[personaldev] The biochemical underpinnings of willpower, and how we can increase it

[mattbell]

There's now a substantial body of work on willpower that shows it is governed by a distinct biochemical pathway.

Some really interesting discoveries:
- Willpower is a limited resource.  If you expend it on one activity (eg putting up with a loud noise) it will be weaker when you need it for another activity (eg not getting mad when someone yells at you).  Thus it';s worth choosing what to focus your willpower on wisely.
- Willpower can be increased with strength training, just like a muscle.
- Low blood sugar decreases willpower.  (I used to tell high school teachers that eating in class helped me stay focused on the lecture.  Now I finally have evidence of this)
- Heart Rate Variability (HRV) is higher during high-willpower tasks.  This is REALLY interesting.  It's not mentioned in the article, but I know that high HRV can be induced by slow-breathing techniques used in meditation.  Biofeedback systems (eg the StressEraser and Journey To Wild Divine) train people to increase HRV. 

http://www.inneridea.com/library/how-to-strengthen-willpower-part-1
http://www.inneridea.com/library/how-to-strengthen-willpower-part-2

(via Christine Peterson)

Comments

[sarcazm.livejournal.com]

this is fantastic. i wonder if low blood sugar and low blood pressure could be interchangeable.

[nasu-dengaku.livejournal.com]

Your blood pressure goes up when you're exercising, so you could experiment and find out. :-)

[sarcazm.livejournal.com]

i just pass out most of the time nowadays actually, if don't have a seizure first. it's kind of why i'm curious.