The Will

The absence of your will leaves you open to many disturbances. When your will is lost, you slide under the boot of external circumstances and lose much of your personal power.

In order to recapture the will and thus your autonomy, you must first take responsibility for what falls under your own agency. Otherwise, you will spin your wheels trying to change your external environment at the cost of your inner strength.

There is no need to be grandiose or exotic about this practice. Training the will requires that you use your will. Start with a framework. Set the direction you’d like to go. Think of a jockey riding a horse. The jockey does not lift the horse over a hurdle; he or she simply gets the horse headed in the right direction to clear that hurdle.

Next, apply yourself. Set a to-do list for the day and actually do it. Be on time. When facing a tiny decision that does not need deliberation, act quickly. Say no when it is accurate to say no. Say yes when it is accurate to say yes. Don’t engage in escalating anger. Remove yourself from activities or practices that don’t align with your values.

There are many ways to train up the will. With diligence, you regain the power of decision. Lastly, do not mistake the will for what most consider it to be. The purpose of the will is to direct, not destruct.