Willpower Is Limited, But Can Grow with Practice
In a recent op-ed, Sandra Aamodt and Sam Wang argue that will power is a limited resource — best applied to one behavior at a time. But self-control can also act like a muscle, they say, increasing with exercise and practice.
Wang discusses the article, "Tighten Your Belt, Strengthen Your Mind," which appeared Wednesday in The New York Times.
Related NPR Stories
Environmentalists Give Up Carbon for Lent March 22, 2008
Not All Calories Are Created Equal, Author Says Nov. 2, 2007
Why Is the U.S. Still Overweight? June 29, 2007
Thinking Thin: A Cognitive-Therapy Approach April 12, 2007
New Year's Resolutions: If Will Power Isn't Enough Dec. 28, 2006
Procrastination Nation Dec. 14, 2005
Comments
 
You must be signed in to leave a comment. Sign In / Register
Please keep your community civil. All comments must follow the NPR.org Community rules and terms of use, and will be moderated prior to posting. NPR reserves the right to use the comments we receive, in whole or in part, and to use the commenter's name and location, in any medium. See also the Terms of Use, Privacy Policy and Community FAQ.


