“Mind over matter'“ means using willpower to overcome physical problems.
Those physical problems could show up as hitting another hard race pace interval or resisting an urge to eat another cookie. Or any number of other ways!
Willpower is only necessary when you haven’t gotten your brain on board with what you want.
It needs convincing.
But willpower is in limited supply, always. Eventually, willpower runs out. And this is when we quit.
And we’re left with our same brain, beliefs and habits included. Those beliefs and habits are the foundation for understanding your current level of willpower and the capacity you have to increase it.
Willpower won’t get you the results you don’t already have. What will get you those results is understanding the power you have in this moment to create exactly what you want.
No need to wait for willpower to show up (hint: it won’t!)
It takes giving up what you want now for what you want most. Not choosing the short term reward, but instead going for the long term gratification.
For me, “mind over matter” creates this visual of force and strain. It demands mighty effort.
But what if that effort could come from an empowered and confident place?
A place where the goal or outcome is important enough that short term rewards just don’t make the cut. This practice takes practice. Because your brain will always want the easy way out.
Let’s drop the idea that we need willpower to achieve something. More willpower is not the answer.
Instead, take responsibility for every choice and action. And then ask yourself, when am I choosing short term comfort at the expense of long term growth?
Then ask the most important question: why?
Zone in and do the work there.
