The Secret of the Will

While psychologists may differ in their theories regarding the nature of the Will, none deny its existence, nor question its power. All persons recognize the power of strong Will—all see how it may be used to overcome the greatest obstacles. But few realize that the Will may be developed and strengthened by intelligent practice. They feel that they could accomplish wonders if they had a strong Will, but instead of attempting to develop it, they content themselves with vain regrets. They sigh, but do nothing.

Psychologists may disagree about the nature of the will, but none deny that it exists or question its power. Everyone recognizes the power of a strong will. Everyone sees how it can be used to overcome the greatest obstacles. But few realize that the will can be developed and strengthened through intelligent practice. They feel they could accomplish wonders if they had a strong will. But instead of trying to develop it, they settle for useless regrets. They sigh, but do nothing.

Those who have investigated the subject closely know that Will Power, with all its latent possibilities and mighty powers, may be developed, disciplined, controlled and directed, just as may be any other of Nature’s forces. It does not matter what theory you may entertain about the nature of the Will, you will obtain the results if you practice intelligently.

Those who have studied the subject closely know that Will Power can be developed, disciplined, controlled, and directed. So can any other force of nature. Will Power has great power and many possibilities waiting to be developed. Whatever your theory about the nature of the Will, you will get results if you practice intelligently.

Personally, I have a somewhat odd theory about the Will. I believe that every man has, potentially, a strong Will, and that all he has to do is to train his mind to make use of it. I think that in the higher regions of the mind of every man is a great store of Will Power awaiting his use. The Will current is running along the psychic wires, and all that it is necessary to do is to raise the mental trolley-pole and bring down the power for your use, And the supply is unlimited, for your little storage battery is connected with the great power house of the Universal Will Power, and the power is inexhaustible. Your Will does not need training—but your Mind does. The mind is the instrument and the supply of Will Power is proportionate to the fineness of the instrument through which it manifests. But you needn’t accept this theory if you don’t like it. This lesson will fit your theory as well as mine.

Personally, I have a somewhat unusual theory about the Will. I believe every man potentially has a strong Will. All he has to do is train his mind to use it. I think every man has a great store of Will Power in the higher regions of his mind, awaiting his use. The Will current runs along psychic wires. All you need to do is raise the mental trolley-pole and draw down the power for your use. The supply is unlimited. Your little storage battery is connected to the great power house of the Universal Will Power, and its power is inexhaustible. Your Will does not need training, but your Mind does. The mind is the instrument, and the supply of Will Power depends on how refined the instrument is. But you need not accept this theory if you do not like it. This lesson will fit your theory as well as mine.

He who has developed his mind so that it will allow the Will Power to manifest through it, has opened up wonderful possibilities for himself. Not only has he found a great power at his command, but he is able to bring into play, and use, faculties, talents and abilities of whose existence he has not dreamed. This secret of the Will is the magic key which opens all doors.

Anyone who has developed their mind to allow Will Power to work through it has opened up wonderful possibilities. They have discovered a great power they can command. They can also put to use faculties, talents, and abilities they never dreamed they had. This secret of the Will is the magic key that opens all doors.

The late Donald G. Mitchell once wrote: “Resolve is what makes a man manifest; not puny resolve, but crude determination; not errant purpose—but that strong and indefatigable will which treads down difficulties and danger, as a boy treads down the heaving frost-lands of winter; which kindles his eye and brain with a proud pulse-beat toward the unattainable. Will makes men giants.”

The late Donald G. Mitchell once wrote: “Determination is what brings out the man. Not weak resolve, but raw determination. Not a wandering purpose, but a strong, tireless will that tramples difficulties and danger. It does so as a boy tramples the frost-heaved ground in winter. This will lights up his eyes and mind with a proud, pulsing drive toward the unattainable. Will makes men giants.”

Many of us feel that if we would but exert our Will, we might accomplish wonders. But somehow we do not seem to want to take the trouble—at any rate, we do not get to the actual willing point. We put it off from time to time, and talk vaguely of “some day,” but that some day never comes.

Many of us feel that if we simply used our Will, we could accomplish wonders. But somehow, we do not seem to want to make the effort. At least, we never get to the point of actually willing it. We keep putting it off and talk vaguely about “some day,” but that day never comes.

We instinctively feel the power of the Will, but we haven’t enough energy to exercise it, and so drift along with the tide, unless perhaps some friendly difficulty arises, some helpful obstacle appears in our path, or some kindly pain stirs us into action, in either of which cases we are compelled to assert our Will and thus begin to accomplish something.

We instinctively feel the power of the Will, but we lack the energy to use it. So we drift with the tide, unless perhaps a friendly difficulty or a helpful obstacle appears in our path. Or perhaps a kindly pain stirs us into action. In any of these cases, we are forced to use our Will and so begin to accomplish something.

The trouble with us is that we do not want to do the thing enough to make us exert our Will Power. We don’t want to hard enough. We are mentally lazy and of weak Desire. If you do not like the word Desire substitute for it the word “Aspiration.” ( Some people call the lower impulses Desires, and the higher, Aspirations—it’s all a matter of words, take your choice.) That is the trouble. Let a man be in danger of losing his life—let a woman be in danger of losing a great love—and you will witness a startling exhibition of Will Power from an unexpected source. Let a woman’s child be threatened with danger, and she will manifest a degree of Courage and Will that sweeps all before it. And yet the same woman will quail before a domineering husband, and will lack the Will to perform a simple task. A boy will do all sorts of work if he but considers it play, and yet he can scarcely force himself to cut a little fire-wood. Strong Will follows strong Desire. If you really want to do a thing very much, you can usually develop the Will Power to accomplish it.

The trouble is that we don’t want to do things enough to exercise our willpower. We don’t want to hard enough. We are mentally lazy, and our desire is weak. If you don’t like the word Desire, use “Aspiration” instead. (Some people call lower impulses Desires and higher ones Aspirations. It’s all a matter of words, so take your choice.) That is the trouble. Put a man in danger of losing his life, or a woman in danger of losing a great love. You will see a startling display of willpower from an unexpected source. If a woman’s child is threatened, she will show courage and will that sweep everything aside. Yet the same woman will shrink from a domineering husband and lack the will to perform a simple task. A boy will do all kinds of work if he considers it play. Yet he can hardly force himself to chop a little firewood. Strong will follows strong desire. If you really want to do something very much, you can usually develop the willpower to accomplish it.

The trouble is that you have not really wanted to do these things, and yet you blame your Will. You say that you do want to do it, but if you stop to think you will see that you really want to do something else more than the thing in question. You are not willing to pay the price of attainment. Stop a moment and analyze this statement and apply it to your own case.

The trouble is that you have not really wanted to do these things, yet you blame your will. You say you want to do them. But if you stop and think, you will see that you really want to do something else more. You are not willing to pay the price of achieving your goal. Take a moment to think about this statement and apply it to your own situation.

You are mentally lazy—that’s the trouble. Don’t talk to me about not having enough Will. You have a great storehouse of Will awaiting your use, but you are too lazy to use it. Now, if you are really in earnest about this matter, get to work and first find out what you really want to do—then start to work and do it. Never mind about the Will Power—you’ll find a full supply of that whenever you need it. The thing to do is to get to the point where you will resolve to Will. That’s the real test—the resolving. Think of these things a little, and make up your mind whether or not you really want to be a Wilier sufficiently hard to get to work.

You are mentally lazy. That’s the problem. Don’t tell me you don’t have enough will. You have a great store of will ready to use, but you’re too lazy to use it. If you’re serious about this, get to work. First, find out what you really want to do. Then start doing it. Don’t worry about willpower. You’ll find plenty of it whenever you need it. What you need to do is decide to use your will. That decision is the real test. Think about these things, and decide whether you really want to use your will badly enough to get to work.

Many excellent essays and books have been written on this subject, all of which agree regarding the greatness of Will Power, the most enthusiastic terms being used; but few have anything to say about how this power may be acquired by those who have it not, or who possess it in but a limited degree. Some have given exercises designed to “strengthen” the Will, which exercises really strengthen the Mind so that it is able to draw upon its store of power. But they have generally overlooked the fact that in auto-suggestion is to be found the secret of the development of the mind so that it may become the efficient instrument of the Will.

Many excellent essays and books have been written on this subject. All agree on the greatness of willpower and praise it in the most enthusiastic terms. But few explain how people can develop willpower if they have little or none. Some have offered exercises designed to “strengthen” the Will. These exercises actually strengthen the Mind so it can draw on its store of power. But they have generally overlooked the fact that auto-suggestion is the secret to developing the mind. Through auto-suggestion, the mind can become an effective instrument of the Will.

I Am Using My Will Power.

I Am Using My Willpower.

Say these words several times earnestly and positively, immediately after finishing this article. Then repeat them frequently during the day, at least once an hour, and particularly when you meet something that calls for the exercise of Will Power. Also repeat them several times after you retire and settle yourself for sleep. Now, there is nothing in these words unless you back them up with the thought. In fact, the thought is “the whole thing,” and the words only pegs upon which to hang the thought. So think of what you are saying, and mean what you say. You must use Faith at the start, and use the words with a confident expectation of the result. Hold the steady thought that you are drawing on your storehouse of Will Power, and before long you will find that thought is taking form in action, and that your Will Power is manifesting itself. You will feel an influx of strength with each repetition of the words. You will find yourself overcoming difficulties and bad habits, and will be surprised at how things are being smoothed out for you.

Say these words several times, earnestly and positively, as soon as you finish this article. Then repeat them often during the day, at least once an hour. Repeat them especially when you face something that calls for Will Power. Also repeat them several times after you go to bed and settle down to sleep. The words have no power unless you back them up with thought. In fact, the thought is “the whole thing.” The words are only pegs on which to hang the thought. So think about what you are saying, and mean it. You must start with Faith and use the words with a confident expectation of results. Keep thinking steadily that you are drawing on your storehouse of Will Power. Before long, you will find that the thought is taking shape in action and that your Will Power is showing itself. You will feel a surge of strength each time you repeat the words. You will find yourself overcoming difficulties and bad habits. You will be surprised at how things are becoming easier for you.

Perform at least one disagreeable task each day during the month. If there is any specially disagreeable task which you would like to shirk, that is the one for you to perform. This is not given you in order to make you self-sacrificing or meek, or anything of that sort—it is given you to exercise your Will. Anyone can do a pleasant thing cheerfully, but it takes Will to do the unpleasant thing cheerfully; and that is how you must do the work. It will prove a most valuable discipline to you. Try it for a month and you will see where it “comes in.” If you shirk this exercise you had better stop right here and acknowledge that you do not want Will Power, and are content to stay where you are and remain a weakling.

Do at least one unpleasant task each day for a month. If there is a task you especially dislike and want to avoid, that is the one you should do. This exercise is not meant to make you self-sacrificing, meek, or anything like that. It is meant to exercise your Will. Anyone can do something pleasant cheerfully, but it takes Will to do something unpleasant cheerfully. And that is how you must do the task. It will be a very valuable discipline for you. Try it for a month, and you will see where it “comes in.” If you avoid this exercise, you had better stop right here. Admit that you do not want Will Power, and that you are content to stay where you are and remain a weakling.