Have you ever felt discouraged from starting a new project? Have you gotten involved in a plan, whether on a personal or work level, and halfway through you have run out of desire to continue? In reality, it is something that has happened to all of us on some occasion, I am referring to those moments in which our willpower fades and leaves us “helpless.”
Generally, when we feel motivated and eager to do things, we are not aware of the enormous source of energy that emanates from within us, which we can call willpower. However, when we lose that momentum and our spirits flag, we realize that something is not working.
In these moments we feel that something is missing, precisely that which drives us to continue forward, to strive and to overcome our limits. Albert Einstein could not have said it better: “There is a driving force more powerful than steam, electricity and atomic energy: the will.”
The 3 most common reasons why we lose willpower
1. We choose unrealistic goals
Many times we feel overwhelmed because we have set a goal that is too big. Once we start working on the project, we realize that it overwhelms us and a feeling of panic, the fear of failure, fills us. At that moment, the will abandons us, it is as if it gave us an easy way to escape with our dignity intact. Setting goals that are too big is counterproductive and only leads to great burnout.
Therefore, if you want to train your willpower, set realistic goals, take one step at a time and, when you have achieved your goal, move on to the next. This way you will feel more satisfied and also less overwhelmed.
2. We don’t know what our limits are
It may seem incredible, but the truth is that we often get carried away by enthusiasm and are not able to determine exactly what our limits are, especially from a physical and psychological point of view.
We are better at determining economic and resource limits than at assessing how much personal wear and tear a given project will cause. For this reason, we often act as if we were a superhero and, obviously, when our strength runs out, our will disappears. Keep in mind that a very intense work pace can only be maintained for a few days or weeks but not for months, unless you want to put your mental balance or physical health at risk.
3. We focus too much on the future
When we look at how far we still have to go, we become demotivated or even confused because we don’t know how to continue. We tend to look to the future forgetting about the past and that can make us falter halfway along the path. On the contrary, from time to time, take a look back and congratulate yourself on the achievements you have achieved. Give yourself some time to regain your strength and enjoy what you have achieved so far. Remember that willpower is not an inexhaustible source, sometimes it needs a break.
