by Jack Lee
There are two things that will determine your personal success in life more than anything else, and they are will power and IQ. People with above average will power tend to live healthier, longer and are more socially adaptable. They have better coping skills and in school they test higher and acquire more self confidence which leads to a higher self esteem. They are also more prone to earning more in better jobs and saving more, leading to better security. Overall they are happier people and lead more fulfilling lives.
Conversely, people with low will power are more likely to suffer from poor self image, poor grades leading to an early drop out and this leaves them with fewer opportunities. They are more prone to binges leading to addiction problems, including obesity. They are also more likely to be incarceration because they make knee jerk choices without taking in the bigger picture. People will poorly developed will power find themselves focusing only on immediate gratification and ignoring life-altering long term goals.
Not surprisingly, we see the end results of “poor will power” and substituting that immediate gratification for long term goals in the political world quite regularly. If you give the needy a fish rather than teach them how to fish, it insures the needy will be dependent on you. Sound familiar? This is a basic principle of socialism and in this country it’s evident that people are voting for more safety nets that are leading us to more and more dependency on big government for all our basic needs. That’s incredibly dangerous because just like the pyramid schemes (con games), this leads to a bad end for all those who were suckered.
The good part here is any person can benefit by increasing their will power. It’s difficult to improve your IQ by much, but it’s possible to greatly increase your will power or self discipline and this is where we go next. I’ve condensed the basics for improving your will power for the sake of brevity here, but at the end I’ll give you some of my research links if you want to read more on this subject.
Here’s the basics for improving your self discipline:
Avoid temptation. Remove it, get it out of your life!
Avoid high sugared foods and stabilize your blood glucose (critical).
Find a healthy way to lower your stress, such as meditation.
Don’t take on too much, focus your energy
(a) Break big jobs down into small tasks
Get a good night’s sleep.
Use self affirmation daily.
Write down major decisions (create a log book to remind yourself)
Form good habits
Value your time, every moment is precious.
Exercise, healthy body – healthy mind
Have a long term plan with mini goals leading to the big goal
Suggested links and reading material you may find helpful to improving your will power:
Volume 43, Issue 3, May 2007, Pages 379-384
Here’s a good book – “Cinderella Man,” by Jeremy Schaap (sp?)
I’ve told you about this book, about the famous great boxing legend and all around pulled-together guy, James Braddock. Braddock was a hard worker, working on the docks when he wasn’t fighting. His work ethic was what really made him a champ. He took care of his family, and his friends. He was loved. But nobody ever said he was a genius. What kind of genius does it take to stand there letting some guy smash you in the face until he gets tired?
After winning a huge purse, Braddock did what any sap would do – he put it in the bank. Yep, banks failed, he lost everything – about $29,000. That’s alot for a family savings account even today.
Which just goes to show that “The best-laid schemes o’ mice an’ men. Gang aft agley, An’ lea’e us nought but grief an’ pain.”
If by “will power,” you mean, the ability to do backbreaking work to feed yourself and your loved ones, I agree. But oftentimes I find, will power and brain power are at odds. Some people think they’re too smart to work. The “smarter” a person is, I find, the LAZIER they are.
That’s why we still need regulations, like the FDIC, because those people who think they’re too smart to work for a living are oftentimes not very nice.
I guess that’s ticket – we need people with higher morals, the ability to say to themselves, “just because I CAN screw people doesn’t mean I should.”
Hey, I got a lantern, let’s go out in Chico tonight and look for honest people! Think we’ll find 10? They’ll probably all be idiots.
Juanita I didn’t read the book but I did see the movie and it was very inspiring. The genious of James Braddock is that he valued his role as head of his household and he valued his skill as a boxer. Some people think genious is all brainy stuff but I see genious in every person…the trick is being true to oneself and ones gifts and talents.
I have to disagree about smart being lazy. Being lazy is something any person may choose…same for criminal and crooked! My husband is super smart and one of the most dedicated and hard working people I know.
You’re right about regulations. The challenge for the average citizens is how do we make sure regulations are well written and simple to follow so that crooks and the lazy, be they the business people or the regulators, can’t cheat.
Regulators failed us in the financial meltdown!
Laws were in place that allowed greedy types to make risky deals. Some regulations compelled risky business practices. What kind of law maker thinks that regulations for lenders that eliminate things like requiring a down payment, or having a steady job, sufficient income, or assets to qualify for a loan?
We need lawmakers that will simplify and strengthen regulations so that crooks can’t hide. We need regulators that are willing to do their job. We need a society that has a solid grounding in ethic and honesty. That will be an uphill battle. It’s much easier to sell the easy way out and letting or asking government take care of everybody.
thanks Tina!
“We need lawmakers that will simplify and strengthen regulations so that crooks can’t hide.”
Yes, and that means, we need to make ourselves more vigilant.
I was with some other parents yesterday, and it’s amazing how people are willing to be screwed over as long as you don’t bother them during their “family time.” It is frustrating trying to tell people that their civic responsibility is as important as their parental responsibility. People actually tell me “get a life!” Yeah, slave, as if you own your life.
People are too willing to be led by the nose. It’s frustrating. Sometimes I feel like an old cowpuncher – it gets to the point where you can’t even stomach a good steak anymore, cause you know where it came from.
Howdy! Would you mind if I share your blog with my facebook group?
There’s a lot of people that I think would really enjoy your content. Please let me know. Cheers