Discipline vs. Willpower

The difference between discipline and willpower first came to my awareness when I began studying Intuitive Eating (a anti-diet philosophy). The area of dieting runs rampant with the word willpower. In commercials, print ads, and conversation regarding diets and weight loss we hear the importance of willpower preached over and over again. The problem with willpower can be found in its definition. According to Intuitive Eating authors Elyse Resch and Evelyn Tribole, "Willpower can be defined as an attempt to counter natural desires and replace them with proscriptive rules." Using this definition it's easy to see how willpower can only take us so far because at some point our natural desires will supersede what we are telling ourselves we should do. Willpower can even induce rebellion, it has a connotation of being unpleasant.

Now I am not trying to bash the idea of willpower. I am all for "where there is a will there's a way." We do need the "will" to accomplish what we set out to accomplish. Yet we must realize that our will to accomplish must align with our deep values. In Intuitive Eating they point out why willpower does not work with diets. Diets tell us certain foods are forbidden and bad, and we need willpower to avoid those foods. Yet if deep down we don't, rightfully so, believe a food is bad we will eventually "given in" to temptation. It is much easier for us to follow what we deeply believe in rather than that which seems counter to our values. (check out the book Intuitive Eating p. 51 for more explanation)

So what makes discipline different from willpower?

In the athlete's world we hear much more talk about discipline than willpower. Athletes are said to have discipline or lack it. And having discipline is part of what leads to success and makes champions. Now with that said athletes sometimes have to do things that don't align with natural desires and have to do things that are rigid and rule bound. They must have a level of willpower to overcome pain, discomfort, etc. And while this is true possessing discipline again is what creates champions.

The author's of Intuitive Eating refer to the work of Stephen Covey when explaining the concept of discipline. Covey's work explains that "if you are a disciple to your own deep values that have an overriding purpose, it's likely that you'll have the will to carry them out." (Intuitive Eating, p. 51). It is much easier to do what you set out to do when it aligns with your own values. This requires that you begin to take a look at what your values are, what you believe in and what gives you purpose.

An athlete can only will him/herself to train hours a day if doing so aligned with a deeper belief. I find this true for myself. I have trained for recreational purposes and competitively for many years and have been asked how I do it. How do I train daily without fail even when I don't want to? I value strength, self-reliance, health, preparedness, respect, accountability, and being my personal best. Training daily is part of living those values. I gain the will to carry out my daily training because of the level of importance those values have for me.

This is different for every athlete and every individual. Some athletes and individuals do not easily will themselves to do what they are even paid to do. While other athletes, who are talented champions, would not think of not following their training programs. In life and in sport the more we can focus on our values or behaviors will most likely come more easily. When we act in a way that does not align with our values we will feel conflict and even at time unhappiness.

So whether you are training for competition or health, ask yourself why? What do you value? Are you following those values? Or are you just trying to use willpower to get yourself to do something you don't deeply believe?

Warrior Fighting Sports & Fitness is a training facility designed to lead you on a path to success in and out of the ring. Our students and coaches are here to help you discover what more about yourself than you thought you could. You will discover what you value and how to challenge yourself to get what you want out of life.