Willpower: energetic determination; control of one's impulses and actions; self-control; the strength of will to carry out one's decisions, wishes, or plans; determination and self-discipline: a combination of determination and self-discipline that enables somebody to do something despite the difficulties involved; something Erika does not possess.
These are all defintions of willpower, most of them I found in online dictionaries, the last one I just knew off the top of my head.
We all use willpower throughout our lives in different areas. You use willpower to not eat the last donought in the box or to not call in sick to work even though there's a MONSTER sale going on at Macy's. We use willpower to not unground our children even though they look pitiful and sad and our anger is long over; but I think the most difficult part of willpower, at least in my life, is when we need to use it to do something we want to do.
I will go to the library to write, I will subject my writing to the critique of my friends, I will do research (YUK!) on amnesia, police and hospital procedure and last but not least, I will write a synopsis of my book and get my query letters submitted. Oh and let's not forget, I will not eat the ice cream that I know is sitting in the freezer calling my name!!!! I won't, I won't, I won't?
I have managed to lose 13 pounds *roar of the crowd* using what very tiny bit of willpower I actually have and it hasn't been easy, but I want it. I want to be healthy and I want to not be embarassed about how I look in a dress, that makes the willpower in me even stronger. How do you use your willpower? Is your willpower strong or do you suffer like I do?
My willpower waxes and wanes. I think it has something to do with hormones. And if it doesn't, that's who I'm blaming anyway. lol At times I'm a go getter and no one can stop me. Then other times I just lie in bed and stare at the ceiling and say f*ck it. :) Hang in there, girlie. It will come back.
ReplyDeleteAnd congrats on losing weight!! That's awesome!!
Oy. Willpower is the bane of my existence.
ReplyDeleteI used to have a lot, then I became unemployed and learned it's amazing how little you do when you have all the time in the world. They say that if you want something done, ask a busy person. Those folks know how to organize their time. Me? I keep thinking that I have plenty of time to get it done, and therefore never do anything.
As for the weightloss thing - I've had some modest success with that myself in recent months. I don't diet. The very word makes me spit. But I did make a conscious choice to add more raw veggies to my eating habits.
The plan was to add raw veggies to every meal, primarily carrots and sugar snap peas. And when I didn't feel like having those, I'd microwave one of those pre-packaged bags of veggies from the grocery store and that'd fill me for a good long while.
After just a week or two of that, I found that I was fuller for longer, and my sweet tooth had naturally waned. I didn't deny myself anything (chocolate, junk food, whatever ... I just craved it less and ate less of it) and I lost weight.
Oh Erika. I can empathsize on both the writing and losing weight issue. I have time to write, I just don't always make the use of it and it makes me mad. As for the weight thing, it's a constant worry and you're right, an embarassment. My mantra right now is, food does not control me, I control my eating. That being said yesterday I could have gladly eaten a supersized piece of cheesecake. But I didn't! (although I did eat five chocolate chips)
ReplyDeleteKira, horomones? I like it!
ReplyDeleteVenus, you nailed it. When I have the time to write half the time I sit there thinking I should be getting it done and not actually accomplishing anything.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your weight loss, that's awesome.
Karyn, that's it exactly! When I have the time to write I don't do it and in the end I just end up mad at myself. I'm really hoping that the new accountability idea over at BB will help me with that a little bit.
ReplyDeleteI don't think 5 chocolate chips should count as a bad, I think that shows incredible restraint. My husband gets on me every once in a while when he sees me cheating and I have to remind him that I'm the one who's losing and he needs to get off my back!
Okay, I don't say it quite so angry though. At least I don't think I do . . .
ReplyDeleteErika, I definitely have those times where I think "I could be writing right now" and then I'll just sit there thinking about that fact, and how productive I'd be, but it's like I'm scared to actually do it and prove myself wrong. I've found it works best to trick myself into doing things. I relocate to a different part of the house, take a few minutes to delay while I make a cup of tea, and then by the time I sit down, I can (hopefully) just write. I'm trying to get better at it :)
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your weight loss, it's spectacular to be able to stick to something so disciplined like that!
Hayley, I'm glad to see it isn't just me. If I wrote at every opportunity that I think I should be writing, I'd have the darn thing done by now.
ReplyDeleteYOU ARE NOT ALONE !!! yeah, willpower, why is it not as strong as it sounds ? should be 'willweakness' ... I've got more time than I have a right to but you know darn well I don't write - even though I WANT to :(
ReplyDeleteWillpower? Where? Squirrel? *blink* I swear I posted this almost an hour ago. Uhm...yeah.... Squirrel? Where?!?
ReplyDeletemaybe it should be called 'wontpower' HEE HEE !
ReplyDeleteBan, you're brilliant! That's a good idea. Think we can make it catch on?
ReplyDelete