✅ TREE 162: The mouse of willpower

Is there anything more frustrating than watching the mouse of willpower trying to push the rhinoceros of life up the hill of personal growth?

Willpower is the weakest animal in your collection of change-makers. And when it lets you down, it invites the mudslide of shame into the situation. Shame actively inhibits growth.

Instead of the mouse of willpower, try working with the freight train of choices made in advance, the dental hygienist of good habits and the other rhinoceros of teamwork.¹

Decide in advance what you will do. Arrange your life so that it’s easy to do and hard not to do.

Your life runs on habits. Forming good habits isn’t as hard as you may think. They start with choices made in advance.

Personal growth with a partner or friend is easier than on your own.

A super-practical hack that I use all the time: Instead of saying no and trying to willpower yourself away from social media (or that biscuit or that porn whatever it is you’re trying to say no to), tell yourself: you can have it in 10 minutes. Urges, like emotions, are a physical/chemical thing in your body. If you put them off for a few minutes, they are likely to weaken significantly or disappear entirely.

Things to do if you want to get your rhino moving up the hill with good habits: Listen to this podcast, read this book.

You’re growing!
Jeff

Today Christine has chosen my favourite New Order song. I love her very much. This nine-minute remaster brings out some really interesting details:

The Memory of TREE playlist – every song from every email:

1. What is going on with this metaphor?!