Will You or Won't You?

There is a new kind of power out there. 

Seriously.

Ok, not really.  This power, it turns out, is one that we have all had all along.  We have just given it the wrong name.  We have been calling it, ironically, willpower.  As in, “I wish I had the willpower to turn down that double chocolate fudge brownie that you are offering me.” And the reason that we have such a hard time turning it down is because we are subconsciously telling ourselves that we “will” have it.  We have been sabotaging ourselves with improper language use.

Now I am not saying that we need to stop using the term ‘willpower’.  There are plenty of reasons and situations where we still need to use willpower.  We need willpower, for example to sit down to finish that research paper that has been mocking us ever since we started trying to write it, or to clean the bathroom when we would rather be outdoors or reading our book.

For situations where we need to use determination not to do something, however, I propose that we all start to use the term won’t-power.  Now, I have to admit, this was not my term.  It came from a gentleman making a joke as he watched me struggle over a danish at a meeting.  But it sure makes sense to me!

Yes, this is a bit tongue-in-cheek at its heart, but it has got to make you think…maybe we (and when I say we, I mean those of us that have BMI’s that give us pause and concern in the health department) need to be more aware of the reasons why we can’t seem to turn down food.

Personally, I have discovered that early feelings of lack, emotionally and food wise, have triggered this feeling in me that tells me that when I am presented with the opportunity to indulge I had better do so, because I might not get another chance.  Now that I have discovered this underlying thought process, I am trying to observe it when it arises. While I am still struggling with saying no at times, I have discovered that there are times when my won’t-power is getting stronger. 

I used to tell people that I just can’t say no to indulgences.  But I can’t say that anymore, because I realize that, actually, when I really want to, I can say no. Yay for me! 

I know that there are other reasons that I overeat, but discovering them one at a time is helping me work on my won’t-power.  What do you need won’t-power for?

Got to run.  In the meantime, have an awesome day!

Namaste!