Traits that drive Human Excellence-2: WILL-POWER

This is the second article as part of a series called TRAITS THAT DRIVE HUMAN EXCELLENCE. The first article was an introductory one in which I had listed the key traits. In this article, we shall focus on the first one in that list ,i.e., Will-Power.

Will-power is your biggest strength

Will-power is the greatest strength of human beings. Will-power is essential for success in professional and personal life. During Corona virus pandemic, many people returned from the jaws of death, just because of their sheer will-power (even after being on ventilator).

We can define will-power as the ability to be in control of one's temptations, impulses, inhibitions, negative emotions, fears etc. Often our temptations, impulses, fears etc. lead to an internal fight. For example, you are walking by a sweets shop and you are seeing tempting rasagols on display. You are tempted to go inside and buy yourself a few rasagolas. But you are also aware that sweets have too much of sugar content and not good for your health. Now there is a conflict within you between your temptation and awareness. Eventually who wins depends on your will-power. Hence, will-power is our ability to deal with our internal fights. Sometimes people mistake will-power for confidence. But in reality it is much more than confidence. Will-power is the power of the mind that can sustain itself against the onslaught of negative or harmful thoughts, impulses etc. over a longer period of time.

How to Awaken Will-Power?

The pre-frontal cortex in our brain is responsible for taking decisions, making choices, logical thinking, solving problems, vision/goal setting, formulating action plans etc. Since will power is the ability to take rational decisions and make right choices; in order to have a strong will power, we need to strengthen our pre-frontal cortex. Let's look at some of the ways we can do so.

1. Practice Meditation

Will-power is about making right choices. When caught up in an internal fight in your mind, making the right choice requires calmness and receptivity. What can calm you down? Sree Sree Thakur Anukulchandra has the answer. He says, "Meditation makes man calm and receptive." Studies have shown that regular practice of meditation can boost Grey matter volume and density.

2. Keep the Big Picture in mind

When your mind is invaded by impulses, temptations etc. , it is likely to give in unless you have a bigger vision or goal. But if you have a big vision or goal, you are less likely to surrender to your impulses. For example, if you are an athlete and have a vision to excel at international level, you would want to keep healthy and thus you are less likely to fall prey to impulses, temptations, fears etc. Sree Sree Thakur Anukulchandra says, "Be inspired by your purpose and with serene mind forbear all. Then only shall your purpose be fulfilled."

3. Expose yourself to challenging situations

Make it a habit to take on difficulties in personal and professional life. Expose yourself to challenging situations. At work, volunteer to lead new projects or take up a role that you have not performed before. This would definitely boost your will-power to deal with bigger challenges in future.

4. Turn good thoughts into actions promptly

Sree Sree Thakur Anukulchandra has suggested a simple yet effective technique to awaken will power. He says:-

"Whenever the urge to do something good comes into your heart, without obstructing it, do at once start to materialize it through activity; you will find that by this practice your will-power will become lively within a short-time."

If you do not convert your good thoughts into actions immediately, time would come when your brain would start believing that you cannot perform such actions.

Please learn more about will-power, you may watch this video .