Sources of willpower

What is the origin of willpower?

I'm not even sure how to classify the question. From a linguistic standpoint, it's straightforward. Power of will. Control exerted over your urges. The ability to react to and interact with your environment in a deliberate way. It's easy to compare to similar traits---motivation, perseverance, resilience. Though we can pin down the nuances in meaning, the common source still eludes us.

Another approach is to view it as a biological question---maybe even chemical. Neurological. The prefrontal cortex (PFC) is known to be willpower's physical location. But this literal answer is only as useful as its explanatory power. We can't observe the PFC producing a molecule of willpower, though it is certainly related to the reactions that happen there. 

Psychology holds some helpful conceptual models. Willpower is an energy reservoir that fuels every decision. As our reserves deplete, our reasoning ability diminishes. We start applying flawed heuristics and jumping to conclusions to get through the day.

None of this adds up to a phenomenological explanation. Maybe the better question is, Why does willpower (or a lack thereof) manifest in a certain person or situation? What causes it? Perhaps the factors are too complex to fully grasp. 

Still, it's a question I find myself asking regularly. Today, I decided to write this blog post, and I did it. Compare to the countless prior days when I have chosen not to write. How and why did I make the decision that I did?

Habit plays a big part; I've been pushing myself to write every day. Ingrained, repeated decisions become easier to resolve over time. That counts for bad habits, too; if I get drunk every day, that decision gets easier over time as well. And those tendencies take the reins when my reserves are low.

I figure the best time to form a habit is when you have the energy to commit to it. Once you've reinforced it enough, it will start to become the default when your energy is low.

So willpower is at least partly manufactured. We can increase the capacity of our tanks and conserve our energy. Building better habits is the best way to save your energy for the important decisions.

Beyond that, I suspect outlook matters. Willpower can be seized by anxiety and doubt. So it helps to have some foundation of faith or belief to support your choices. 

Willpower feels like a split-second decision. But most people have made the decision ahead of time.