wonders of willpower

““Wonders of Wonders of Willpower: Willpower:

How to Achieve It How to Achieve It & Nurture It”& Nurture It”

By Taha Ghayyur

The Marshmallow Test

Why Willpower?

Strong Predictor of Success or Failure

Why Willpower?

"A man's measure is his will" - Ali bin Abi Talib

Why Willpower?

“Will is character in action” - William McDougal

Why Willpower?

“People don’t lack strength, they lack will” - Victor Hugo

Why Willpower?

“When the will is ready, the feet are light” - Proverb

Why Willpower?

“Great souls have wills; feeble ones have only wishes”

- Chinese Proverb

Why Willpower?

“Willpower is the art of replacing one bad habit for another” – Michael Garofalo

What is Willpower?

1.It is the inner strength to make a decision, take action, and handle and execute any aim or task until it is accomplished, regardless of inner and outer resistance, discomfort or difficulties.

What is Willpower?

2.It bestows the ability to overcome laziness, temptations and negative habits, and to carry out actions, even if they require effort, are unpleasant and tedious or are contrary to one's habits.

What is Willpower?

3.It is the rejection of instant gratification in favor of something better. It is the giving up of instant pleasure and satisfaction for a higher and better goal.

Willpower in the Quran

Sabr(Patience

)

4. Istiqamah

(steadfastness)

2. Irada (intention)

3. Azm(firm

determination)

1. Taqwa (God-

consciousness)

Willpower in the Quran

1.Taqwa: • Initial Motivation• Power to resist• Protection from evil & sin• Self-Restraint• God-Consciousness & Piety• Mentioned 151 times in the Quran• At least 10 benefits: Source of success,

companionship with Allah, reward, status in Akhira, protection

Willpower in the Quran

2. Irada: • Initial Motivation• Desire, Intention, Wish• Mental planning

“Those who do wish for the (things of) the Hereafter, and strive therefore with all due striving, and have Faith,- they are the ones whose striving is acceptable (to Allah).”(Al-Isra 17:19)

لها وسعى خرة اآل/ أراد ومن/كان >ولـئك فأ م>ؤ/من وه>و سع/يها

>ورا ك مش/ >ه>م سع/ي

Willpower in the Quran

3. Azm: • Long-term Motivation• Determination & Resolve• Purposefulness & Action Plan• Requires Trust (Tawakkul) in Allah• 5 Great Prophets of Azm

“Therefore patiently persevere, as did (all) messengers of inflexible purpose ...”(Al-Ahqaf 46:35)

من م /عز/ ال >و >ول أ صبر كما فاص/بر/ل س> الر

Willpower in the Quran

4. Istiqamah: • Long-term Motivation• Steadfastness• Requires Patience (Sabr)• Direction: Straight Path• Special People of Allah

“Those who say, "Our Lord is Allah", and, further, stand straight and steadfast, the angels descend on them (from time to time): "Fear ye not!" (they suggest), "Nor grieve! but receive the Glad Tidings of the Garden (of Bliss), the which ye were promised!”(Al-Fussilat 41:30)

ل> تتنز تقام>وا اس/ >م ث ه> الل نا رب >وا قال ذين ال إنوا /شر> وأب >وا زن تح/ وال تخاف>وا أال /مالئكة> ال /هم> علي

>وعد>ون ت >م/ >نت ك تي ال ة /جن بال

Willpower According to Prophet Muhammad

“The strong person is not the one who can wrestle someone else down. The strong person is the one who can control himself when he is angry.” (Bukhari)

How Does Willpower Work?

Willpower = Moral MusclesMore Exercise -> Stronger Muscles -> Stronger BodyMore Challenges -> More Self-control -> More Willpower

How to Challenge Your Willpower Daily• Don’t play your favorite video game for a day or two • Read non-school related book 15 minutes daily• Drink water when thirsty, in spite of your desire to have a soft

drink• Walk up the stairs, instead of taking the elevator• Get down from the bus one station before your destination, and

walk the rest of the way.• Resist the temptation to respond to rude behaviour• If you are addicted to chocolate or ice cream, don't have any,

for a day or two• Fast from Facebook, Twitter and SMS for a day• Try to pray your Salah on time, specially Fajr• Take initiative to do someone a favour

How to Develop Strong Willpower?

6 Essentials for Willpower to Nurture: ACT or DIE

A ttitude (Positive Outlook)C onsistency (Commitment & Patience)T aqwa (God-Consciousness to Resist)D iscpline (Pro-activeness)I hsan (Improvement & Evaluation)E nvironment (Friends & Support of Jamah)

How to Develop Strong Willpower?

Willpower (Personal Motivatio

n)

Changepower

(Community Support)

Tawfiq (Ability & Blessings)

Powerful Results

Successful Muslims

Extraordinary Leaders

Movement of Positive

Change

Vibrant & Healthy Society

The Willpower Instinct, by PT blogger Kelly McGonigal

Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength, by Roy Baumeister and John Tierney

The Power of Habit, by Charles Duhigg

Changing for Good, by James Prochaska, Carlos DiClementi, and John Norcross

Changepower! 37 Secrets to Habit Change Success, by Meg Selig

Change or Die, by Alan Deutschman

Resources on Willpower