The Woes of Willpower: Why 'Self-Control' is Causing Your Failure

Stop relying on your self-control to achieve your goals

I’m going to ask you the following question:

How do you intend to achieve your goals this year?

If your answer is ‘self-control’, I’m going to throw a tomato at you. Boo.

Okay, I’m kidding. I’m not going to throw a tomato at you. Just a mental one. No biggie.

The reason? Relying on your self-control is the equivalent of orchestrating your own downfall.

No, seriously.

How many times do we rely on our willpower to power through 5 gruelling gym sessions a week? Or eating a salad without the extra chocolate bar. Or power through a work hour without opening up the Youtube tab?

Where was your will power then?

We often point to self-control as a mechanism by which we mean to obtain our greatest achievement. We also point to self-control as the single biggest reason for our most egregious failures.

Whilst self-control is a necessary and important inner muscle to flex, the realisation that you are human, and are flawed, can do more to help you with your goals than you think. In fact, acceptance of the fact that there will be failings is a crucial element when it comes to goal success.