We all know about willpower and how it’s that inner strength to control our impulses. It’s a crucial part of staying motivated and achieving our goals. Recently, we spoke with Benjamin Hardy, the author of “Willpower Doesn’t Work,” to get his take on finding motivation and the best ways to reach our goals. Is it all about willpower, or is there more to it?
Benjamin Hardy, a well-known writer on self-improvement, motivation, and entrepreneurship, has had his share of ups and downs. This conversation was a perfect chance to learn about his approach to achieving goals.
Let’s break it down!
Yes, willpower is real and has been studied extensively in psychology. People often believe that the more you use it, the stronger it gets. But Hardy points out that relying solely on willpower is not sustainable in the long run.
Hardy explains that we all like to think we’re in complete control of our choices, but in reality, our environment plays a huge role in our success. His book, “Willpower Doesn’t Work,” is about shaping our environments to make success inevitable. For example, instead of forcing yourself to go to the gym, get a workout buddy who motivates you, thus removing the internal struggle.
At DIY Active, we love using accountability systems like workout partners!
Encouraging willpower as the only solution can be misleading. It’s more effective to design environments that make your journey enjoyable rather than a chore. Money can be a powerful motivator. When Hardy started blogging, he and his wife made a tough financial decision to buy a domain. This kind of investment can motivate you to succeed.
Taking pictures and sharing your progress on social media can provide external motivation. Committing to events like marathons also helps by setting a deadline for showing up. And getting rid of things in your environment that hinder your progress can be crucial.
If you find yourself making excuses for not reaching your goals, instead of blaming yourself, change your environment to remove those obstacles.
No matter how strong your willpower is, you won’t achieve lasting change without altering your surroundings. The traditional willpower approach fails because it doesn’t address environmental factors. Eventually, your environment will overpower your internal resolve.
To get the best results, we need to choose our environments carefully to support our goals.
While willpower is important, it alone isn’t enough for efficient goal achievement. According to Hardy, and we agree, creating the right environment boosts your chances of success and makes it easier for your willpower to do its job.
Sounds intriguing, right? If you’re looking to find motivation and achieve your goals, check out Hardy’s book, “Willpower Doesn’t Work.” It offers a detailed guide on how to redesign your surroundings for success.
Benjamin Hardy, a top writer on Medium.com, is a Ph.D. candidate at Clemson University and the author of “Willpower Doesn’t Work: Discover the Hidden Keys to Success.” His experiences, studies, and writings on self-improvement and motivation have inspired many people.
He believes that thriving in life requires actively shaping your environment, not just relying on willpower, which he argues is a flawed concept leading to failure. Instead of forcing change, you need to create surroundings that naturally support your objectives. Hardy’s book will teach you how to do just that.
Are you ready to transform your environment and habits?
