "marshmallow test" by resisting eating a marshmallow for 15 minutes (when promised two marshmallows if they succeeded) years later scored 210 points higher on their SATs than did the kids who quickly failed the tests, after adjusting for IQ, socio-economic status, etc.

IQ can't be taught but executive function can. The best charter schools expressly focus on improving executive function. As per both Heckman and Baumeister the greatest deficiencies in childhood executive function are found among children from poor and broken families in poor urban neighborhoods. Among rich neighborhood children the general deficiency is not nearly as bad. The rest is QED.

u/WatchingTheThronePod · 2 pointsr/Kanye

https://open.spotify.com/user/cjhlambert/playlist/6rdsDoz8Hxi0EYbybhdZOq?si=Ej1TmeNg

And I'm not a doctor so take this with a grain of salt. But when I had my depression and got out of it I was really fascinated by the process and have spent a few years reflecting on it, reading books on neuroscience, forming theories, testing them, etc. Real stupid nerd hobby stuff that I find interesting because psychology is so interesting.

Depression tends to fall into two categories. Hereditary and circumstantial. Hereditary depression is genetic in nature and responds very well to medication. Circumstantial depression is the kind brought on by a relationship ending, being in a job you hate, not being satisfied with life, etc. Circumstantial depression is due to negative thought circuits so doesn't really respond to medication because medication treats chemical imbalances. Chemical imbalances aren't the same as negative thought patterns.

Negative thought patterns almost always have a trigger sensory trigger. As do most negative patterns. For example, say you get McDonalds every day on your way to work. You put on 100lbs. You decide you want to lose the weight. Every day you drive to work will be a struggle to not get McDonalds because you've formed a habit chain triggered by the drive to work. Fighting the trigger will deplete glucose (the willpower resource that fuels good decision making), leaving you susceptible to poor decision making later in the day.

So if you want to break the McDonalds habit and not have the morning struggle the solution would be to take a different road to work. This is because the new route means a new neural pattern has to form for "drive to work" since the new route has different sensory information. This means it cleans the slate when it comes to triggers. Meaning you won't have the same McDonalds cravings.

The best thing you can do then to recover from a depression is rearrange as much as you can. Change the layout of your bedroom and living room. Buy five new shirts. Travel to a city you've never been to before. Get some decorations. Spend time with friends at places the two of you have never gone before. Start watching new TV shows you've never seen.

By rearranging the furniture around you, you create a new neural pattern that dilutes the power of old triggers. Like, if you and an ex sat on the couch all the time, every time you sit on the couch you'll trigger the neural patterns for your ex. But if you move the couch to face a new wall then you suddenly don't have any memories/patterns of having been with your ex in this situation.

When I was depressed at college and couldn't drop out, I ended up spending a lot of time at the campus book store reading graphic novels. I'd go to the art museum. I'd go to movies. By immersing myself in these artistic realms it made the reality of Cleveland in the winter that much more bearable because for a few hours each day I was mentally and spiritually gone from Cleveland.

For some further reading, check out Willpower by Roy Baumeister. Power of Habit by Charles Duhigg. Then I really recommend reading the book The Definitive Guide to Body Language by Barbara and Allan Pease (something like that. The body language book is just something really cool because it always gives you something to do. Like, I've been at parties where I didn't know anyone but because I know this dumb shit about body language I could read the room and know who liked who, who disliked who, who wasn't having a good time, who was, and then figure out who to talk to. It's helped me make friends, get laid, get friends laid, do well in work situations, etc. invaluable information that was also part of my getting out of depression.

If you have any questions, please ask!

u/freedmni · 2 pointsr/nba

It's within your grasp man. This book, "Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength" changed my life. It's stays true to science, while at the same is well-written and fun to read. You could be the Kobe of... you know, whatever it is you do :)

u/anon1111111111111111 · 2 pointsr/NoFap

So I read this book Willpower, which I think is a pretty neat book. One of the chapters is about David Blaine and how he trains for his endurance acts (seemingly godlike displays of willpower).

However anecdotal (n=1), the book elucidates that when he is training for his next endurance feat Blaine will be very focused not just on the endurance act itself, but in all aspects of his life. He is more apt to working out hard, eating healthier, etc.

Personally this is my longest nofap streak that I attribute to focus in all aspects of my life. Lifting heavy, eating proper, studying hard in school, partying hard on the weekends (just being social, not necessarily getting bombed). Where the shower comes in is that I think it is just another involvement of an act that requires a degree of discipline. It's kind of like a 'healthy diet' for ones skin. Self denial.

Anyhow I'm done rambling keep it up guize.

u/pushabloom · 2 pointsr/NoFap

I would also recommend these two books. They are both great in that neither one is a 'self-help' book but rather the most up to date science about (resisting) addictive behaviors.

http://www.amazon.com/Willpower-Rediscovering-Greatest-Human-Strength/dp/0143122231/ - Willpower is like a gas tank. A lot of the 'side effect' reboot stories you get here are explained by this book.

http://www.amazon.com/End-Overeating-Insatiable-American-Appetite/dp/1605294578/ - I read this one twice while I lost 60 pounds. Most of the things said about food and methods to avoid breaking from one's diet apply equally well to nofap.

u/Schadenfreuder · 2 pointsr/GetMotivated

"Patience is a muscle" is a great metaphor, but what you're really doing is rewiring your brain. Your brain is very malleable and it can be retrained via repeated effort.

I highly recommend Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength and The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains if you want to learn more about the science of it.

u/BeetleB · 2 pointsr/everymanshouldknow

Get this book and read it.

There's a lot of advice out there, and you won't be able to tell which is reliable and which everyone believes simply because it sounds logical. The book discusses the science behind willpower.

It may not have that many tips, but I think it's key to understanding why certain attempts in the past lead to failure.

u/SmaugTheGreat · 2 pointsr/gifs

> I wonder if this is a common response?

Yes, according to a book by Roy Baumeister that I read it is a natural response to crave for sugar when you're frightened or feel bad (and I'm sure that shock costed your body lots of energy also).

u/hunterofthesnark · 2 pointsr/personalfinance

I think the two with the biggest bearing on this issue are Willpower, by Baumeister and Tierney and Self Directed Behavior, by Watson and Tharp.

Both are amazing reads, and the Self Directed Behavior book is a life changer if you follow their protocol.

u/JimmyJimRyan · 2 pointsr/GetMotivated

Oh yeah. I do go and work out most week days but every once in a while I'll feel shity and might only jump on the threadmill for 20 minutes but I keep going.

Habit building is a skill all on it's own and the habit is more valuable than any workout. I also use my indicator/turn signal when noone's around, it takes less will power. My goal with these things is always to get to automatic so it doesn't take willpower anymore.

I recomend this

http://www.amazon.com/Willpower-Rediscovering-Greatest-Human-Strength/dp/0143122231

u/ConfusedD00d · 2 pointsr/ADHD

That sucks... You should look into Modafinil. It's being used as an alternative to amphetamines and can be readily imported in some countries without a prescription.

As for subjectivity, the truth is that ADHD and the brain aren't really understood well enough to have clear cut instruction manuals. You'll have to pilfer from different places. A book that I found useful in understanding some of the dynamics at play was Willpower. It does use a lot of qualitative examples but they are backed up by scientific literature https://www.amazon.com/Willpower-Rediscovering-Greatest-Human-Strength/dp/0143122231

Good luck.

u/exroshann · 2 pointsr/getdisciplined

Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength

Self-discipline requires willpower, and the book explains how willpower works and how you can optimise it.

https://www.amazon.com/Willpower-Rediscovering-Greatest-Human-Strength/dp/0143122231

u/jacquesnorris · 1 pointr/getdisciplined

Read this book on willpower and self-control: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0143122231/ref=mp_s_a_1_8?ie=UTF8&qid=1467663807&sr=8-8&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_FMwebp_QL65&keywords=self+control&dpPl=1&dpID=51x4I7%2BlBGL&ref=plSrch

It's great and has helped me. One interesting detail is that discipline in one area of life (say, you start to get out of bed early) tends to have a spillover effect in others (you'll find that your self-control with, for example, your diet improves too). So start small and go from there.

u/SuavePadawan · 1 pointr/GetSuave


This book is a good start.

See the like-minded sub on the sidebar, especially /r/Getdisciplined

u/mattkaramazov · 1 pointr/getdisciplined

I think it's pretty universal. Most people struggle with SOMETHING. I could never fight past the feeling of being tired all the time. I was trying to run a business and do all this non-profit stuff, but I also needed to keep 3 jobs to pay all my bills (business wasn't exactly booming!).

I think trying to change everything at once is a mistake. I turned myself around (that is to say, am still turning myself around) by getting very focused on what I'm doing in the moment, and always working off my long term plan.

There are a TON of awesome books out there too. I see a great one was already recommended but I'll second that:

http://www.amazon.com/Willpower-Rediscovering-Greatest-Human-Strength/dp/0143122231

u/tedstevens1923 · 1 pointr/getdisciplined

At one point, I was coasting through college smoking weed all day and then dropped out, the problem was I've never been motivated by what I'm supposed to do, I'm wasn't competitive in a sports kind of way and don't care what most people think.

I think what happened was I started deciding my own goals, ones that were challenging and exciting. I finished college because it lead to things that I wanted, started working out because it gave me more energy to work on the things I wanted to do.

At the moment I keep work out, eat right, I'm doing something every evening, moving closer to my goals. Basicly I have an idea of the person I want to be (physically fix, dapper, speak 6 languages, rock the dance floor, rock climb ect) and the life I want and that makes my want to get organised. I actually have a binder, like a business plan for this whole year. I'm working on buying a house that I'm going to completely rebuild the inside of, I'm learning a language, getting to my fitness goals.

Have you ever had one of those days where you kick you're todo lists ass, I'm kind of addicted to that feeling, when I think of my goals I literally salivate. I think some people make their goals too realistic and they don't inspire them.

I also treat every change as an experiment, I get I realised I needed to get my shit together at about 22, I'm now 33. So it's taken about 10,11 years of chipping away. Change something, if it doesn't work, if you can't stick to it. Don't say to yourself "I'm shit", just say that experiment didn't work. For instance I stopped going to the gym after work, I felt tired, lazy I just wanted to go home. I started eating some nuts at 5PM and I feel great after work. Don't expect to have infinite willpower. You need to think of yourself as your own dog trainer sometimes.

I highly recommend these two books.

http://www.amazon.com/Willpower-Rediscovering-Greatest-Human-Strength/dp/0143122231

http://www.amazon.com/The-Power-Habit-What-Business/dp/081298160X/ref=pd_bxgy_14_img_2/182-0445914-9670343?ie=UTF8&refRID=02FAB5J7JGC01BG1M677

u/duffstoic · 1 pointr/Fitness

Yea, there have been willpower studies where just asking people to notice and correct their posture during the day spills over positively into other areas of life as well. See Willpower: Rediscovering Our Greatest Strength.

u/MMM360 · 1 pointr/Fitness

Brett,

Congrats. You've made an amazing first step in the right direction. Change is a road, and the only thing that matters is that you keep making progress toward your goal destination, no matter how small.

People in this thread have given you great advice on what changes to make, and I'm sure this has gotten you thinking about the idea of making choices. All of this will be helpful as you start identifying the ways you want to improve your lifestyle.

I'm a behavior designer: I design programs and services that help people change behavior, and what I'd like to offer is something slightly different. I think one of your biggest priorities should be how you think about change. Or rather, if choices and changes are the "what", what I want to talk to you about is the "how". Change is hard, and you're going to need an army of "how" on your side.

Willpower (aka, the ability to choose the "what" in the moment) is a fickle thing, it tends to dwindle as we move through our day, making it extremely easy to fall back into old habits. The good news is that there are ways we hack our tendency to self-sabotage. Here are some things you can do to tackle the "how", to make sure the changes you're trying to make ultimately stick and succeed.

  1. SMALL > BIG : As you start to make changes to your lifestyle, you should be looking for things that are small enough that you can do them consistently. They should find a place in your daily routine where they can thrive. Unfortunately, our natural tendency as humans is to take on changes that are big and ultimately unsustainable. Let's use exercise as an example. When we're trying to change, we have a tendency to create an aggressive exercise program that matches our motivation at the moment (like trying to do a 2 hour gym routine). But we burn out: a two hour gym routine isn't sustainable when we're sick, tired, or just not feeling it. Truthfully, the changes that make the greatest impact are the small ones that happen consistently over time. The changes we can sustain, even on or worst days. Keeping with the exercise example, my recommendation is to do something simple, like going for a 30 minute walk, every day before breakfast. Designing and playing the long game is true discipline. Your daily behaviors are the glacier that create the grand canyon of your life! Take them seriously!

  2. HOW > WHAT: After you identify changes you want to make, the next question you should ask yourself is "how am I going to make that happen". You want to drink less soda? Make a plan. Stock the shelves with tea and sparking water, carry a water bottle with you to resist temptation, etc... Plans help us by using foresight to make our goals EASIER to pursue in future situations.

  3. REDESIGN YOUR HABITAT to REDESIGN YOUR LIFE: The things we have around us serve as visual triggers for certain behaviors. Having our work out on our desk reminds us we need to get it done, having our running shoes by the door reminds us to go for a walk, having a bowl of candy out triggers a sugar craving, etc... Think about adding more positive triggers and eliminating negative ones. One of your goals should be to have an environment that illustrates your best self, and helps you accomplish your goals.

  4. SUCCESS REQUIRES SUPPORT: Weight watchers built a company around this idea. While you don't need to pay your way through a group weight loss program, you should be thinking about friends and family who can help you accomplish your goals. There are two parts to this: one is having someone who can keep you accountable, like doing a weekly weigh-in with a family member. This helps you stay committed on days when you're not feeling like doing the work. Second is having someone who shares a goal with you. If you can find a friend who's also interested in getting active and making healthier choices, it can be a powerful way to stay motivated and on track. No one should have to go it alone, and most people have health-goals they don't readily talk about. Keep your eyes peeled for people around you who can fill a "coach" and "teammate" role in your journey to change.

  5. LEARN FROM YOUR BAD DAYS: Let's get real for a moment. You're going to have bad days. You may even have bad weeks. I bet you'll have a bad month. I sure have. The biggest gift we can offer ourselves is to learn from these mistakes, because they will happen. Spent a weekend in the basement playing video games eating junk food? Take it apart. How were you feeling? Were you tired? Depressed? Frustrated? Ask yourself hat triggered that behavior. Would there have been a more productive way to self-soothe as a response? Was there a point where someone or something could've intervened? Was there a less damaging version of that event that could've taken place (say eating healthy snacks but still being a basement vampire)? The best thing we can do when this happens is to forgive ourselves, and pay it forward: developing a plan to make our future selves more successful when that situation presents itself again.

    If you get into this idea, there's a ton of great resources out there to help you learn more about the "how. Try BJ Fogg's Tiny Habits, read "Willpower" and "The Power of Habit". Take a look at The Gospel of /u/Ryans01 - a reddit post on change that's better than what I read from most behavioral scientists out there.

    Finally, remember to stay positive, and know there's an army out here who's proud of you and ready to help in whatever way we can!
u/transdermalcelebrity · 1 pointr/suggestmeabook

In addition to Feeling Good (already recommended), I'd also like to suggest Good Mood by Julian Simon. Also, you might find Willpower enlightening. It's got some eye openers about all the crap that has to go on for us to get things done consistently. At the very least it will give you perspective on the biomechanics of it all.

u/JimmieJ209 · 1 pointr/NoFap

First off, thank you for sharing.

2nd of all, from your post it sound you have a few issues with social anxiety. I do as well. Most people do actually.

But what I gathered in particular is that you are having issues following through with commitments. AKA “willpower”

You sir need to build up your willpower and become more familiar with the concept of willpower. Once you have stronger will, you will be able to accomplish greater feats!

https://www.amazon.com/Willpower-Rediscovering-Greatest-Human-Strength/dp/0143122231

I highly recommend buying this book and reading it in full. It will provide greater perspective and give you tools to tackle what you feel is holding you back in life.

u/Overcast30 · 1 pointr/NoFap

Read this. When I used to do NoFap, I would open pornhub and not even touch my dick just to test my willpower. Afterwards I could go to the gym because I had so much sexual energy that was pent up.

u/rogueman999 · 1 pointr/TheRedPill

It's been a few years, so I don't trust my memory. I do remembered vividly that it painted a rather bleak version of the future.

Baumeister is a damn genious btw (plus I love his no-bullshit writing style). There are at least a couple of other books relevant to TRP:

http://www.amazon.com/Willpower-Rediscovering-Greatest-Human-Strength/dp/0143122231

http://www.amazon.com/Breaking-Hearts-Unrequited-Emotions-Behavior/dp/0898621526

Willpower is coauthored with a journalist - I think the same guy who wrote the nytimes article you linked to - so I found the style a bit less fun. The content is still worth it, though.

u/Vuddah · 1 pointr/theXeffect

Highly recommend the book Willpower. They have a great chapter talking about ol Ben.

u/redrunner · 1 pointr/xxfitness

I went cold turkey myself, even though it sucked. Eat an apple or banana when you get a craving.
If you read at all, this book called "Willpower" is pretty enlightening about how self-control works and the things that can affect your ability to stay strong on your goals. It's more of a readable book on psych research than it is a self-help book, but it has info about willpower that helped me rethink my decisions.

u/JayWorks · 0 pointsr/Fitness

Might be total BS but, may have to do with your willpower. Started reading "Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength" and Roy Baumeister says that willpower is finite yet renewable.
Maybe hard sets wear your will down. I know that amplifies my emotions.
If anyone is interested [Willpower : Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength.] (http://www.amazon.com/Willpower-Rediscovering-Greatest-Human-Strength/dp/0143122231)

u/I_AM_GRUMPY · -1 pointsr/software

This might be your best option for something like that

u/bat_country · -4 pointsr/funny

BBC Documentary where they force people with good metabolisms to eat 10,000 calories a day to see what happens to them. Hilarity ensues.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dAQr77QMJiw

UCSF lecture on how consumption of fructose can throw your metabolism out of whack which can lead to obesity

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dBnniua6-oM

A book on Willpower. Has a chapter on how blood sugar and willpower correlate and why trying to cut calories tends to lead a cycle of binging and weight gain.

http://www.amazon.com/Willpower-Rediscovering-Greatest-Human-Strength/dp/0143122231