The art of willpower and self-discipline

Because willpower and self-discipline is very, very important in this battle with pmo, I write this thread with some useful information.
I will try to update this thread periodically.
Please write here, if you have some good information about willpower and self-dicipline.

Willpower Definitions:

• The ability to control or reject unnecessary or harmful impulses.
• The ability to arrive at a decision and follow it with perseverance, until its successful accomplishment.
• It is the inner strength that enables you to refuse to indulge in unnecessary and useless habits.
• It is inner power that enables you to overcome inner and external resistance and obstacles.
• It is the antidote to laziness and procrastination.

Self Discipline Definitions:

• It is the companion of willpower. It gives you with the stamina to persevere with whatever you do.
• It is the strength to withstand physical, emotional and mental hardships and difficulties.
• It stands for perseverance and tenacity.
• It is the ability to reject immediate satisfaction, pleasure or comfort, in order to gain something better, even if it requires effort and time to gain.

Self-Discipline and Willpower - Your Inner Strength
These two skills are the suppliers of inner strength. They can help you change your life and change your habits. They are most useful skills for everyone, in every area of life and for any age.

Self-discipline and willpower give the inner strength to act, do things, and to continue with your actions, despite difficulties and obstacles.

Developing these two important skills will enable you to overcome laziness, procrastination and impatience, and develop self-control and inner strength.

Willpower
Willpower is the mental energy you have. Some people have more of it the other less. Willpower is a finite resource. If you are working on some very demanding tasks, then you will run out of willpower and can’t continue.

Sometimes you have more willpower than you think you have. In this case, you think that you have given your all and cannot continue, but then you find a hidden reserve and can go on.

No matter how large your willpower reserves are, you will run out of it if the task is too big for you.

Self-control
Self-control is the action you take. You use willpower to control yourself. For example, when you are running a long distance race, and there’s only a little bit left. You may feel that you have nothing more to give and quit the race. But you can pull yourself together and finish the race.

Is it possible to increase willpower?
Yes! And it’s scalable!

What I mean by scalable is that no matter what’s your willpower level at the moment, you can find a task that fits you. If you think you have no willpower at all, then find something really easy to do.

If you want to clean your house, then the task of cleaning everything may seem insurmountable. Break it down to the smallest tasks you can manage.

Why is Willpower important?
Willpower is important because it serves as our primary motivations to commit some activities and discard the rest, and the more willpower we possess, the more motivated and, perhaps, successful, we would be by achieving said things.

Small willpower exercises you can use
One willpower exercise that I use myself and recommend as a really easy place to start from is brushing your teeth. Now, there are levels to this. If you don’t brush your teeth, then start doing it.
If you brush your teeth every day, then switch hands. Start brushing your teeth with your weaker hand. If you have brushed your teeth with your right hand up until now, switch the hand to left.

That is it! You will feel a fair bit of discomfort in the beginning, but it is one of the easiest ways to gradually increase willpower.

How long will willpower last?
All the good things you have in your life need constant attention. As with exercising so with willpower you have to make it a part of your lifestyle.

The good news is that as you increase willpower, your default mode keeps it going for you. If you don’t quit doing the things that require willpower, then you will maintain your willpower level.
If you want more willpower, you have to do more demanding tasks.

Increase the load of your willpower exercises.

Whatever you do, don’t fall back to your old self. Then your willpower muscle will deteriorate, and you have to start to build it up again.

Willpower becomes a habit
In the beginning, you may need willpower to keep going. Over time your daily routine becomes a habit. After that happens, you can cruise along, almost like on autopilot.

You don’t need motivation! You need willpower and self-discipline, remember this thing!!
Motivation and inspiration are for people who want to have fun.
Excitement.
Passion even.
Focus on process and systems. Build willpower and self-discipline.

Some little examples for self-discipline:
1. Wake up early.
2. Make your bed.
3. Eliminate distractions(Distractions kill discipline. If you want to be more disciplined throughout the day, eradicate all distractions. Turn off your smartphone. Turn off notifications on your computer. Focus only on the task at hand. This will allow you to be more focused and productive and will require tremendous amounts of daily discipline. Avoiding the dopamine-inducing social media notifications and text messages isn’t easy, but it’s well worth it.
4. Make a sport.
5. Read some books.
6. Wash your teeths twice a day.
7. Eat healthy.
8. Revisit your goals regulary.
9. Create new good and health habbits.
10. Please quit complaining.
11. Take a cold shower every day, every morning.
12. Use a visual calendar to see how many days in a row you’re consistently practicing. One of the best ways to keep yourself accountable is to “see” your progress (or lack thereof).
13. Remove temptations.
14. Be an active person.

Self-discipline and willpower is the key to success.

Source:
Internet(Google, Youtube, Quora)
https://fixwillpower.com/blog/increase-willpower/
https://www.successconsciousness.com/willpower-self-discipline.html

 

“Only the disciplined are truly free. The undisciplined are slaves to moods, appetites, and passions.” — Stephen Covey

Willpower has been recognized as a limited resource -- something that you can 'use up.' If you repeatedly resist temptation or force yourself into something, eventually you wear down and it becomes harder and harder.

In real life, when fear, fatigue, and doubt set in, no speech can provide the motivation you need to keep going. The only thing you and your team can rely on is discipline.

Discipline is cherished in the Marine Corps. We cultivate it in everything we do, from how we fight to how we dress, cut our hair, and clean our rooms.

Discipline is what "drives you to do the work you don't enjoy, but is required. Discipline conquers fear. Discipline keeps you going when your curiosity, motivation, and excitement evaporate.

It takes consistent self-discipline to master the art of setting goals, time management, leadership, parenting and relationships. If we don't make consistent self-discipline part of our daily lives, the results we seek will be sporadic and elusive.

It takes discipline to admit our errors and recognize our limitations.

Big things are composed of small things. Small changes that you stick to and follow every day add up to surprisingly massive results. For example, if you spend five minutes every day organizing your office, you'll quickly notice how more productive you'll be because it's clean and organized. If you start taking the stairs instead of the elevator, those small calories burned will add-up to lost pounds - and a boost of energy as well.

Those who are disciplined have good, daily habits.
They'll skip that burger for a salad. They'll leave a party early so that they can get a good night's sleep. They'll make the time to fit-in a workout.

Developing good habits is no easy task. But, it keeps you mentally, emotionally, and physically in shape.

Credits go to: https://www.inc.com/john-rampton/which-is-better-discipline-or-motivation.html