How A Child Can Teach Us About Willpower.
Posted by Sean on April 19, 2009
Do you CRAVE like Marshmallows? (WHO DOESN’T?)
Ever fail at a diet? Having a hard time losing weight? How about your fitness level? Are you exercising enough? How about those bad habits?
The list is endless. Each item listed involves you and your willpower to do or not do something.
WILLPOWER:
the ability to exert one’s will over one’s actions.
We all succeed or fail due to the strength of our own willpower. Which is stronger? Your willpower or the influence?
It seems that our children really do have all the answers, they just don’t know it. (And neither do we) There was a study done years ago that evaluated a child’s willpower to not eat a certain candy item. Some children of course exerted no willpower and at the first opportunity inhaled the candy.
Please watch the following video: (This experiment was done with M&M’s)
M&M Dilleys Experiment (If embed doesn’t work)
It’s amazing.
Two separate techniques are revealed on ways to help your own willpower:
- shift your attention away whenever temptation crops up
- re-focusing your mind on the long-term implications of the very short-term indulgence that’s just out of reach
So, then next time temptation rears its ugly head.. think of those children and the candy.
If they can do it…
So can we.
Carpe Diem
This blog entry was inspired by a blog post on Lifehacker – Learn Willpower Techniques from the Marshmallow Test – Habits
Daycare In Bowmanville said
Just wanted to commend you on this piece before I follow some of the links. Nice job.
Sean said
@ Caroline You’re welcome. And yes they are cute!
Sean said
@ Caroline You’re welcome. And yes they are cute!
Caroline said
Too cute!!! That was very entertaining.
Those Dilly kids (they are septuplets or something) are super cute. Thanks for the post.
Caroline said
Too cute!!! That was very entertaining.
Those Dilly kids (they are septuplets or something) are super cute. Thanks for the post.