The Power of Will

Sometimes when I'm in a present state of mind I remember that I am in control of my own destiny. I understand that what happens in my life happens because of the choices I made and the motions I put forth comes back to me and as a result I have my own reality.
It kills me when I hear folks complain about their situation as though they had nothing to do with it. As though life is just happening to them without their input. It just doesn't work that way. Even a non response is a response of acquiescence - a silent submission. It is to our detriment to not know this or to ignore this fact.
When ever you get a moment - play with your will power. Watch the kind of power you have over the simple things in your life and then apply that thinking to long term goals. Here's how I play with myself sometimes (nasty - you know who you are!). I create a simple goal like - I won't eat any cheese today. Since I am a cheese lover, this task is not easy to do. It requires me to be conscious of my goal at every eating moment and to honor my own request.
Alot of times we don't honor the goals we set up for ourselves because we think - ah- its only me. I can do it some other time. But we must honor our own thoughts, feelings and goals - because no one else will and when you decide to look up one day and see what progress you have made in your life - its not what or where it could have been if you had only made yourself important enough to do as you say you will do.
So back to my cheese ordeal - my tummy is full of cheese - all kinds, American, Swiss, extra sharp Cheddar, mozzarella, smoked Gouda, blue, brie, Munster - I love it. So when I open my fridge it stares at me waiting for me to pick it up and cut a slice. My usual reaction to this enticement is to take the whole block, a sharp pairing knife and cuddle up on my couch with my cheese until its gone. On this day of will power - i fight against that urge honoring my own request and what usually happens is I make many trips to the fridge to just look at the cheese. I'll eat other things in place of the cheese, but nothing ever seems to satisfy my taste buds and my mind keeps going back to the cheese. Here is where I notice the mind game and exercise my will power - who wins is the interesting part. Sometimes me sometimes not me, but I can't blame the loss to anything other than my lack of will power against myself.
You can play this game with anything and see how you react to your own discipline. Its great mental exercises and it keeps you responsible for your decisions. You never feel short changed, taken advantage of or left out on the stoop of your life if you just learn to take a stand in integrity and do as you say you will do. Your mastery of will power will strengthen over time - its not hard but its not easy. enjoy!

originally published 11/5/05

Editors update: I've controlled my cheese addiction. 7/08 :-)