LaRae Quy was an FBI agent for 24 years, and in this article she writes about the lessons in will power she learned whilst in FBI training. We’ve adapted her writing to apply it to losing weight.
Will power is, simply put, the ability to keep doing what’s necessary in order to achieve your goals. And here are the five secrets about harnessing it:
- Keep an Eye on Your Goal
To activate your willpower, you must remind yourself why your weight loss goal is important to you. If you focus on anything else, willpower will not save you. In my case, I knew I wanted to become an FBI Agent and that gave me a purpose, every single day.
- Avoid Shortcuts
While tempting, shortcuts which appear to help you reach your goals actually slow you down. Follow point 1 and keep your eye on the goal, but be disciplined about following the right path to get there.
- Train Your Brain
Meditation may not sound relevant to weight loss, but it’s definitely relevant to will power. The ability to focus on a task and exclude other thoughts makes developing your will power much easier.
- Practice Persistence
Develop a mantra along the lines of: “I will not quit. If I get knocked down, I will get up and keep at it. No matter how many times. I have what it takes to reach my goal.”
Throughout your weight loss journey, you’ll regularly face the unknown and challenges that seem impossible. You won’t always see the finish line. Practicing persistence forces you to develop successful strategies to keep moving forward—no matter what.
- Change Your Mindset—as Often as Necessary
New obstacles often require new ways of thinking, and plodding away using the same old approach often does not solve new puzzles or problems.
It is essential to maintain a flexible and agile mindset. Often, it is sheer willpower that will keep you moving ahead when the path is murky, uncertain, and void of easy answers.
Everyone has those moments when they’re not quite sure they’ll be able to reach their ultimate goal. Always remember: You’re stronger than you think you are and you can do this.