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If they're not normal humans, it's only because they have more willpower than you. That's the best news ever, because it's been proven in studies time and time

If they're not normal humans, it's only because they have more willpower than you. That's the best news ever, because it's been proven in studies time and time again that willpower can be built up just like muscles through exercise. Conquer your will, and you'll be able to use it to build what you want. Start with meditation if you're not doing it already. Regular physical exercise and meditation are excellent ways to build your willpower, and I guarantee that an inordinately large percentage of HN users meditate compared to the general public.

nocman 12y ago
I agree that some people just have very little ambition and determination. However, I think the statement "If they're not normal humans, it's only because they have more willpower than you." is way too overgeneralized given the limited information you have regarding jmnicolas' life (unless you know more than can be gleaned from his post here). There are any number of completely valid reasons why a person would be too exhausted to work on a side project after work hours. People do have limitations. Some people have very difficult lives. People do burn out -- and everything does not boil down to having the willpower or not. I'm not saying willpower is irrelevant -- it is relevant. It just isn't the only variable in the equation.
icebraining 12y ago
How do you get the willpower to start meditating and doing regular exercise? :P
- Lambdanaut 12y ago
  I'll answer you as if you were serious, haha. For me, it was a serious medical issue that was partly psychosomatic. Exercise and meditation were just parts of the recovery, and afterwards they stuck around as valuable tools. For others? I recommend you stare death in the face and use that as motivation. One day you will be dead. Accept that. Then decide whether you want to idle through life letting your mind control you and drive you to do whatever is easiest and most comfortable for it because evolution taught it to seek comforts out, or if you want to accomplish your dreams. If you want to accomplish your dreams, and know you don't have the willpower, the first obvious step is to build that willpower. Every day you falter, stare death in the face again and get back to daily meditation and exercise until you've got the willpower to take on your dreams.
  - icebraining 12y ago
    I'm half-serious :) I agree that the first step is to build that willpower. But you need willpower to take that first step. How do you get that? If I was the kind of person to persist day after day doing meditation and exercise, I'm not sure I'd need to build willpower :)
    - matwood 12y ago
      The first step is the hardest. Typically people need some type of life/environment change in order to prod them into additional changes. Moving, getting a new job, throwing away your TV :) might be just the things to facilitate a change. Unfortunately, friends often get in the way of that change. Few people do it on purpose, but if you suddenly find willpower your friends may feel bad about themselves and then try to pull you back down. You don't need to dump all your friends, but there is certainly value in evaluating each relationship and making sure it is positive and healthy. Some people you may decide not to see again (hopefully not), and others you simply decide to spend less time with. The saying I like to use is you are the average of the 5 people closest to you.
lcedp 12y ago
Actually in studies I saw posted on HN it's been proven willpower is not a muscle but a resource. However you can use more of that precious resource for things that matter by building up habits and avoiding unnecessary situations which drain your willpower. That said, physical state affects willpower level, so exercises and meditation do help a lot.

nocman 12y ago

I agree that some people just have very little ambition and determination. However, I think the statement "If they're not normal humans, it's only because they have more willpower than you." is way too overgeneralized given the limited information you have regarding jmnicolas' life (unless you know more than can be gleaned from his post here). There are any number of completely valid reasons why a person would be too exhausted to work on a side project after work hours. People do have limitations. Some people have very difficult lives. People do burn out -- and everything does not boil down to having the willpower or not. I'm not saying willpower is irrelevant -- it is relevant. It just isn't the only variable in the equation.

icebraining 12y ago

How do you get the willpower to start meditating and doing regular exercise? :P

Lambdanaut 12y ago
I'll answer you as if you were serious, haha. For me, it was a serious medical issue that was partly psychosomatic. Exercise and meditation were just parts of the recovery, and afterwards they stuck around as valuable tools. For others? I recommend you stare death in the face and use that as motivation. One day you will be dead. Accept that. Then decide whether you want to idle through life letting your mind control you and drive you to do whatever is easiest and most comfortable for it because evolution taught it to seek comforts out, or if you want to accomplish your dreams. If you want to accomplish your dreams, and know you don't have the willpower, the first obvious step is to build that willpower. Every day you falter, stare death in the face again and get back to daily meditation and exercise until you've got the willpower to take on your dreams.
- icebraining 12y ago
  I'm half-serious :) I agree that the first step is to build that willpower. But you need willpower to take that first step. How do you get that? If I was the kind of person to persist day after day doing meditation and exercise, I'm not sure I'd need to build willpower :)
  - matwood 12y ago
    The first step is the hardest. Typically people need some type of life/environment change in order to prod them into additional changes. Moving, getting a new job, throwing away your TV :) might be just the things to facilitate a change. Unfortunately, friends often get in the way of that change. Few people do it on purpose, but if you suddenly find willpower your friends may feel bad about themselves and then try to pull you back down. You don't need to dump all your friends, but there is certainly value in evaluating each relationship and making sure it is positive and healthy. Some people you may decide not to see again (hopefully not), and others you simply decide to spend less time with. The saying I like to use is you are the average of the 5 people closest to you.

lcedp 12y ago

Actually in studies I saw posted on HN it's been proven willpower is not a muscle but a resource. However you can use more of that precious resource for things that matter by building up habits and avoiding unnecessary situations which drain your willpower. That said, physical state affects willpower level, so exercises and meditation do help a lot.