Self-Control Relies on Glucose as a Limited Energy Source

Conclusion of the research studies:

Willpower Is More Than a Metaphor

"Self-control, as a relatively advanced human capacity, was probably one of the last to develop and hence may be one of the first to suffer impairments when resources are inadequate. The present findings suggest that relatively small acts of self-control are sufficient to deplete the available supply of glucose, thereby impairing the control of thought and behavior, at least until the body can retrieve more glucose from its stores or ingest more calories. More generally, the body’s variable ability to mobilize glucose may be an important determinant of people’s capacity to live up to their ideals, pursue their goals, and realize
their virtues."

"Self-control (or self-regulation) is the ability to control or override one’s thoughts, emotions, urges, and behavior. Self-control allows for the flexibility necessary for successful goal attainment, and it greatly facilitates adherence to morals, laws, social norms, and other rules and regulations. As such, it is one of the most important and beneficial processes in the human personality structure.

A burgeoning body of evidence has linked good self-control to a broad range of desirable outcomes, including healthier interpersonal relationships, greater popularity, better mental health, more effective coping skills, reduced aggression, and superior academic performance, as well as less susceptibility to drug and alcohol abuse, criminality, and eating disorders."

Accomplishing Goals without Willpower

From HypnosisNetwork.com :

Your conscious mind is only able to process approximately 50 bits of information a second, while your unconscious mind processes approximately 11 million bits per second [Source 3].

That means your unconscious mind processes information about 220 THOUSAND TIMES FASTER than your conscious mind.

Much of the time, your conscious mind is actually the bottleneck towards effecting true change, as its main role is getting you through the day in the here and now AND setting long term goals. (Researchers call this "Executive Control.")

The Trick Is to Have the Triggers for Your Desired Behaviors Reside in Your Unconscious Mind

For example, if your goal is weight control, you would naturally want your unconscious mind to automatically desire healthy green foods, water, healthy portions, exercise, etc… without having to think about it consciously.

If your goal is to be more productive, you would want the actions of setting goals, rewarding yourself for success, focusing on your projects to be automatic.

If you have to consciously think about it all the time, you will exhaust your resources.

If your goal is to have a better relationship, you would want to use hypnosis to program in natural triggers for listening, paying attention, giving space, and showing empathy, instead of always having to think about them.

Winners win in advance.

Have you heard the term Mental Toughness?

Mental toughness refers to training your mind to focus on positive thoughts about your performance and success.

Any negative reactions, thoughts, memories, feelings, ideas, beliefs, behaviors, habits, or limitations of any kind, are immediately identified and interrupted and replaced with a new focus on creating the most beneficial outcome possible in each situation that may arise.

Easily overcome and avoid stress by releasing any and all negative thoughts in the first place and replacing them with positive feeling thoughts that bring relief and satisfaction.

Hypnosis connects you to your unconscious mind on your own, so you begin getting the best results possible.

"Mental toughness comes from repeatedly and consistently recovering from stress and adversity by being determined, focused, confident, resilient, and in control under pressure.

When the going gets tough and you want to quit, have a set, prepared, thought process ready to go.

Thoughts lead to emotions.

Emotions lead to behaviors and performance.

Performance = Potential - Interference.

You can have all the head knowledge in the world but it isn't worth much if it doesn't get into your body ... your cellular structure.

Ways to do that: Experience, Imagination, Emotion."

(The above comments about Mental Toughness come from my colleague, Craig Sigl.)

Mental toughness is about not being affected by anything but what’s going on in the game or competition or any area of your life, no matter what is happening or what other people are doing. It’s being able to block out what’s not important.

Quickly get over making any mistakes. Be able to move past mistakes or failures and reach your goal.

Relax and focus in the midst of hectic surroundings.

Begin to "program" your mind to achieve the results you want.

Find and access the strength and resources you already have, while releasing anything that does not support you in getting the results you want.

Easily reaching your goals.

Keep going even if things get tough.

Bounce back, refocus, and make your goals a reality.
Quickly noticing if you do lose focus.

Easily be able to refocus quickly and get back to your best performance.

Stay positive, let go of distractions or tension, becoming more and more resilient.

What if you no longer allow the stresses involved to become larger than the joy and pleasures of playing the game or accomplishing the task.

Use the power of imagination. If the human mind is capable of imagining something, it's capable of making it happen.

Calmly repeating your success, in your mind's eye, over and over...

Release any worry of comparing yourself to others or matching up in a particular way.

Learning and improving with every effort.

Any mistakes are now easily released. Be easy on yourself during any setbacks and pick yourself up.

The only true failure is to give up, so congratulate yourself on your effort, regroup, and begin again.

Feeling calm and centered, no matter what is about to happen.

No longer allow life’s uncertainties, or any situation that may lead to uneasiness or inner tension, to can stand in the way of our best efforts.

Easily overcome and avoid stress by releasing any and all negative thoughts in the first place and replacing them with positive feeling thoughts that bring relief and satisfaction.