The concept of will in psychology
Will is one of the most complex concepts in psychology. There are several interpretations of this concept:
- Will - this is a conscious regulation by a person of his actions and deeds that require overcoming internal and external difficulties. (Soviet general psychology)
- Will is a form of psychic reflection in which reflected is an objective goal, incentives to achieve it, emerging objective obstacles; reflected it becomes a subjective goal, a struggle of motives, an effort of will; result is the action and satisfaction of the achievement of the goal. The obstacles that a person has to overcome on the way to achieving the goal can be both internal and external.
- Will - this is the side of consciousness, its active and regulating principle, designed to create an effort and keep it for as long as necessary.
In other words will is the ability of a person, manifested in self-determination and self-regulation of his activities and various mental processes.
Thanks to the will, a person can, on his own initiative, based on perceived need, perform actions in a pre-planned direction and with a pre-foreseen force. Moreover, he can organize his mental activity accordingly and direct it. By an effort of will, one can restrain the external manifestations of emotions or even show the exact opposite.
The main functions of the will are encouraging, stabilizing and brake.
incentive functionwill is provided by human activity. In contrast to reactivity, when the action is determined by the previous situation (they turn around to the call), activity generates action due to the specifics internal states subject, which are revealed at the moment of the action itself (a person in need of obtaining the necessary information calls out to a friend).
Stabilizing function– maintaining activity at the proper level in the event of external or internal interference.
braking functionwill, acting in unity with the incentive function, manifests itself in the containment of undesirable manifestations of activity. A person is able to slow down the awakening of motives and the implementation of actions that do not correspond to his worldview, ideals and beliefs. Regulation of behavior would be impossible without the process of inhibition. In their unity, the motivating and inhibitory functions of the will ensure that difficulties are overcome on the way to achieving the goal.
Based on the basic functions of the will, we can sayvolitional regulation of behavior.
Volitional regulation of behavior- this is a conscious direction of mental and physical efforts to achieve a goal or contain them.
For the emergence of volitional regulation, certain conditions are necessary -the presence of obstacles and barriers.
External obstacles- time, space, opposition of people, physical properties things, etc;
Internal obstacles -attitudes and attitudes, painful conditions, fatigue, etc.
Most often in a person’s life, the will manifests itself in the following typical situations when:
It is necessary to make a choice between two or more equally attractive, but requiring opposite actions, thoughts, goals, feelings, attitudes, incompatible with each other;
In spite of everything, it is necessary to purposefully move along the path to the intended goal;
Should refrain from doing decision due to changed circumstances.
Will is not an isolated property of the human psyche, therefore it should be considered in close connection with other aspects of his mental life, primarily with motives and needs. Will is especially needed when the motives and needs directly inciting activity are relatively weak or there are strong motives and needs competing with them. A strong-willed person suppresses some of his motives and needs in order to satisfy others. We can say that the will consists in the ability to act in accordance with the goal, suppressing immediate desires and aspirations.
Volitional act (action)
The main component of the will is a volitional act (action). Volitional actions are characterized by the presence of a goal, as well as obstacles, difficulties, the presence of a kind of tension experienced in the course of their implementation.
Distinguish between simple and complex volitional actions.
Fig.1. The Structure of a Simple Volitional Action
Fig.2. The structure of a complex volitional action.
Connection of will with other mental processes
A powerful engine of the will are the senses. A person who is indifferent to everything cannot be a person of strong will, because will implies awareness of one's feelings, their evaluation and power over them. “Slaves of their passions” (players, drug addicts, etc.) are always weak-willed people. Volitional action in itself is capable of generating a new strong feeling - a feeling of satisfaction from a duty performed, an obstacle overcome, a goal achieved, against which the old, repressed feeling is often forgotten.
Deep connection of will and with thinking. A volitional action is a deliberate action: before forcing oneself to act as necessary in given circumstances, a person must understand, realize, and think over his actions. Before overcoming the external obstacles that stand in the way of the goal, it is necessary to find the best ways, think over the plan of action and draw up its plan.
Also, volitional action is closely related to emotional sphere personality and imagination. Performing it, a person experiences certain emotions, suggests an imaginary result.
Physiological basis of will
Physiological mechanisms of volitional behavior, volitional actions can be represented as follows. The motor area is located in the parietal part of the cerebral cortex. It is connected with all areas of the cortex, including the cortical ends of all analyzers. This connection ensures that excitation that has arisen in any part of the cortex has the ability to reach the motor area and cause a similar process in it.
The reflex nature of volitional regulation of behavior presupposes the creation of a focus of optimal excitability in the cerebral cortex (this is a working focus in the cortex). The reticular formation is of great importance in the general mechanism of volitional regulation: a kind of filter that selects some impulses that go to the cortex and retains others that are not of vital importance.
PC. Anokhin put forward the conceptaction acceptor.Its essence is that nervous processes are ahead of the course of external events.
Based on past experience, humans (and animals) anticipate and foresee future impacts on nervous system. Based on the signal in the brain, the entire complex of nerve connections is restored, the entire system of associations developed by repeated repetition.
An important role in the implementation of volitional actions is played byfrontal lobes of the brain, in which, as studies have shown, there is a comparison of the result achieved each time with a previously compiled goal program. Damage to the frontal lobes leads to abulia (painful lack of will).
Will, as the regulating side of consciousness, hasconditioned reflexnature. On the basis of a temporary neural connection, a wide variety of associations and their systems are formed and fixed, which in turn creates the conditions for purposeful behavior.
A person has the ability to accumulate information and act on its basis, as well as to generalize information and knowledge received from outside, which is achieved with the help ofsecond signal system . On the basis of secondary signal connections, all conscious and expedient regulation of human behavior is carried out, the choice of place, time, nature, method, intensity of action occurs when the information received is realized.
In humans, the mechanism of preliminary real action is much better developed than in animals, the system of associations is restored on the basis of the most minimal and remote stimulus (word, object, its properties, etc.).
Thus, consciously controlled behavior is the result of the interaction of complex brain physiological processes and the influence of the external environment.
Volitional personality traits
FROM childhood a person performs actions and performs actions, to one degree or another regulated by the will. Life practice consolidates the regulation of actions in the form of volitional properties of the individual.
The volitional properties of a person include the following:
1. purposefulness(manifested in the ability to set and achieve socially significant goals).
2. Decisiveness (manifested in a quick and thoughtful choice of a goal, determining ways to achieve it). He does not have enough strength to overcome conflicting thoughts and feelings, to direct them in some particular direction.
All this leads to the fact that a person misses time, and then, when he nevertheless faces the need to make a choice, he grabs the first one that comes across, perhaps even the worst goal. Indecision is also manifested in the fact that a person, without thinking it over, without weighing it, makes a hasty decision.
3. Persistence (manifested in the ability to direct and control behavior for a long time in accordance with the intended goal).
There are people who at first glance seem exceptionally persistent. A close acquaintance with them shows that they are simply stubborn. The stubborn only recognizes personal opinion, own arguments and seeks to be guided by them in actions and deeds, although these arguments may be erroneous or, in any case, not the best.
4. Exposure (or self-control) (manifested in the ability to restrain mental and physical manifestations that interfere with the achievement of the goal). Independence (the ability to set goals on one's own initiative, find ways to achieve them and practically implement the decisions made). The property of the will, opposite to independence, will be suggestibility. People distinguished by suggestibility cannot, on their own initiative, start and finish a more or less complex volitional action; They are active in the event that they receive instructions, orders, advice. They are quickly influenced by other people.
The volitional properties of the personality include such as courage, bravery, courage, fortitude, discipline. But they are largely an individual combination of the volitional qualities discussed above.
People with a high level of development of certain volitional properties are rightly called people of strong will. There are people who have a low level of development of all volitional properties. Such people are usually called weak-willed. Will as a regulator of behavior is formed in the process of life and activity. Of paramount importance in the development of the will and the formation of the volitional properties of the personality is daily regular work.
Very often one hears from people that they cannot do this or that act because they do not have enough. For example, start exercising every morning or stop large quantities eat sweets. This requires a certain amount of effort on the part of the individual. What is will? Does it exist in every person? Is it possible to develop willpower?
The concept of will
Will is a function of the human psyche, thanks to which we have the opportunity to exercise control over our actions and manage actions, making this or that decision, to achieve our goals.
The will encourages people to achieve their desires and at the same time allows them to be controlled. With the help of it, a person is able to overcome difficulties, get out of difficult life situations. People whose will is not developed prefer to go with the flow, do not seek to change their existence for the better. It is easier for them to give up their dreams than to make an effort on themselves and take action.
Volitional qualities of a person
The concept of will includes a number of qualities of human character. These include, above all, self-control and endurance. These qualities are manifested in restraining, when necessary, their emotions in order to avoid committing rash actions that can lead to disastrous consequences. For example, you should not start a fight, even if you have been insulted or humiliated.
Another strong-willed quality is decisiveness. It consists in overcoming internal doubts and hesitations, quickly moving on to active actions, whether it be setting a goal or taking steps towards achieving it.
The independence of a person is also one of the volitional qualities. People should be able to make decisions, guided only by their own principles and beliefs, be independent of other people's opinions.
Strong-willed qualities can also include perseverance and stubbornness, as well as determination. They help a person not to deviate from what was planned, to continue to strive and act, even if not everything works out right away.
Freedom and will
Very often the word "will" is associated with freedom. In expressions such as "release" or "unleash", these words are almost synonymous. However, there are significant differences between the two words. Will is a broader concept, in contrast to freedom, which implies the ability of a person to live and act as he wants. At the same time, the will can to some extent restrict freedom, force a person to act not only as he wants, but also as common sense requires.
There is also the concept of "free will", which means that a person has a choice independent of external circumstances. People have the right to make their own decisions - how to live, what values to set as priorities for themselves, what goals to choose and how to strive to achieve them.
What is the will of God
Many people wonder whether a person has a choice at all and whether he can influence his own destiny. What is the will of God? How does it manifest itself in our world and can it be influenced?
God's will implies that everything that happens in our lives is predetermined from above. There is nothing that can happen without the knowledge and permission of God. The will of the Almighty is immutable and does not depend on any external factors. People are not able to influence her, no matter how much they wish. It is hidden, inaccessible to the understanding of mankind.
Hiding behind God's will, people could do anything - kill, steal, while saying that it was destined to do so. However, this is far from being the case, and the responsibility of a person for his evil deeds is not removed. In addition to the hidden, there is also a comprehensible, or open, God's will for people. It is reflected in the Bible and tells people how they should live, what to fear and what to strive for. A person is responsible to God when he does not do His will, rejects His laws and neglects them.
The will of the Russian people
Each country, as a rule, has its own distinctive features inherent in its inhabitants. Russia is famous for the unbending willpower of its people. In the history of our state there are many examples of its manifestation. Only thanks to unprecedented willpower Russia has managed to win in many wars and maintain its sovereignty to this day.
One of the most clear examples when the will of the people manifested itself in full force, is the blockade of Leningrad. It lasted almost 900 days. During this time, many people died of starvation, but the city did not give up, despite all the difficulties.
Of course, not all Russian people have a powerful will. At all times and in our country there have been many traitors, cowards, ready to sell their fatherland. However, most Russian people still have willpower, and it manifests itself not only in a dangerous time for the country, but also in everyday life.
How to develop willpower
Very often people decide to dramatically and radically change their lives, gathering all their will into a fist. For example, a person wants to start playing sports from tomorrow. To do this, he decides to get up early every morning, do exercises, run, and after work go to gym. However, out of habit, after a couple of days of such a rhythm of life, a person gets so tired that he completely abandons his idea, and he no longer wants to train willpower. As a result, instead of a positive result, it turned out only worse.
How to develop strong-willed qualities without harming yourself? First you need to stop postponing the start of your actions, referring to some reasons. For example, promises “I will start doing exercises from Monday” or “I will not eat sweets from the beginning of the month” do not strengthen willpower, but, on the contrary, make it even weaker.
What is will? It is the ability to manage behavior in order to achieve one's goals. That is why you need to start moving towards them today. It’s much easier to get up and do a few exercises right now than to jump straight into heavy loads later.
Willpower training is a systematic process. It is impossible to become a strong-willed person in one day, you need to go to this for a long time and gradually. Every time you make even a small effort on yourself, you get closer to your goal. The main thing is not to kill the desire to develop willpower with wrong actions.
Aimed at achieving a consciously set goal with overcoming obstacles. Volitional effort consists in the conscious mobilization of the physical, intellectual and moral forces of a person.
General characteristics of the will. Volitional behavior, therefore, exists in the presence of two main factors: 1) a goal, behind which, of course, there are various motives, and 2) obstacles (barriers, barriers). The main thing in the volitional act is awareness of the value of the goal. Deepening knowledge about the role of barriers in the structure of activity does not negate the fact that in an act of will an obstacle is a secondary formation derived from the goal. P. V. Simonov emphatically emphasizes this circumstance when he writes that the fragments of rocks that have blocked the mountain path remain nothing more than a pile of stones until something necessary for the traveler appears on the other side of the collapse. However, activity associated with an obstacle can, in certain cases, “push the initial impulse into the background, and then we will meet with stubbornness, with behavior where overcoming has become an end in itself, and the original motive has lost its meaning and even forgotten.”
An obstacle, a barrier does not always have an external form of existence, as in the above example. There are internal barriers and obstacles. As such, there are competing motives, various emotional states (fear, fatigue, laziness, etc.). It can be difficult for a child to overcome the barrier of shyness, the same barrier can prevent a young man from confessing his love, and laziness does not allow a person to “start new life". However, the external obstacle has its internal equivalent. Overcoming an external barrier (for example, climbing a sheer cliff), a person at the same time overcomes an internal one - fatigue.
Will manifests itself not only in obvious activity, although this is often the case, but also in its inhibition. A person with a strong will rarely shows increased emotional excitability, impulsiveness, he is usually not prone to affective reactions. A strong will does not predispose to tactlessness, rudeness, talkativeness.
In a complex volitional act, three main links are distinguished. Step one: goal setting. Often the goal is not just set, but chosen in the face of a collision of several motives. Then there is a struggle of motives, mental discussion, weighing alternatives in dialogues with oneself and, probably, with other people. So, a young person, having felt a steady interest in children, a predisposition to communicate with them, can choose from two options: to become a pediatrician or a teacher - to choose one of them as a vital goal.
The second link: thinking over the way, means of achieving the set (chosen) goal. Here ways of overcoming difficulties are outlined, the composition of the main actions leading to the achievement of the goal is planned. So, if the goal was to master the teaching profession, then our young man decides what kind of teacher he should become, what form of mastering the profession (full-time, part-time, evening) and in which university to prefer.
The third link is the implementation of the decision. It accounts for the lion's share of willpower. Here, the preparation and passing of competitive exams, the actual work of mastering the profession, perhaps without interruption from the main job, repeated exertion of forces over a number of years. Of course, in the composition of a real volitional act, these links are not separated from each other as strictly as in our presentation. Along with interpenetration, there are other forms of interaction.
In a simple volitional act, setting a goal and making a decision coincide, the second link is the execution of the decision. Tired, for example, a part-time student by the end of the day, but you still need to do the test today. This volitional act is realized within 2-3 hours, not several years. It is clear that in the structure of a complex volitional act many simple ones are realized, although the first cannot be reduced to the second only.
Of interest is the development of will in phylogenesis. We know that such mental processes as emotions are inherent in both humans and animals. But animals do not have thinking and speech, but they have the corresponding phylogenetic prerequisites (reflection of the connection between objects in a situation of the visual field, communication). The will that appeared along with labor activity seems to be devoid of such prerequisites. P.V. Simonov points in this connection to the "reflex of freedom" described by IP Pavlov, which manifests itself in the animal's resistance to attempts to limit its motor activity.
As ontogenetic prerequisites for will, elementary independent actions of babies in the process of eating, dressing, washing, the participation of preschoolers in feasible types of domestic work, and their observance of the rules of the game can be considered. Thus, already the preschooler acquires some experience of overcoming difficulties. He can make a commitment not to pester his parents in the store with requests for purchases. Whether he fulfills this obligation or not is not the main thing, what is more important is that there will be a struggle of motives. The arbitrariness of mental processes (attention, memory, etc.) is one of the neoplasms that arise in the younger school age. It is formed under the influence of educational activities. It is clear that we are talking only about the first stages of the volitional development of the personality.
Will -this is a conscious regulation by a person of his actions and deeds that require overcoming internal and external difficulties on the way to the intended goal.
Will is not an isolated property of the human psyche. It is present in many acts of human behavior as a conscious regulation, a conscious application of physical and mental forces for the realization of a consciously set goal. Therefore, will is one of the most important conditions of human activity.
Will provides two interconnected functions - motivating (activating)- this is a conscious direction of mental and physical efforts to overcome difficulties and achieve goals; and brake- this is the containment of an undesirable manifestation of activity (refusal of something).
The will ensures the fulfillment of two interrelated functions - stimulating and inhibitory, and manifests itself in them.
incentive function provided by human activity. In contrast to reactivity, when the action is determined by the previous situation (a person turns around at a call, hits a ball thrown in a game, takes offense at a rude word, etc.), activity generates an action due to the specifics of the subject’s internal states that are revealed at the moment of the action itself (a person , in need of obtaining the necessary information, calls out to a friend, experiencing a state of irritation, allows himself to be rude to others, etc.).
In contrast to field behavior, which is distinguished by unintentionality, activity is characterized by arbitrariness, i.e., the conditionality of the action by a consciously set goal. Activity may not be caused by the requirements of a momentary situation, the desire to adapt to it, to act within the boundaries of a given one, it is characterized by supra-situation, that is, going beyond the original goals, the ability of a person to rise above the level of the requirements of the situation, set goals that are excessive in relation to the original task (such as “risk for the sake of risk”, creative impulse, etc.).
One of the manifestations of a person’s social activity, what can be called his active civic position, is “excessive activity”, i.e., his activity, the implementation of which is not strictly obligatory for the figure (no one can reproach him if he does not fulfill it), but the implementation of which meets social expectations.
One more feature of volitional processes can be indicated, which acts as a manifestation of its incentive function. If a person does not have an actual (“here and now”) need to carry out an action, the objective necessity of which he realizes, the will creates additional impulses that change the meaning of the action, making it more significant, causing experiences associated with the foreseen consequences of the action.
In a state of exhaustion, it can be difficult for a student to muster the strength to go to a gym for training on the other side of the city, but the idea that the overall success of the team and the maintenance of the sports glory of the school depends on how prepared he is as a team captain , mobilizes his will, creating additional motivation to carry out the action.
braking function will, acting in unity with the incentive function, manifests itself in the containment of undesirable manifestations of activity. A person is able to slow down the awakening of motives and the implementation of actions that do not correspond to his worldview, ideals and beliefs. Regulation of behavior would be impossible without inhibition.
Speaking about the style and tone of relationships in the team, A. S. Makarenko especially emphasized the task of developing a “habit of inhibition”. He wrote: “The leadership of a children's institution must constantly develop in pupils the ability to be restrained in movement, in a word, in a cry. This braking should not have the character of a drill; it should be logically justified by the direct benefit for the organism of its pupil, aesthetic ideas and conveniences for the entire team. A special form of inhibition is politeness, which must be strongly recommended at every opportunity and demanded to be observed.
A person's motives for action form a certain ordered system - a hierarchy of motives - from the needs for food, clothing, shelter from heat and cold to higher motives associated with the experience of moral, aesthetic and intellectual feelings. In the event that, in the name of higher motives, lower ones, including vital ones, are inhibited and restrained, this happens due to manifestations of the will. And in everyday life, to restrain the manifestation of one's feelings, to complete the work begun despite any difficulties, to resist the temptation to quit everything and do something more attractive - perhaps with a sufficiently strong will.
In their unity, the motivating and inhibitory functions of the will provide the individual with overcoming difficulties on the way to achieving the goal.
Everyone knows what will is, but not everyone fully understands this concept. The term itself is used quite often in modern speech, but the meaning that is put into it does not always correspond to reality. In this article, we will talk about what will is and whether it is possible to develop this quality in oneself.
General concept
Each person is a person with a special set of qualities. Some of them are acquired, others are congenital. Such a person's ability as will is associated with his mental activity and desires. Each individual may develop it differently. So, for example, a person with a strong will clearly knows what he wants, and confidently follows his goal. On the contrary, if this ability is poorly developed, it is difficult to make decisions and achieve goals. In the life of a person with a weak will, various factors and people control his fate, but not himself.
Conscious self-regulation
Considering the question of what will is, one should pay special attention to the fact that this ability is meaningful and conscious. It is controlled by many parts of the brain and generally depends on the person's psychotype. Given the above written, we can conclude that the full control of their activities - this is the will. There is another important nuance. Many psychologists argue that a prerequisite for the presence of will is a goal. So, the desire of a person to achieve a certain desire is a manifestation of this ability.
Strength of will
Quite often this simple four-letter word is found in certain phrases. So, perhaps, one of the most popular is “willpower”. The meaning of the words is quite simple. This concept is invested in the ability to self-persuasion. But is it? For example, a person wants to quit smoking. He convinces himself that this habit does not bring anything good into his life. Then there are attempts not to pick up cigarettes. If they are successful, the person is said to have willpower. If such a fuse lasted only for a few hours or days, then we can say that he does not have it. It turns out that a person could not convince himself? Is not a fact. So, a person can be firmly convinced that smoking is bad, but at the same time continue to take one puff after another. Therefore, the ability to convince oneself is not yet willpower. So, one desire and understanding is not enough. You also need to stick to the original plan and not deviate from it.
Consider what is will, on the other hand. A person sets himself a difficult task (true intention) and adheres to it at all costs. That is what willpower is. Among other things, it is characterized by certain functions. Without them, it will be just a desire and attempts to fulfill it.
Main functions
Will is a rather complicated concept in psychology. In order to understand it, you should know what basic functions it can perform.
- So, the first and most important function is incentive. It provides the beginning of certain actions to overcome some obstacles.
- The second function is stabilization. It is associated with volitional efforts, which help to maintain activity at a certain level, despite interference.
- The third function is called braking. Its purpose is to inhibit desires and goals that are incompatible with the main one.
Any situation where the manifestation of willpower takes place can be considered according to these functions. Let's look at the example we looked at earlier. So, a person decided to quit smoking in order, for example, to save money - this is an incentive function. Imagine a situation where he succeeds, but then a friend comes to visit and offers to smoke one piece at a time. Refusal of the offer will be a function of stabilization. When it suddenly occurs to a person to give up this stupid idea and start saving on something else, the braking function will work. He will rethink everything again and decide that he will not deviate from the goal.
personality traits
As mentioned earlier, not everyone has a strong will. It depends on many factors, including personality traits. In order to understand what the word "will" means, let's consider in which personalities it manifests itself most often.
So, a strong-willed person, as a rule, is purposeful, resolute, persistent, independent. Such a person has good endurance and discipline. These qualities are very important for a person with a strong will. So, for example, it will be very difficult for an indecisive individual to make a decision and set a goal for himself. Persistence will help him to stick to the plan at all costs and not deviate from the goal. Independence will be manifested in the fact that he will carry out his plans without outside help.
ancient greek philosophers
The meaning of the word "will" was interesting ancient Greek philosophers. They carefully studied this ability and tried to understand its essence. For example, Aristotle believed that the will is connected with the mind. In this term, he put certain actions and deeds of a person. Aristotle believed that the will is the true desires of a person, what he wants most of all. They are not related to needs, but arise only as a result of reflection. Plato, in turn, connected the will with the soul. After all, it is inner world man, his mind can control desires. Only the soul determines and awakens the activity of a person and the desire to act.
Will and Bible
Few people think that it is in the Bible that you can find a lot of information regarding the word “will”. So, it is God's ability to do and will whatever He wants. It is by the will of the Lord that many of the events described in the Bible take place. God is a manifestation of higher intelligence. It is He who is endowed with the authority and power to do whatever He pleases. So, it becomes clear that the will is the true desires and the path to their implementation. Since man is created in the image and likeness of God, he is also endowed with this ability.
Is it possible to train the will?
If someone likes to think that someone else controls his life, then such a person is unlikely to be interested in knowing that the will can be trained. No matter how paradoxical it may sound, but in fact a person is a creation of God, and he himself has the right to control his life and destiny. But in order to avoid responsibility, some people unconsciously do not want to admit it. They shift responsibilities to other people and live not by their own will, but by chance. In fact, this is a rather convenient position, because later, in case of failure, you can blame anyone, but not yourself.
The will can and should be trained, because in its essence this ability is freedom. When a person manages his life, there are no impossible tasks before him. He is absolutely free to do what he really wants. Such an important ability as willpower can greatly facilitate a person's life, make it richer and more colorful.
Self improvement
Many scientists answer the question of what the word “will” means: it is an ability that helps a person put his life in order. And in fact, setting goals and getting results is very important. In order to develop willpower, it is necessary to train those personality traits that we mentioned earlier. So, a person should become more decisive, independent, persistent. Another important detail is organization. First, you need to discipline yourself. Try to organize your day so that you do certain activities at the same time. For example, eat breakfast every day at 8 a.m. sharp.
Another synonym for the word "will" is "purposefulness". Try to set small tasks for yourself and complete them in a clear time frame. It is also important to pay attention to momentary desires. These are the main enemies of willpower. When a desire arises, it must first be analyzed. So, for example, you wanted a piece of chocolate. Analyze how much you need it right now. Set a goal to eat it in exactly one hour. You need to convince yourself that your mind controls your body, and not vice versa.
In this way, one should try to discipline oneself in many things. Willpower is actually the ability of a person to control his thoughts and desires, taking into account the main and main task. If every time you stop and think about the need for this or that action, then after a month you will notice that it will be much easier for you to set a task and complete it.
So with little effort, willpower is formed. It is also important to remember that the better the motivation, the easier it will be to perform certain tasks. People who have this ability well developed are more successful. They know how to plan their time and go to the goal in small but sure steps.