Understanding your willpower

An article I came across that I wanted to share.  Can you relate?  Let me know! (link: https://www.psychologytoday.com)

Psychologists have been quite interested in understanding why willpower works so poorly.  Essentially, your action system has two components:  a “Go System” and a “Stop System.”  The Go System (sub-conscience thinking) is the one that supports action via habits.  It helps you engage in lots of activities that allow you to achieve your goals.  It also supports the many habits that allow you to get through your day effectively without having to think about the many actions you take on a daily basis. 

The Stop System (what we call willpower or conscience thinking) applies the brakes to actions that are begun by the Go System, but conflict with some other newer goal.  

Dieting is a great example.  You have built up lots of unhealthy eating habits over the years.  When you decide to go on a diet, you are adding a new goal that conflicts with many of those eating habits.  You need your “Stop System” (active thinking) to prevent you from eating foods that would get in the way of your diet.  Over time, this tends to wear on us and either becomes difficult or gets easier. 

Unfortunately, the Stop System is not as efficient as the Go System.  Lots of things can interfere with it.  When you are stressed, the Stop System does not work so well.  Drugs and alcohol can prevent the Stop System from working.  In addition, lots of research on self-control suggests that when you use the Stop System a lot, it begins to work less effectively.  So, a long day of having to control yourself at work can get in the way of your diet is likely to be in peril.  This is where establishing good habits comes in handy Using the “Go system” or sub-conscience habitual patterns that we create.

So, let’s focus on your health, fitness, and create good habits for the long run!

 

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To Your Success,

Kipp – KALFIT Coach & Mentor