Willpower vs. Wantpower: Leveraging Both for Success

Last week, we went to a dinner party. The hostess was wonderful and made all kinds of yummy foods. I have struggled with my weight since I moved to the US. Culturally, America was very different from my previous living experiences. I was 15 and felt like a fish out of water. To be honest, I was miserable. I didn’t feel like I fit in. We were living in a small town where the kids had known each other since before they were born, and I was a complete unknown and very different. And I didn’t speak English very well. It was a recipe for disaster. You might wonder what this has to do with last night’s dinner party. Well…, that’s when I started self-medicating with food, and my lifelong battle with weight began. I have yo-yoed my whole life, and my weight has been up more than it has been down. So frustrating!

Fast forward to last week’s party. I started out really well and in control. But then, as the evening went on, I felt the food was calling my name! Have you ever experienced that? It was like a siren’s call. As I have always done, I turned to willpower. And as it has always happened, my willpower only went so far, leaving me feeling frustrated yet again.

As we try to achieve our goals, in my case, the desire to be healthy and lose weight, we often rely on our willpower to power through challenging situations. But I think it’s time to explore the concept of wantpower. To reach our goals, I’m going to need to leverage both. They are similar but different, two sides of the same coin, so let’s explore both of these in more detail.

Willpower vs. Wantpower: What’s the Difference?

Willpower is our ability to control our thoughts, emotions, and actions in the face of temptation or obstacles. It is using the power of our mind to align our actions to our long-term goal and not allowing ourselves to be tempted by instant gratification. I feel this is something that is becoming harder to do in society today, where everything is more readily available, and we don’t have to wait for things as long. Amazon’s one-day delivery comes to mind as a perfect example.

However, the drawback of willpower is that it is a finite resource, so we need to be very careful of how we use our willpower and should aim for conservation so we use it in the moments that really matter.

Wantpower, on the other hand, is driven by something deeper and more long-term. It is our drive to pursue our goals and our belief in our ability to achieve them. It is fueled by our passion and desire for the outcome we have our eyes set on. It gives us the energy and motivation to keep going even when things get tough.

Contrary to willpower, wantpower is not a finite resource. When we feel our resolve weaken, we can “easily replenish and strengthen it by focusing on our values and priorities.

While they are both important for achieving success, they work in different ways:

Willpower

• Can help in the short-term
• Is useful for resisting temptation and making difficult choices
• Is all about self-control, but
• Isn’t always enough to keep us going when the going gets tough,

Wantpower

• Will help in the long term

• Is more about self-motivation

• Gives us the fuel we need to pursue our goals with passion and purpose

How Do We Cultivate Them Both?

1. Identify your values and priorities. Having clarity on both will help you tap into your want power more easily and stay motivated as you chase your goals, so ask yourself these two key questions:
   - What matters most to you?
   - What are your long-term goals?
   By clarifying your values and priorities, you can tap into your wantpower and find the motivation you need to pursue your goals.
   
   
2. Set achievable goals. Having big goals is awesome, but trying to achieve them without a plan can feel like eating an elephant. You can start eating said elephant one bite at a time by breaking down your long-term goals into smaller, achievable milestones. This will help you build your willpower by giving you a sense of progress and accomplishment.
   
   
3. Eliminate distractions. “Look! Squirrel!” Distractions can be hugely time-consuming, so identifying and understanding what steals your attention and distracts you from your work or passions will significantly affect your ability to stay on track. And once you are clear, you can take steps to eliminate them. This may include turning off notifications on your phone or working in a quiet space.
   
   
4. Practice self-care. When we are driven and have big goals, it’s easy to want to keep going and going. Taking care of your physical and mental health is key to building both willpower and wantpower. When we have enough sleep, exercise, and eat healthily, we make deposits into our power banks. We make better decisions, and our resolve is stronger. So, don’t forget to take time to relax and recharge when you need it.
   
   
5. Surround yourself with support. Building a supportive network of friends, family, or colleagues can help you stay motivated and on track. If you can pair up with a friend or colleague who has s similar goal or a similarly big goal, you can keep each other on track and motivated. So, seek out people who will encourage you to keep going even when things get tough.

Final Words

By cultivating both your willpower and wantpower, you can achieve your goals with passion, purpose, and self-control. Remember, success is not just about having the willpower to resist temptation but also the wantpower to pursue your dreams with enthusiasm and energy.

And if you are in a place where you feel you need support to help you stay on track with your goals and push you to achieve them faster, the time has come to get a coach. Don't hesitate to reach out for a free Jumpstart Breakthrough Session. Just click here and schedule your 30-minute call.