What awesome power lies in the combination of strong willpower guided by strong definite life-purpose.

Willpower is wonderful, but without proper guidance it consumes energy without purpose.

Definite purpose is wonderful, but without willpower to guide and control action it is unattainable.

When strong and combined, willpower and definite purpose are destined to succeed…and be accompanied by lives well lived.

Are you living on purpose?

Are you living with willpower?

Are you living on purpose with willpower?

If not, why not…

• Through ignorance...you've never learned about purpose and willpower?
• Through lack of hope...you do not believe you have the ability to change/determine your fate?
• Because you doubt purpose and willpower are the key ingredients...you think there is a better way?

published July 21, 2015

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Willpower Development Tip

from Frank Channing Haddock, ‘Power of Will’, (1910)

"The effort to overcome an aversion always develops Will."

"Determine that nothing which you must touch more or less habitually shall control the sensation which it produces."

Before you can accurately measure you must learn to observe.

Isn’t it interesting that we have been taught much about measuring, using tape measures etc., yet we have been taught little about how to observe. Observing is an art-skill that apparently goes without saying so it is mostly left to chance.

We rarely teach how to see [use our eyes], hear [use our ears], or feel [use our sense of touch].

We rarely teach how those ‘senses’ work with our brains to deliver information to our minds.

For example - enhanced civilization has brought to us nano-accuracy in measurements...coupled with the inability to identify trees and their flowers or birds and their calls.

Yes – of course we admonish, "Pay Attention!" We began to hear that from figures of authority when we were very young.

We rarely teach anyone How to Pay Attention…

…Let alone Why they ought to Pay Attention.

[For example – Has anyone ever helped you understand the huge advantages you will experience if you understand both Why you should improve your observations and How you can go about learning the good habits of skilled observation?]

And, another key consideration: How can you fully engage and employ your Talents if you lack the skills and habits of observation?

The answer is simple enough: you cannot; in fact, without development of observation skills you cannot even understand your Talents let alone put them to constructive use.

The good news is it is never too late. You may have never received observation education or training. Your children may have never received observation education or training. That is not a problem. That only becomes a problem if you now choose to ignore the need for observation education and training.

Being graphic -

If you choose to think there is no need for improved observation skills then you are wrong-thinking.

If you choose to think there are no methods for improving observation skills then you are wrong-thinking.

If you choose to 'live and let live' or 'live to learn another day' then you are wishful-thinking and setting the stage for life-long mediocrity.

"When you chase your tail ‘literally’, you get dizzy and exhausted; when you chase your tail ‘figuratively’, you get distracted and confused."

That thought came to me recently while I was watching a documentary about dogs and their relationships with humans.  Apparently, humans bred certain dogs – in effect humans genetically re-engineered the dogs – so the dogs possessed genes that enabled them to be better hunters. For some of these dogs, the genetic changes got out of control and one of the repercussions is some dogs chase their tails excessively… much like a dog could behave if it had obsessive-compulsive disorder. Some dogs spend most of their free time chasing their tails…to the point of their utter exhaustion and human’s annoyance/frustration. To remedy the tail-chasing problem, dogs are being medicated with Prozac [an anti-depressant that, for some people and dogs, reduces anxiety].

I’ve always wondered what drives some dogs to make a habit of chasing their tails.

Now, I have another possible explanation to keep in mind.

And now, I'm thinking if humans had tails then we would see some humans chasing their tails just like dogs do. And, no doubt some of these humans would end up receiving prescriptions for Prozac and other medications.

But, we know humans do not have tails so they cannot ‘literally’ chase their tails at this point in time. However, humans can and do chase their tails ‘figuratively’.

And…

"When you chase your tail ‘literally’, you get dizzy and exhausted; when you chase your tail ‘figuratively’, you get distracted and confused."