chapter 1 Flashcards
I Will, I Won’t, I Want
Research shows that people who think they have the most willpower are__________________________?
actually the most likely to lose control when tempted.
because They fail to predict when, where, and why they will give in.
name the 3 categories of will power.
1: something you’ve been avoiding “I will”
2: habit you want to break “I won’t”
3: important goal in your life that you’d like to give more energy and focus to “I want”
WHY WE HAVE DEVELOPED WILLPOWER AS HUMAN BEINGS?
In order to function in society early humans had to develop willpower to control themselves so that they could get along and live with each other.
Willpower has gone from being the thing that distinguishes us humans from other animals to__________.
the thing that distinguishes us from each other
What part of your brain is responsible for will power?
prefrontal cortex: When it’s easier to stay on the couch, your prefrontal cortex makes you want to get up and exercise.
the prefrontal cortex can be temporary malfunctioning. name some of the causes that will make it malfunction.
being drunk, sleep-deprived, stressed or even just being distracted.
This leaves us less able to control our impulses
we have one brain but two minds. what does that mean.
self-control was slapped on top of the old system of urges and instincts. So while we’re stuck with the impulse, we’re also equipped with the impulse control.
Part of you wants one thing, and another part of you wants something else.
what did you name your impulsive mind?
implosive mind.
what did you name your wiser mind?
I named it Iron mind.
what is THE FIRST RULE OF WILLPOWER?
KNOW THYSELF.
WHY THE FIRST RULE OF WILLPOWER IS KNOWING YOURSELF
self-awareness gives us the ability to realize what we are doing as we do it, and understand why we are doing it. With any luck, we can also predict what we’re likely to do before we do it, giving us ample opportunity to reconsider
why eating on front of tv, compromise your self-control?
because when your mind is preoccupied, your impulses—not your long-term goals—will guide your choices.
be careful what you wish for. what does that mean?
Ask your brain to worry, and it gets better at worrying. Ask your brain to concentrate, and it gets better at concentrating. Not only does your brain find these things easier, but it actually remodels itself based on what you ask it to do. Some parts of the brain grow denser, packing in more and more gray matter like a muscle bulking up from exercise in the protocolar region for that activity.
