I don't think people necessarily analogize willpower as a "skill" so, at least to me, practicing willpower leads to increased willpower is not obvious. Many see willpower as something you have or don't -- in fact, many use this to justify their lack of willpower. :)

Ha! So is it wrong to think of willpower as a skill?

Willpower researchers often compare it to a muscle: exercise it and it gets stronger. :)

For some reason you're reminding me of the experiment with the marshmellows and the children that are able to defer gratification: http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2009/05/18/090518fa_fact_lehrer?currentPage=all

Quoting the New Yorker article:

For decades, psychologists have focussed on raw intelligence as the most important variable when it comes to predicting success in life. Mischel argues that intelligence is largely at the mercy of self-control: even the smartest kids still need to do their homework.

“What we’re really measuring with the marshmallows isn’t will power or self-control,” Mischel says. “It’s much more important than that."

"This task forces kids to find a way to make the situation work for them. They want the second marshmallow, but how can they get it? We can’t control the world, but we can control how we think about it.”

[Read more...]

Self-discipline predicts success better than IQ.

If willpower is a muscle, is self-discipline an attitude?

drink water. do hill sprints. http://jasonferruggia.com/39-ways-to-not-be-like-everyone-else/

Jared, that is a great article from Jason Ferruggia.

I love the convo we had about it, too.