Xuen Tey Week #9 - Strength of Will
Power is such a simple word for something that describes so much. For a word, pinning down what exactly is power and what it means to have power is quite a challenging task. Power—to me—is the ability to change things. Whether it is as small as speaking up about something that no one else pointed out, or passing laws that influence an entire nation, both of these actions have power behind them. Power exists in many different forms, from the prestige of wealth to the trust earned through good deeds to the strength to stand up for what one believes in. While these forms of power all have different strengths and weaknesses, they are all unequivocally powerful.
While there are many different kinds of power, there is one kind of power that I have always felt is the strongest, and it is quite different from what I feel that others would believe. While my sister may say money, and my books may say reputation, I believe that willpower is the power one can have. While wealth is powerful—especially in today’s society—wealth means nothing if it is not utilized cleverly. A person can be rich for a few years of his life, then run their coffers dry and be left destitute with nothing. Reputation is a strong asset, but anyone can fall from grace with just a few lies and careless actions here and there. However, willpower is difficult to take away, and something that could be recovered very easily.
Willpower is what drives people to do things—without it, nothing can really be achieved. Before a person can do anything, they must decide to do it— they need to have the drive to do it, and the determination behind the decisions made by people has always been the most powerful thing in the world in my eyes.
One saying I remember that completely encapsulates this idea is ‘A thousand miles journey begins with a single step’. Before a person can go on to change the world, create new inventions and expand our horizons, they first have to have the drive to do such things. There could be a million genius inventors and thinkers out there, but if none of them strive to invent and explore, nothing would happen.
Hey Xuen! I appreciate your exploration into the many forms of power and how you acknowledged the fragility of each one. Wealth and reputation are fickle as external manifestations of power, whereas something like determination is an inherent trait that people possess at any moment, making it a much more reliable motivator. The many factors do coexist in influencing someone's actions. Someone’s journey for more power in terms of wealth is sustained by their willpower, altogether prompting the actions of some pretty ambitious people. Pairing determination along with a desirable goal is one of the most effective ways to make progress; I would’ve stopped doing all my homework if I didn’t have that willpower forcing me to work.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with how you mentioned willpower can be “recovered very easily”. Shattering that internal motivation is a consequence from hopelessness, but only hard to regain because like you mentioned, it’s difficult to eradicate in the first place. This persistence from willpower is also extremely versatile in fueling success, whether that be escape from a predicament or seeking achievements. As for willpower motivating creation, it’s hard not to admire people who have dedicated so much time and effort into doing what they enjoy. The only way to perfect one’s craft is after hours and hours of diligent practice; although the sense of accomplishment at the end is genuinely enlightening, it’s quite difficult to achieve without the everyday perseverance through monotony.
Hi, Xuen! Willpower is indeed the greatest form of power. Throughout history, we have placed different values on religion, money, reputation, and those have changed, but willpower has remained constant, and all the great, most powerful people have the most willpower. Stories of willpower are the most popular ones, and they will remain so, because willpower is the greatest form of power that we humans possess. We have overcome hardships, we have tamed nature, all because of willpower.
ReplyDeleteI find your interpretation of the word Power interesting, as your definition of power as being able to change things is not what I believe power is. I view power as the ability to shape the world to your will, though that might just be my selfish personality speaking. I believe that no matter how you influence the world, how much you change it, there will always be a selfish aspect to it. Humanitarian efforts make us feel good. Pursuit of material wealth satisfies our greed. Certainly, willpower is the most important aspect in attaining true power, but it seems that our definitions of power are different.
Hi Xuen, I really enjoyed your blog this week and I found your interpretation of the word power very interesting. To be able to change things is a very powerful thing, changing a thought process of an individual is a tall task in itself, let alone tackling an entire group. I also enjoyed the word play you incorporated into the last sentence of the first paragraph. I thought it was both ironic and humorous in the way that you utilized the word power. As you transitioned to talking about willpower I found it very powerful how you related wealth and reputation by demonstrating how they hold power, but are very easy to lose. I think that willpower and reputation can be related at times because a person lies when they feel like they have no other option, electing to act in self preservation and one could argue that that sentiment is fueled by one’s lack of willpower. The will and discipline to face the music and live with the consequences. What did you mean by willpower being easy to be recovered because I always felt that willpower was something you either had or you didn’t; it’s the product of your environment, your upbringing and values. Obviously willpower is one of the most powerful and important characteristics one can have. It reminds me of the Ted Talk Carol Dweck gave about grit many years ago and how to succeed you need to first fail, and it is rarely about how many times you fail, rather how many times you mustered the courage to get to your feet and keep moving forward. The scariest step is always the first step and I really loved your quote at the end of your blog because I honestly believe that if a person just has the courage to start they can do anything.
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