There is a finite amount of willpower, but can we increase our willpower? The answer is yes! In a similar way that physical work or mental work tire us, making good choices and resisting bad choices do as well. The will is bound up with the body and we are embodied creatures.
Stress, fatigue, hunger, and emotional exhaustion increase the difficulty of starting a new task or resisting temptation. In the wilderness, the devil attempted to tempt Jesus towards the end of Jesus' 40 days of fasting. Taking that in mind, we can definitely increase our will power. The use of our willpower grows with our strength and stamina, just as physical exercise does. In order to build strength in willpower, we need to exercise it. Despite draining us in the moment, repeated exertion develops our ability to make wise choices in the long run.
We train our willpower by repeatedly completing small willpower challenges. Starting new habits with small steps is one of the benefits of doing so. The key is to maintain the effort over time. It almost seems too easy to do three push-ups every day for a month. Nevertheless, if we are able to complete this task, we will notice that we are not only stronger than if we attempted 20 push-ups a day for four days and failed, we will also notice that our willpower has increased with each repetition.
As we have not exhausted our willpower by directing all our energy at a very difficult goal, it will be easier to choose to do something new or resist temptation. In an odd way, exerting willpower for one kind of willpower challenge increases my capacity for other types. We build our capacity to resist temptation and to begin a new habit by repeating the three pushups each day. Positive reinforcement goes a long way toward explaining this: we see ourselves as someone who can maintain a new habit, someone whose life is moving in a positive direction. In addition, our willpower grows with practice.
Pray For Willpower And Personal Transformation
How can we pray for spiritual transformation in a Buddhist way? Let's start by pondering what it is we most desire. A person may have health, peace of mind, spiritual insight, equanimity, intimacy, or freedom from addiction. When we call something to mind, perhaps even imagining what it may look or feel like if the desire were fulfilled, we connect with the part of us that truly longs for that outcome.
In acknowledging our wish, we also acknowledge that we are limited in our ability to directly bring it about through force of will. In Buddhism, we commonly say something (silently or aloud) that begins with "May I." For example, "May I be free from fear or anxiety." Or, "May I be mindful and appreciative of my life." Humble but determined, we open up to the mystery of our lives and trust that our prayers will have some effect. It is our request that something be done. To whom are we asking? Who or what outside of us has the power to answer our prayers? That doesn't matter. What counts is how we treat each other. We are asking ourselves in a sense, and what a refreshing and compassionate means of relating to the different parts of ourselves, instead of waging internal wars.
We pray to move in a particular direction, so it's important to pray for something ambitious or ideal, even if it's positive and encouraging. It is likely to trigger goal-seeking and expectation if the subject of our prayer is too concrete, limited, self-centered, or mundane. Say, for example, you are among those who would like to lose some weight. Even though you might find it helpful to pray that you will succeed, you're much more likely to succeed if you identify the deeper aspirations behind the desire to lose weight. Taking care of your health will allow you to live long enough to watch your grandchildren grow up, or you may want to complete a creative project. Perhaps you'd like to have a more respectful and caring relationship with your body, rather than burden it with calories it doesn't need.
As I mentioned earlier, I'm talking about the kind of prayer you can influence through your own choices. It involves improving your ability to recognize and capitalize on those moments I discussed earlier: Those "dead spots," when there's an opening in the flow of events and reactions, giving us an opportunity to act differently. We should therefore pray to be stronger, equanimous, and joyful when we are sick (which will increase our chances of recovering more quickly than praying to recover from an illness). Perhaps instead of praying for someone else to stop acting in ways that upset us, we should pray for our own sense of self-worth and self-sufficiency to make us less susceptible to others' opinions. It is not wrong to pray for physical or external results as a Buddhist, but this is not the kind of prayer I am talking about here.
Changing What We Will Or Desire
The more time we spend in touch with our desire for change, the more powerful it becomes and the more prominent it becomes in our lives. Our aspirations become more prominent in our minds. Taking an open-minded and sincere approach to things is better than taking a punitive, righteous, or self-indulgent stance. Even simple practices like saying morning blessings can contribute to this mindset shift.It is a struggle for me to attach myself to thinking, for example. When I'm meditating, I often just think about podcast episodes or other projects. Even for a short time, letting go of my thoughts rarely helps. In recent months, whenever I find myself caught up in a thought when I aspire to be meditating or practicing mindfulness, I've been praying "In order to receive this moment's gift, may I let go of all aimless thoughts." I remember how it feels to be present for what's happening in each moment - feeling my breath, hearing bird song, and being aware I am living. It's a way of being that I value, and I would like to spend more time like that.
As I pray, I am connected with my deep desire to let go of thinking and be more receptive: May the day come. Yet I must be careful not to make my prayer into a weapon for my "Executive I" to use to achieve its goals. My prayer feels dead and ineffective once I start doing that - as soon as impatience and will start creeping in, when I pray in order to discipline my unruly mind. To pray effectively, I must emphasize the "asking" part. Oddly, the asking never feels passive - it just feels more realistic.
I like to think that praying can be one constructive response to the conundrum: "Man can do what he wills but he can never will what he wills." With practice, we may not be able to change what we will with our will - that is, we will not be able to conquer one conflicting desire by exercising our (illusory) executive control - but we can change what we will gradually through a practice like prayer.
Gemstones for Willpower
Are you ready to start making those changes? Would you like to create the life you want for yourself? You need to set a goal and harness your willpower as the first step. That's where gemstones come into play. You can find strength within yourself by using gemstones , so you can make your dreams become a reality.For this purpose, Obsidian is the ideal stone. Getting real with yourself is the foundation of willpower. Obsidian guides you toward that truth. You need to figure out what you really want and what you can commit to. Using Obsidian is a great place to start.
Black tourmaline has a reputation for stability. In terms of protection against negativity, black tourmaline is one of the most powerful stones. You can use it to release any negative emotions you have, and to absorb whatever negative energy is directed at you.
A sense of stability and peace will return to your life when you're stressed or in transition. Stones like this one are said to assist with self-love, which can be a struggle at times when you feel especially vulnerable. The ability to connect with your higher self through Black Tourmaline can encourage the development of healthy relationships and provide you with coping mechanisms when dealing with challenging situations.
Tourmaline is associated with the root chakra, which helps us get grounded and feel connected to the earth, so it is excellent for healing the emotional body. Depression, anxiety, stress, trauma, and many other feelings of imbalance or unhappiness can be treated by this therapy.
Another important stone, is the Aquamarine: The stone of courage. Stones such as aquamarine calm the mind and activate the throat chakra. The gemstone aquamarine has a long history in ancient legends. Aquamarine is said to be helpful for people with communication fears, like those who are afraid to speak in public or express themselves in small groups.
