You often hear about willpower, which is the ability to control your impulses. It’s a crucial part of motivation and achieving results, so it deserves a closer look. We spoke with Benjamin Hardy, author of *Willpower Doesn’t Work*, to understand how to get motivated and reach our goals effectively. Is it about harnessing willpower, or is there something more?
Benjamin Hardy has had an impressive journey, overcoming significant challenges just like everyone else. He’s a popular writer on self-improvement, motivation, and entrepreneurship, so we wanted to hear his thoughts on achieving our goals.
Willpower has been studied extensively in psychology, and the common belief is that the more you use it, the stronger it gets. However, willpower requires a lot of energy and isn’t sustainable for long-term changes.
We like to talk about willpower because it gives us a sense of control. But in reality, we are more influenced by our environment than by our choices. Hardy’s book explains how we can use our choices to design environments that make success unavoidable. Instead of forcing yourself to go to the gym, get a workout partner who motivates you. This way, you create conditions that make it easier for you to succeed.
At DIY Active, we strongly support accountability systems, including having workout partners. It’s harmful to keep relying solely on willpower because it hides the real solution, which is creating supportive environments. When your environment is set up to help you achieve your goals, the process becomes enjoyable rather than a struggle.
Hardy shares a personal story about investing money in his blogging endeavor, which motivated him to follow through. Simple changes, like getting new running shoes or signing up for a marathon, can make a big difference. Removing obstacles from your environment also helps. For example, changing your route to work to avoid temptation can prevent you from falling into old habits.
No matter how strong your resolve, you will fail to change your life if you don’t change your environment. Willpower alone won’t do the job; changing your surroundings is more powerful. As humans, we adapt to our environments, so it’s best to design them to support our goals.
Focusing on willpower alone isn’t the most effective way to meet your goals. According to Hardy, we need to design our environments to give us the best chance at success. Once we do this, using willpower becomes much easier.
This concept is fascinating, right? To truly get motivated, consider Hardy’s advice and get his book, *Willpower Doesn’t Work*, for a complete guide on how to reach your goals.
Benjamin Hardy, the top writer on Medium, Ph.D. candidate at Clemson University, and author of *Willpower Doesn’t Work*, emphasizes the importance of shaping your environment to achieve success. He overcame a background of family addiction himself and found that thriving requires proactive environmental changes. His book teaches you how to change your environment to change your habits.
Are you ready to adjust your surroundings and transform your habits?