Will Exercises

Choosing to Act

1. Become aware of the vast number of possible decisions and choices that you are faced with everyday.

2. Think about how and why each habitual decision occurs, then decide if that is REALLY the decision you want to follow rather than just allowing habit to direct your choice.

3. In the little decisions, choose to act differently than your habits normally dictate. For example, drive to work on a different route. This is to get you out of your rut, if you happen to be in one, and to show you how different experiences can come out of changing a habit.

Act with Abandon

1. Realize that being human, you are allowed to make mistakes, so learn not to regret past actions, whatever they were. Learn from them, but don't waste time and energy with regrets or 'if only' thoughts.

2. Recognize the total uselessness of anxiety. If you are not sure of your decision, wait until you are sure, then act. Having made it, follow through.

Be Self-Responsible

1. Consciously choose to accept responsibility for your own actions.

2. Consciously choose to accept responsibility for being the person that you are, recognizing your strengths and your weaknesses as things that are under your control. Begin to transform your weaknesses into strengths.

3. Understand that self-responsibility means responsibility for your actions (and reactions) and responsibility to yourself. You are accountable for your actions.

Will Exercises

1. Never lie; therefore, be careful of your motivations. If you lie to others, you will lie to yourself. If you lie to yourself, you cannot have confidence in yourself.

2. Follow through on all your decisions, therefore, be very careful in your decision making processes and what you agree to do for others.

3. Use a physical discipline to create a pattern in your life - yoga, meditation, t'ai ch'i and ballet are good ones. Consider the time element. Don't set it up at a time or place which will be difficult for you, thereby undermining this lesson.

4. Develop self-awareness as to your thoughts, words and actions. Understand your motivations.

5. Consciously choose to accept responsibility for your actions and decisions each time you act or make a choice.

Notice the effects on your life from following these ideas. Notice the increased strength of will as a result of exercising it. Learn to recognize that you can choose to be or not to be responsible to or for other people. Don't let others put you on a 'guilt trip'. If you are choosing your course of action consciously and are responsible for the results of your actions, then you are not subject to other people's whims. You and only you are in charge of your life.