this post was submitted on 11 Nov 2023
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No Stupid Questions

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I have heard that willpower is finite and every person starts their day with a limited capacity.

On the other hand there are people like gym goers or sportspersons saying that they can muster up more will power if they have the right mentality at the right time.

I don't know which one is right, but is it possible to increase one's capacity for will power ? If so what kind of exercises or training methods do they have to use ?

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[–] [email protected] 9 points 11 months ago (1 children)

I have heard that willpower is finite and every person starts their day with a limited capacity.

Time for a new source of information. Whoever told you that is wildly incorrect.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago) (1 children)

Is this not just a (mildly oversimplified) framing of what psychologists call ego depletion [1]? This appears to be a well-replicated finding. I don't see any reason to call it "wildly incorrect".

[1] The strength model of self-control. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2007-18261-013

Edit: After some more research, it looks like the science is inconclusive on ego depletion. So I would not call it "well-replicated", but also not "wildly incorrect".

[–] [email protected] 1 points 11 months ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

I had never heard of ego depletion, and after looking it up frankly I think, outside of psychology, the idea is at best misinformation, to the point of disinformation. Not something to incorporate into your life beliefs. From Wikipedia;

Ego depletion is the controversial idea that self-control or willpower draws upon a limited pool of mental resources that can be used up. When the energy for mental activity is low, self-control is typically impaired, which would be considered a state of ego depletion.

As a self sufficient Boomer, that sounds too much like shooting yourself in the foot. Maybe it's a symptom of a mental disease/weakness, which is why it might be useful to psychologists. Maybe the ego needs to be repleted, if it's depleted. But rather than believe you start the day with a limited amount of will power, start your day by giving yourself a boost. Tell yourself what you can do, rather than what you can't.

So I stand by my original comment, flippant as it was. Don't buy into bullshit. If you are hanging out (real life or online) in places where the attitude is that we're each limited in what we can accomplish, then you should hang out elsewhere. How can you reach for the stars if you're convinced you don't have what it takes?

Yeah there are things that are legitimately hard to do. Excruciatingly hard sometimes. Overcoming hardships makes you stronger. Believing you only have so much "will" does not.

From your source:

Just as a muscle gets tired from exertion, acts of self-control cause short-term impairments (ego depletion)

Short term impairment. Like a tired muscle, which will be stronger tomorrow for having been worked to the max today.